2013 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve

96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Aged for 20 months in French oak (84% new). Naughty heavy bottle, this is very old style California Cab. Much darker crimson than most other wines in this collection. Dense, sweet, thick – too sweet to seem appetising to me, but some palates may very much like this blockbuster style. A bit old-fashioned? (JR)

A dark colored red with intense aromas of blackberry, coffee, treacle tart and smoky oak. Full body and powerful with silky tannins and gorgeous fruit. Remains in balance with a lovely polished texture. Beautiful length. Drinkable now—and will deliver so much more with bottle age.

One of the great efforts of recent years, and not surprisingly so, is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve, a blend of 81% from Howell Mountain, 11% from St. Helena and the rest Calistoga and Mount Veeder. It is a blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot aged 20 months in 84% new French oak. At 15.2% natural alcohol, this is a big boy, but also classic Napa Cabernet Sauvignon with crème de cassis, graphite, licorice, and a touch of spicy oak. Winemaker Laurie Hook, who has since departed as winemaker, really hit a home run with this beauty. The wine could benefit from 7-10 years cellaring and probably last 30 to 40. When all is said and done, this is an instant classic, the wine full-bodied with oodles of crème de cassis, pen ink, graphite and baking spices. It is multi-dimensional, layered, and one of the all-time great Beringer Private Reserves – and there have been many.