Beaulieu Vineyard BV "Georges de Latour" Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
(Napa Valley, California) - [JS 100, #1 Top 100 of '22] [TS 100] [JD 99, #8 Top 100 of '23] [VM 97+] [WE 97] [DM 97] [TWI 95]
Regular price $175.00 Sale price $149.97 Save $25.03
Our Georges de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon has been widely recognized as the benchmark Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford since its inaugural vintage in 1936. Our understanding of terroir comes from more than 100 years of creating rich, classic Napa Valley wines. Our legacy honors the marriage between state-of-the-art technology and gentle, traditional winemaking methods, a combination that enhances the expression of our remarkable vineyards.
Tasting Notes
The 2019 Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is truly exemplary of this iconic wine, with a nuanced, exuberant nose that shows dark, ripe, berry fruit aromas of black raspberry, red currant, and black cherry, alongside delicate chaparral herb notes of wild lavender, rose, fresh mint, sage, and thyme. Exotic spiced notes from the well-integrated new French oak barrel aging adds caramel, cedar, and clove, all accompanying the plush fruit seamlessly, showcasing the depth, elegance, and balance of this world-renowned Cabernet. Full-bodied with tremendous concentration and power, the broad palate is multilayered with enticing flavors of dark black cherry, red currant, cocoa nib, amaretto, espresso, and graphite. Signature “Rutherford Dust” tannins add a fine cocoa-powder texture, with a long lift and persistent finish, while secondary notes of earth, espresso and pencil shavings add to the complexity and nuance. The mouthwatering palate is supple and fresh, with balanced acidity, demonstrating the classically elegant, luscious, and alluring character this wine is known for. Incredibly drinkable upon release in its youth and highly cellarable for many years to come.
Vineyard:
We hand selected grapes from the finest Cabernet Sauvignon vines from the western bench of the Rutherford AVA in our iconic BV Ranches No. 1 and No. 2, originally planted by Georges de Latour in the early 1900s. We focused on clonal selections (6, 4, 169, 7 and 8), which yield small berries with the high skin-to-juice ratio needed to make intense, long-lived wines. The fruit was handpicked and optically sorted once it arrived to the winery in order to ensure the highest quality selection. These specifically chosen vines are deeply rooted in the well-draining alluvial fan soils of Rutherford, considered one of the finest regions in the Napa Valley for Cabernet Sauvignon.
The 2019 harvest started one to two weeks later than previous years due to February rains. Spring continued to be wet with some rain during flowering, followed by cool temperatures that allowed the grapes to mature gradually. Most grapes ripened at lower sugars, thanks to the extended, cool growing season, and winemakers were pleased with the full flavors, fresh acidity, and superb balance of the 2019 fruit. The resulting crop showed a modest yield with a slightly more compact structure and extract than in previous years.
Winemaking:
At our state-of-the-art winery, dedicated exclusively to the crafting of the Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, a portion of the wine is fermented in new French oak barrels which provides early integration and enhances the dense, rich texture. The balance of the must is fermented in stainless steel and concrete tanks which preserves the freshness of the fruit. Following judicious extended skin contact, the wine was pressed and returned to barrels for malolactic fermentation and aging. A small amount of Petit Verdot and Malbec were blended with the Cabernet Sauvignon to further enhance the wine’s aroma and flavor profile. We work very closely with our barrel producers, being highly selective in the limited number of cooperages we use, as well as ensuring the style and consistency of the barrel is exactly right and an appropriate match to the style we’re aiming for when crafting our Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. This barrel regime is very important to the elevated quality of this wine.
Ratings & Reviews
100 Points- Ian D'Agata, Terroir Sense:
"Bright full ruby. Truly mesmerizing, knockout aromas and flavours of dark fruits (blackberry, plum, blueberry), licorice, thyme, lavender of uncommon subtlety and elegance, not to mention an incredibly pure and lifted violet topnote. Then plush, dense and multilayered, but with outstanding energy and focus to the broad, fine-grained supple tannins. Absolutely weightless, this boasts an amazingly light touch on the spectacular, rising, suave, and extremely long finish that features hints of graphite and cocoa plus truly enchanting, repeating, notes of violet. The 2019 Georges de Latour Private Reserve is a mostly Cabernet Sauvignon wine with a small dollop of Petit Verdot that was aged in 95% new French oak for twenty months. It is one of the best California wines I have tasted in some time." 09/2022
99 Points, #8 Top 100 of 2023 - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Lastly, the Grand Vin 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Georges De Latour Private Reserve is just about pure perfection, and the fact that there are roughly 12,000 cases is incredible. Classis darker fruits (cassis, currants) as well as chocolate, leafy tobacco, and loamy earth all define the bouquet, and this full-bodied, concentrated, powerful, yet also elegant 2019 has the balance and structure to evolve for decades. You won't be disappointed. 2023-2043." (2/16/23)
97+ Points - Vinous:
"The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour is an infant, but it is shaping up to be a real gem. The 2019 includes 9% Petit Verdot, the highest ever, an approach that works here in giving the wine tremendous aromatic presence and overall depth. A whole range of savory and earthy notes lends complexity to this powerhouse Georges de Latour. The 2019 is impressive, that much is evident. 2029-2044." -Antonio Galloni (10/22)
97 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"Another stunning vintage of this classic wine, blended with 9% Petit Verdot, this wine is dark and brooding in black cherry, cassis and currant, with a rich nose of baking spice. Lengthy and generous in tannin, it shows a backbone of ageworthy structure and complexity, with a lasting thread of dark chocolate. Enjoy best from 2029–2039." - Virginie Boone (11/1/2021)
97 Points - Decanter:
"Fragranced and richly fruited on the nose, vivid and vibrant. Smooth yet with crunchy fruit, this makes an immediate impression. Exuberant, racy and fruit forward with a sense of detail and character. I like the soft floral touches, the sweet blackcurrants and red berry elements, the chalky, minty fresh edges as well as some wild thyme and bay leaf herbal notes and a soft dusting of coffee and cocoa powder. Lots of tension still but also richness and concentration. The powdery yet also fleshy texture is so captivating and together with a mouthwatering capacity gives this wine such star power. Elegant and refined with supreme freshness and a real sense of vibrancy. That said, it's more serious than the stunning 2018, less immediately approachable - it feels cooler but with more precision. One to wait for. Amazing styling going on by winemaker Trevor Durling. This has to be one of the best value Napa Valley wines going. Ageing 20 months in French oak (95% new). More Petit Verdot in the blend than usual at 9%." -GH (7/4/22)
95 Points - The Wine Independent:
"The 2019 Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it swans out with up-front scents of redcurrant jelly, warm cassis, and black cherry preserves, plus suggestions of cedar chest, sassafras, and ground cloves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers bags of fragrant black fruit flavors with a lively line and super-soft tannins, finishing with a spicy lift." -Lisa Perrotti-Brown (August 24, 2022)