2019 Beaulieu Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, CA
West Coast pedigree! If you were to explain winemaking in the United States to an alien that landed on our soil from another stratosphere, you would probably start by naming legends like Robert Mondavi, Shafer, Heitz and Beaulieu Vineyard. These are the handful of pioneers that have shaped the wine culture on the west coast. Honoring tradition and accelerating unique terroir into the very best wines you can possibly produce, with a keen focus on Cabernet Sauvignon, which to this day, is still king in California. A dusty bottle of Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour is about as iconic as the Model T Ford here in America. However the 2019 vintage of Georges de Latour is slightly more sexy than the 2023 Ford F150, garnering a 100-point, perfect score from critic James Suckling, who named the wine his #1 Wine in the World from 2022. Quite the honor for a wine that was planted centuries after some of its French and Italian counterparts.
100 point scores are exciting and the price for a 2019 BV Georges de Latour isn't nearly as staggering as some of its peers, yet it's just not something that you can't rationally drink daily. Wineries become legendary when not only their flagship wines reel in the big scores but their entire portfolio down to their entry-level wines produce respectable pedigree as well. Beaulieu Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet from 2019 may be more impressive than the Georges de Latour when you factor in price. It was just awarded the #1 Wine Value of 2022 by the prestigious Wine Spectator; a list that I really focus on because the availability of the actual Top 100 is somewhat scarce.
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Beaulieu Vineyard’s roots lie in a 4-acre estate in the heart of Rutherford, purchased for $12,000 in 1900. Its owners, Georges and Fernande de Latour, were looking to continue their cream of tartar business, scraping off potassium tartrate crystals from the inside of wine barrels. Over the years, however, the de Latours expanded their property, starting Beaulieu in 1904. Today, it is one of Napa’s oldest and most venerable wine estates. André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker, cemented the winery’s legendary status and positioned it among Napa’s elite. During his 35-year run at the winery, Tchelistcheff set the standard for modern winemaking, with Beaulieu’s wines a prime example. Now, the winery is owned by Treasury Estates, and winemaker Trevor Durling took over in 2017 modifying certain vineyard and cellar practices to keep the brand relevant and thriving into a new era. Mother nature has certainly helped Durling out with a string of incredible vintages in the Valley with 2019 going down in the history books as one of the best ever.
The #1 Value Wine of 2022 is about as straightforward and predictable as you can get. A wine from the distinguished estate from a near perfect vintage, 100% varietal and classy as can be. It's a safe bet but it's also the right choice. I know from experience, when big brother is perfect, the little brother isn't much far behind. The 2019 Napa Cab debuts with textbook Cabernet notes; black currant, graphite, pencil lead, blue flowers and mocha. Juicy strawberry jelly, moist tea and tobacco leaves, and vanilla bean set the stage for voluptuous yet refined flavors of heady dark cherry and warming baking spices. This is the flavor of Napa Cabernet past like a time capsule dug up from the mid 90's showcasing the heyday of California winemaking. Whiffs of menthol and rich notes of chocolate and vanilla bean streak through gobs of crunchy, tannic raspberry seeds and a streak of underlying, juicy acid. The gripping texture is a nice contrast to the tender complexity and charm. It's absolutely weightless which I respect after drinking many $25 chewy, Napa Valley fruit smoothies. The backbone is strong and it insists longevity with the powdery, silky tannin structure. It takes its time nearing the finish while displaying cocoa powder, wild thyme, bay leaf with minty edges and a swath of mouthwatering, crunchy red fruit. This is a refreshing Napa Valley Cabernet that deserves every last drop of its recent accolades. I can't say enough good things about it.
Why mess with a classic? I served this Napa Cab with beef, butter and salt the way any American should. The prime ribeye cooked over glowing coals was the absolute perfect companion.
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92pts Wine Spectator:
"Fresh, direct and focused, with red currant and cherry coulis notes that race through, dotted with savory, floral and tobacco accents. Judicious toast lets the fruit play out, and there's solid energy throughout. Drink now through 2030."
92pts James Suckling:
"Redcurrant and tile with some clove. Dark stone, too. Medium-bodied with some fresh herbs and dried thyme. Medium, ripe tannins. Fresh, creamy finish. A blend of 93% cabernet sauvignon with petite sirah and cabernet franc. Drink or hold."
92pts Vinous:
"The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is packed with dark cherry, spice, leather, pipe tobacco and cedar. This heady, boisterous Napa Valley Cabernet delivers the goods and then some. A dollop of Petite Sirah adds gorgeous layers of depth and complexity. Best of all, the 2019 will drink well right out of the gate."
Today's deal is the #1 Value Wine of 2022 at the lowest price in the country at $25 per bottle. This is your chance to hit grilling season running with a case of this all-encompassing treat.
*We also have some 100pt, 2019 BV Georges de Latour available as well ($174.99 per bottle or $840 per 6pk case).
Shelf Price: $34.99
Average Wine Searcher Price: $33
6pk Price: $168
Case Price: $300
(only $25 per bottle!)
*best price in the country!
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Mike O'Connell Jr.
Third Generation Expert Purveyor of
Fine Wines & Spirits
@ Upper Falls Liquors, Newton
*Post Road Liquors
*Needham Wine & Spirits
*Auburndale Wine & Spirits
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