2018 Beringer 'Private Reserve' Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Deeply saturated in color with a rich depth and elegance, exhibiting a substantial backbone and structure, all hallmarks of the incredible 2018 vintage. This is a wine that will continue to reward after years of carful cellaring. Fresh, ripe berry notes of blackberry, black cherry, crème de cassis and dark plum all combine, offering a plush, juicy, mouthwatering character that is very approachable in its youth. Complex layers of wild bramble berry fruit, wild violets and notes of cocoa powder, dark chocolate, graphite and tobacco spice, from the well-integrated oak, seamlessly are interwoven with the full-bodied ripe tannins, supporting a firm structure with balanced acidity, leading to a long, persistent, textured finish.
Over the past 141 years, Beringer has built its name on quality and consistency. The oldest continuously operating winery in Napa Valley (they used a federal license during Prohibition that allowed them to make wine for religious purposes), they’ve been instrumental in both the development of Napa’s international reputation while simultaneously serving as a critical link to its past.
James Suckling
Wild blackberry, cassis, dark chocolate, tobacco and dark spice on the nose. Dried violets, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, powdery tannins and a creamy texture. Intense, yet restrained and refined, with a solid core of dark berries and bitter chocolate. Really focused and crafted with exemplary Napa cabernet character. Try from 2024.
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve is based on 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, brought up in 90% new French oak. It’s a beautiful wine that shows the vintage’s pure, elegant, yet concentrated style perfectly. Gorgeous crème de cassis, violets, blueberries, and cedar pencil notes emerge from the glass, and this beauty builds incrementally on the palate, with full-bodied richness, a lively, pure, layered texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It can be enjoyed any time over the coming 20-25 years.