Beringer Private Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 1996
Written: Jul 26 '02 (Updated Jul 26 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: A good Cabernet Sauvignon that will appeal to a wide range of wine enthusiasts.
Cons: One "con"--this wine is over-priced relative to the competition. There are better choices for half-the-money.
The Bottom Line: I enjoyed this 1996 Private Reserve wine, but I will not be buying more. It is very good, but it's not super fantastic. 4-stars. Not recommended.
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| 4-1-1's Full Review: Beringer Private Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauv... |
Beringer Vineyards offers one of the most popular winery tours in the Napa Valley area. I first visited the Beringer winery (St. Helena, California) a couple of years ago, and I enthusiastically recommend this winery to anyone interested in visiting the Napa region.
Beringer is one of the oldest wineries in the Napa Valley (founded in 1876). The tour of the facilities includes a walk through the cellars (a cave carved into a mountainside) and a wine tasting in the stately Victorian main house (the "Rhine House," which was once the personal residence of Frederick Beringer, a German immigrant). In past years, Beringer has undergone several changes of ownership. It was, at one time, owned by Nestlé (Switzerland), but is now owned by Fosters (Australia).
Beringer Private Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 1996
Serving Temperature: 65ºF
Only 200 cases produced.
Alcohol: 13.4% by volume
Composition: Cabernet Sauvignon from Beringer's Tre Colline and Bancroft (Howell Mountain) vineyards, plus some fruit harvested at the Home and Chabot vineyards in St. Helena.
Appearance: Dense; dark ruby.
Aroma: Black cherry fruit with cedar, eucalyptus, and burnt toast tones.
Flavor: Cherry and cassis flavors with a faint trace of tobacco and mushroom. Tannins have softened to a very comfortable level; this wine is ready for consumption right now. I enjoyed this wine for its black cherry and slightly smoky oak flavors. I drank this wine, on its own, without food accompaniment. I enjoyed this wine; it was very good. There were some chewy fruit flavors and spicy oak tones that I savored... but there is no way that I would buy this wine again for the price paid. It is too understated. It just did not "turn me on."
Awards:
Wine Enthusiast Magazine: Rated 95
Epicurean Magazine: Rated 91
Wine Spectator Magazine: Rated 92
Price and Availability: Available in limited quantities. I purchased this wine at the Beverages & More store in Orange, California. Price: $85 per 750ml bottle. I have seen this wine advertised elsewhere for as much as $110 bottle.
Recommendations: At the price paid: not particularly recommended. A good wine to enjoy with a finely prepared steak. But... I would not pay $85+ for this wine again, and I would certainly not pay 2-times retail at any restaurant. Even at $50 per bottle, I would be hard-pressed to make a recommendation.
Verdict: 4-stars. I was not deeply impressed and, at current pricing, I would not buy this wine again, although I liked it much. However, for significantly less money, there are other wines that I like better:
Château Léoville Poyferré, Saint Julien, 1999 (about $35)
Murphy-Goode Alexander Valley Merlot, 1999 (about $20)
Final words: Tried it. Drank the whole bottle. I liked it... but: I think I paid too much for it. I don't recommend it over a $50 strike-price. So... 4-stars. Not recommended. I won't even consider the 1997 Private Reserve unless I win a state lottery or something.
Recommended:
No
Year: 1996
Winery Name: Beringer Vineyards
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Designation: Private Reserve
Country: USA
State or Region: California
County or Appellation: Napa Valley
Price: $85-$110
Wine Rating Scale: Better than most
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Epinions.com ID:
4-1-1
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Member: Tom Carr
Location: Southern California
Reviews written: 1090
Trusted by: 691 members
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