FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen to feature 80th Anniversary Vintage of Napa Valley’s ‘original cult Cabernet’
RUTHERFORD, CA, (September 2, 2021) – Legendary Beaulieu Vineyard Winemaker André Tchelistcheff was certainly on to something in 1938 when he insisted the de Latour family bottle its “private reserve” wine as the flagship offering. Today, it is a gold standard for Napa Valley and Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon. To commemorate the return of the 38th annual FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen, the winery has created the only 27-liter bottle of the iconic 2016 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. This custom-made, priceless bottling will be featured in award-winning wine author and Bevinars founder Mark Oldman’s sold-out seminars titled “Wine for Quintillionaires” on Friday, September 10th and Saturday, September 11th.
Upholding the heritage and spirit of innovation of those who came before him, Beaulieu Vineyard’s Chief Winemaker and General Manager Trevor Durling is confident that attendees of this year’s festival will delight in the 2016 vintage, which marks the 80th anniversary of this special wine’s first bottling. “The 2016 Georges de Latour Private Reserve is truly special for us and celebrates an incredible milestone for Beaulieu Vineyard, representing eighty years of this iconic wine,” says Beaulieu Vineyard Winemaker and General Manager Trevor Durling. “Our understanding of the terroir comes from over a century of creating rich, complex Napa Valley wines, and this really shows through the finesse and concentration of this excellent vintage. This wine is special on its own, but it is even more miraculous to see it in such a large format offering.”
At 31 inches tall and weighing 83 pounds, the rare bottling required three men to hand-dip the custom wax capsule. Mark Oldman, who will have the opportunity to share this special bottling with the attendees of his “Wine for Quintillionaires” seminars, echoed Trevor Durling in the uniqueness of this opportunity. “The only thing better than having a bottle of the mythical Georges de Latour Private Reserve is to have it from a 27-liter ‘Goliath,’ which is the equivalent of 36 regular-sized bottles and one of the largest bottles ever presented at a festival,” says Oldman. “This epitome of quality and quantity is a fitting way to welcome back America’s top food and wine festival and celebrate Beaulieu’s 80 years of creating benchmark Napa Valley Cabernet.”
More details on the 80th anniversary vintage of the Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon included below. This fall, Beaulieu Vineyard releases the 2018 vintage of this classic wine.
About the 80th Anniversary 2016 Vintage:
The 2016 Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($145 per 750ml bottle) is bursting with a bouquet of cassis, blueberry, blackberry, violet, and wild sage, exhibiting the extraordinary concentration, depth, and elegance of this superior vintage. Full-bodied and rich on the palate are lingering flavors of dark blackberry, root spice, chocolate and molasses supported by perfectly balanced acidity which adds length, juiciness, and freshness to an everlasting finish. Plush, “Rutherford Dust” tannins support the ever-expansive palate, while seamlessly integrating with the full-bodied texture, crafting a wine that shows grace, ease, and approachability now, but with underlying power and structure that will keep this wine alive for decades to come. Well integrated notes of vanilla and toasted oak spices – from aging in new French oak barrels – heighten the aromas and dance on the lengthy finish.
About Beaulieu Vineyard:
Beaulieu Vineyard (BV) is the historical progenitor of the “cult Cabernet” category and known for its legacy of innovation driven by the contributions of such luminaries as founder Georges de Latour and enologist André Tchelistcheff. Today considered a classic and one of the original producers of premium California Cabernet, the winery has maintained its cultural relevance for more than a century. Crafted by acclaimed winemaker Trevor Durling, the winery’s complex expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon are the apotheosis of old-school Napa and are considered fundamental labels-to-know for both collectors and casual wine lovers.
For more information, visit https://www.bvwines.com or follow @BVWines on Instagram and Facebook.
I am looking for information regarding a 1949 Beaulieu Vineyard Beaumont Pinot Noir 4/5 pint and 1950 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve 4/5 pint. Are these rare? Should they be opened and enjoyed?
Thank you for any information/advice you can share.