Beaulieu Bv Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Wine Tasting NotesThis is a handcrafted wine in every sense of the word. The pronounced bouquet shows ripe concentrated blackberry and black olive notes. Intense, black fruit flavors are framed by firm, mouth-coating tannins and moderate acidity. A chewy finish and great fruit concentration suggest that this wine could use at least 8 to 10 years of aging. Pair this stunning wine with grilled filet mignon, roast leg of lamb and firm cheese like Parmigiano-Reggiano.

BV is about to release its top wine, and despite some grousing from the <I>Wine Spectator</I>’s Jim Laube, I say this is the best Georges since the mid-1990s. The wine is lovely and perfumed with classic blackberry aromas. On the palate, it’s tight and substantial – as a Georges should be when young. But it’s excellently balanced with beautiful fruit. A classic Georges. Hold it for at least a couple of years as I think it has enough tannins and acidity to see it age for up to 25. As for my colleague, well, he’s written that the Georges is one of the wines he thinks is “underperforming”; and cites BV’s past problems with TCA (corked wines). I’ve tasted many of BV’s wines since the 2001 vintage (when TCA was purportedly found) and I’ve seen no evidence of the bacteria. Additionally, the winery has taken out much of the wood beams – the suspected source of the 2,4,6 trichloranisole – in its old cellar. The 2003 was aged for 20 months in 60 percent French barrels and the remainder in American wood with 52 percent of the whole being new. The listed alcohol is 14.2 percent. The production – 14,000 cases – is enormous for such a storied and improved reserve wine.

Wine Tasting NotesOur Clone 4 has a deep, violet-ruby color. Aromas of dark cherry, baked earth, and anise fruit scents are complemented an added layer of smoky intensity. Medium-full bodied, the wine shows great textural richness and length on the palate, with fine tannins and rich berry and mineral fruit flavors. Hints of black olive and lovely, toasty French oak vanilla support the delicious ripe fruit high notes, giving great complexity and spiciness to this velvety wine. This is a handcrafted wine in every sense of the word. This vintage should mature well for 10 years or more.