The Wine
For more than 100 years, Beaulieu Vineyard has set the standard for rich, classic Napa Valley wines. Our Rutherford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is no exception, defining the signature profile of our renowned Rutherford estate vineyards. The wine exemplifies a true sense of place, with fine powdered tannins and notes of unsweetened cocoa powder recalling the Rutherford Dust character made famous by foundational BV winemaker André Tchelistcheff. Affectionately called “Baby Georges,” in homage to the iconic Georges de Latour release, our Rutherford Reserve demonstrates approachability with power – a true sense of what Tchelistcheff would have described as “an iron fist in a velvet glove.”
The Vineyard
The 2019 vintage is made up of hand-selected parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec from BV Ranches No. 1, No. 2 and No. 10. These historic vineyard blocks are a truly elevated representation of Rutherford terroir. Located on the western Rutherford Bench, alluvial fan soils from the Mayacamas Mountains are composed of diverse soil types, including gravel, sand and loam. Here, the vines root deeply, developing complexity, minerality, and Rutherford’s signature character.
Winemaking
Hand-picked grapes were destemmed and cold soaked for seven days for gentle flavor extraction. This allowed an elegant, layered fruit expression to develop while also delicately releasing the natural cocoa-powder tannin expression known as Rutherford Dust. During the eight- to twelve-day fermentation, we pumped over the cap to incorporate the flavor-rich skins into the juice. To balance the bold fruit expression with toasty oak character, we chose more than 80% new French oak for barrel aging and added a splash of Malbec and Petit Verdot to enhance the complex flavor profile.
Oak treatment: 21 months in 100% French oak (80% new barrels).
Tasting notes
The 2019 vintage marks the second release of this Rutherford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, a true epitome of the finest expression of our western Rutherford benchland terroir. A perfumed bouquet of wild dark berries, crushed earth, and toasty oak spice is present on the nose, while the palate is full of classic Cabernet character. Blackberry, cassis, and black forest cake interweave seamlessly alongside wild rose, while subtle baking spice notes from the well-integrated oak shows nuances of cedar, cinnamon, clove, and caramel. The mouthfeel is saturated and supple with a generous complexity and power. The focused “Rutherford dust” tannins are polished, broad, and round, exhibiting the signature cocoa powder texture and expansive character upon which Rutherford is known. Balanced with depth and concentration, the texture is plush and smooth, leading to a long, persistent finish. A showstopper Cabernet representing the very best from the distinguished Rutherford AVA.