98
Points
Technical info
Alcohol
14.8%
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Blend
98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
Appellation
Napa Valley
Oak treatment
Vineyard lots harvested and vinified separately Aged 18 months in new French oak (90% new), 16 months in bottle
Winemaking
The Beringer reserve vineyards offer Cabernet Sauvignon of such quality that a minimalist approach to winemaking has long defined this special blend. Each vineyard is vinified separately and monitored carefully from the moment the fruit comes into the winery at Harvest. Tailored pump-over techniques are used for optimal extraction, and the wine is aged in handselected, custom-toasted barrels of new French oak (90% new). Each lot was aged for 18 months before selection of the final blend, to allow each vineyard to express the depth of its unique terroir.
Vintage
Welcomed winter rain in January and February of 2018 eased long drought conditions. After a relatively wet winter, both bud break and flowering occurred later than average, but under ideal weather conditions, creating plentiful and even fruit set. Warm summer temperatures with generous sun exposure moderated by cool marine influences in the mornings and evenings, allowed for a long summer growing season, virtually uninterrupted by any major heat spikes. The mild summer run was followed by extended fall sunshine with moderate heat and no early rains, creating near-ideal conditions to allow fruit extended hang time for gradual ripening, increase sugar levels and flavor complexity development.
Vineyards
To make these small-production wines, Beringer chooses the best lots from our reserve vineyards in the Napa Valley, each demonstrating a different aspect of Napa’s prized terroir. Beringer’s Private Reserve wines have become famous as one of the truest expressions of a
given vintage.
Steinhauer Ranch (22%), Bancroft Ranch (15%), Pauli (3%) and Marc Mondavi Ranch (4%) vineyards atop Howell Mountain provide the foundation for the 2018 blend. Fruit from the St. Helena Home Vineyard (25%) and Chabot Vineyard (15%) add the warmth of the St. Helena
appellation to the overall blend. Exceptional fruit from Spring Mountain’s Marston Vineyard (6%), Oakville’s Gamble Ranch Vineyard (4%) join contributions from Calistoga’s Bear Flats
Vineyard (3%) and Mount Veeder’s Derr Family Vineyard (3%). Each vineyard lot is closely watched during the ripening period to determine ideal pick time. Grapes for the 2018 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon were harvested between October 9 – 31st.
