The Beringer reserve vineyards offer Cabernet Sauvignon of such quality that a minimalist approach towinemaking 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 hand-selected, custom-toasted barrels of new French oak (80% new). Each lot was aged for 20 months before selection of the final blend, to allow each vineyard to express the depth of its unique terroir.
The year began with abundant rainfall, followed by a mild Spring. A Labor Day weekend heatwave kicked harvest into high gear followed by a cool weather break which allowed sugar levels to return to optimum normal level. By October nearly 90 percent of our grapes were harvested when fierce winds fueled the 2017 firestorm. Napa Valley's winemakers remain committed to making some the world's finest wines and early articles about the 2017 vintage describe the wines with words such as "finesse," "great complexity of flavor," and "elegant.“
A deeply colored and rich wine with substantial backbone and structure will make this 2017 vintage continue to reward after years of careful cellaring. With bright notes of black currant and blackberries and a lush, juicy mouthfeel, this wine is also very approachable in its youth. Complex layers of black fruit and notes of cocoa powder, graphite and light smoky oak mingle well with notes of espresso and vanilla. The ripe tannins support a full structure with balanced acidity leaving a lingering, elegant finish.
