Virtual Wine Tasting featuring Beaulieu Vineyards and Hewitt Vineyard with Special Guest Winemaker Trevor Durling

“No thing more excellent nor more valuable than wine was ever granted mankind by God.” – Plato c. 429-347 B.C. Greek Philosopher

It’s Wednesday and that means it’s time for our virtual tasting!  We have some great events coming up over the next few weeks and will keep these going every Wednesday maybe even after the Pandemic is over.  I’m really starting to have a good time with them and it is a great way to stay connected to our friends in wine country all over the world.

Beaulieu Vineyards is one of the original four wineries of the Napa Valley and their Georges De Latour Cabernet Sauvignon reserve was once the most iconic wine coming from the Napa Valley.  Some feel that under the late great Andre Tcheltistcheff’s tenure at Beaulieu Vineyards some of the best wines of Napa Valleys’ history were produced in the 1960’s and 1970’s.  There have only bee five winemakers in the wineries history and our host for two weeks from tonight is the current winemaker at Beaulieu Vineyards Trevor Durling. 

We are hosting virtual tastings every Wednesday on Zoom and Instagram live which will be posted to Instagram TV.  So, if you can’t make it at 6pm to chat with Trevor Durling on Wednesday, July 29th you can tune in any time after that by checking out the video posted to Wine Watch’s Instagram page.  The virtual tasting packs are up on our web page under the gift box selections and you can purchase them before the event and taste along with us or purchase them any time after the event until the wines are no longer available and taste the wines and watch the interview at your leisure.

Beaulieu Vineyards Virtual Tasting
with Special Guest Winemaker Trevor Durling
Wednesday, July 29th
6pm

Virtual Tasting Wines

2015 Beaulieu Vineyards Rutherford Cabernet Napa
Price: $40.50   Sale $35.64

Tasting Notes
Deep and intense, our 2015 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon reveals the superb concentration of the vintage. Opulent layers of blackberry, black cherry and juicy plum character unfold with complex nuances of violet and mocha. Ample, mature tannins provide firm structure and rich texture for the mouthfilling flavors. Nicely integrated hints of allspice, cinnamon, and caramel from toasted oak barrels lace the aromas and lingering finish. This big, generous Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is approachable and delicious now, yet promises cellar worthiness.

Vineyard Note
We sourced the majority of the Cabernet from Napa Valley’s Rutherford, Calistoga and St. Helena appellations. The diverse soils and microclimates, as well as the various clones of Cabernet Sauvignon and cultivation techniques, contributed to this wine’s complex flavor profile. The balance of the blend was grown both in our estate vineyards and other quality vineyards of Napa Valley.

2015 Beaulieu Vineyards Tapestry Napa
Price: $45.00  Sale $39.60

BV Tapestry weaves together Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot. petit verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc from outstanding Napa Valley vineyards. Special reserve lots are vinified separately and aged for 21 months in small barrels. They are then skillfully blended to create a wine that is both elegant and opulent with dark fruit character and plush texture. 

2016 Beaulieu Vineyards George de Latour 80th Anniversary Napa
Price:$165.00 Sale $145.20

Tasting Notes
The 2016 Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 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 with 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. To enjoy this wine at its full potential, we recommend at least five years of bottle aging; however, if you can’t wait, decant before serving.

Vineyard Note
We hand selected grapes from the finest Cabernet Sauvignon vines from the western bench of the Rutherford AVA in our iconic BV Ranches No. 1 and No. 2, originally planted by Georges de Latour in the early 1900s. We focused on clonal selections (6, 4, 169, 5197, 7 and 8), which yield small berries with the high skin-to-juice ratio needed to make intense, long-lived wines. The fruit was handpicked and optically sorted once it arrived to the winery in order to ensure the highest quality selection. These chosen vines are deeply rooted in the well-draining alluvial fan soils of Rutherford, considered one of the finest regions of Napa Valley for Cabernet Sauvignon.

Vintage Note
The extended drought was beginning to cause real concern as the 2016 growing season kicked off, but some welcomed winter rain hinted at the relief to come. After a relatively dry January we enjoyed significant rainfall in February, along with mild temperatures. Bud break was early, but was slowed by heavy April showers. While still early by historical standards, picking began about a week later than 2015, right around Labor Day, and continued at a leisurely pace, allowing the grapes to reach full flavor maturity. A traditionally sized harvest followed the lighter showing of 2015, and the extended mild season helped to balance the acids and add complexity to the layers of flavors. Considered a perfect harvest and a winemaker’s dream vintage, conditions were perfect for producing a Cabernet with beautiful fruit as well as tremendous concentration of flavors, highly saturated color, and layers of complexity.

     
https://www.winewatch.com/virtual-tasting-kit-3-pack-beaulieu-vineyards-p29297/

Price: $219

(The three pack contains the three wines above)

Topic: Beaulieu Vineyards Virtual Tasting with Trevor Durling​

Time: Jul 29, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)​

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Join Zoom Meeting​

https://zoom.us/j/91592147657?pwd=UVk4U2p1UUVwZS96c2V4RkErbWN3dz09​

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Meeting ID: 915 9214 7657​

Password: 3x0KR7​

The Rest of the Beaulieu Vineyard Wines in the store:

  
Beaulieu Vineyards Carneros Chardonnay 2016
Price: $24.00   Sale $21.12

Beaulieu Vineyard was among the first wineries to create world-class Chardonnay from the Carneros region of Napa Valley. The rich, shallow Carneros soils and cool breezes from the San Pablo Bay are perfectly suited to create exceptional Chardonnay wines. "I am pleased to carry forward this tradition of excellence by crafting this wine, which displays vibrant peach and nectarine while soft oak tones add complexity to the lingering finish." - Jeffrey Stambor, Winemaker

Tasting Notes
Our 2016 Carneros Chardonnay offers vibrant aromas of Meyer lemon citrus, ripe stone fruit, pear blossom and notes of candied ginger. This full-bodied wine is palate coating with layers of  creamy  lemon,  crisp  red  apple,  sweet  almond  flavors  and  a  kiss  of  spice.  The  oak  is  a  pleasant backdrop supporting the core of bright fruit underpinning the overall structure of the wine. The inviting aromas, flavors, rich texture and persistent acidity shows a well-integrated wine that slowly reveals its complex nature with every swirl and sip from the glass.

Vineyard Notes
We selected all of the grapes from our Beaulieu Vineyard Ranches No. 9 and No. 8, where the vines, grafted to Dijon clones 95 and 76, yield small, intensely flavored berries. These Chardonnay  vineyards  are  located  in  the  cool,  windy  Los  Carneros  American  Viticultural  Area (AVA) at the southernmost tip of Napa Valley. The region’s shallow clay loam soils and marine-influenced climate foster ripe, beautifully balanced Chardonnay expression.

Vintage Notes
Good rainfall during the winter helped ease California’s ongoing drought. A dry spring with warm temperatures and no frost led to early budbreak. With groundwater at good levels from the  winter  rains  the  vines  had  plenty  of  water  to  soak  up  during  the  dry,  relatively  even  growing season. Harvest started about 2 weeks earlier than average and conditions were mild with  no  heat  spikes  or  rains  to  interfere.  The  overall  grape  yields  were  average  with  high  quality fruit offering great concentration of flavors and good acidity levels. 

Winemaking Notes
We harvested the Chardonnay into small bins at night and rushed them to our winery. After gently pressing the whole clusters, we barrel fermented all of the wine in small oak barrels for layers of flavor and texture complexity. Stirring the yeast during 10 months of aging enhanced the  silky  mouthfeel,  and  integrated  creamy  nuances  from  partial  malolactic  fermentation.  A  small amount of fragrant Viognier adds enticing floral nuances to the fruity aromas.

Beaulieu Vineyards Carneros Pinot Noir 2016
Price: $24.00   Sale $21.12

The 2016 Carneros Pinot Noir has a vibrant ruby color and bright red berry-fruit expression. Aromas of ripe Bing cherry, fresh raspberry and strawberry lead to delicate nuances of sweet baking spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. On the palate, the fruit is darker and more savory with black cherry compote, charred strawberry, sun-warmed rose petal, tea leaf and a savory umami herbaceousness. High-toned notes of sweet baking spices from the French oak barrels weave through the aromas and linger on the berry-imbued finish. Supple, fine-grained silky tannins structure the wine, while natural acidity gives it elegance, balance and vibrancy and all of this is backed up by a classic Carneros earthiness.

Vineyard Notes
We sourced the Pinot Noir grapes from our Beaulieu Vineyard Ranches No. 9, 8 and 5 in the Los Carneros American Viticultural Area (AVA). Here, at the southernmost tip of Napa Valley near the San Francisco Bay, the cool, marine fog in the morning and winds in the afternoon foster vibrantly fruity Pinot Noir. The vines of our estate vineyards are rooted in Haire and Diablo clay loam soils; they are grafted to a blend of Dijon clones for tiers of flavors, with a Pommard clone for structure.

Vintage Notes
The extended drought was beginning to cause real concern as the 2016 growing season kicked off, but some welcomed winter rain hinted at the relief to come. After a relatively dry January we enjoyed significant rainfall in February, along with mild temperatures. Bud break was early, but was slowed by heavy April showers. While still early by historical standards, picking began about a week later than 2015, right around Labor Day, and continued at a leisurely pace, allowing the grapes to reach full flavor maturity. A traditionally sized harvest followed the lighter showing of 2015, and the extended mild season helped to balance the acids and add complexity to the layers of flavors. Considered a perfect harvest and a winemaker’s dream vintage, conditions were perfect for producing a Pinot Noir with beautiful fruit and aromatic integrity.

Beaulieu Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2016
Price: $28.50   Sale $25.08

(90 Points) “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is composed of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Syrah, 6% Petite Sirah, 4% Touriga Nacional, 3% Malbec and 2% other complementary varietals, aged in French, American and European oak (30% new) for 15 months. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps boldly from the glass with boisterous crème de cassis, blueberry pie and baking spice scents with touches of chocolate box and potpourri. Full, rich and opulent, it has a plush texture and tons of forward, spicy fruit, finishing fruity.” - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate, October 2018

Vineyard Note
We sourced the majority of the Cabernet from Napa Valley’s Rutherford, Calistoga and St. Helena appellations. The diverse soils and microclimates, as well as the various clones of Cabernet Sauvignon and cultivation techniques, contributed to this wine’s complex flavor profile. The balance of the blend was grown both in our estate vineyards and other quality vineyards of Napa Valley.

Beaulieu Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford 2017
Price: $40.50   Sale $35.64

Tasting Notes
Deep and intense, our 2015 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon reveals the superb concentration of the vintage. Opulent layers of blackberry, black cherry and juicy plum character unfold with complex nuances of violet and mocha. Ample, mature tannins provide firm structure and rich texture for the mouthfilling flavors. Nicely integrated hints of allspice, cinnamon, and caramel from toasted oak barrels lace the aromas and lingering finish. This big, generous Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is approachable and delicious now, yet promises cellar worthiness.

Vineyard Note
We sourced the majority of the Cabernet from Napa Valley’s Rutherford, Calistoga and St. Helena appellations. The diverse soils and microclimates, as well as the various clones of Cabernet Sauvignon and cultivation techniques, contributed to this wine’s complex flavor profile. The balance of the blend was grown both in our estate vineyards and other quality vineyards of Napa Valley.

A bit about Beaulieu Vineyards:

He was a Russian immigrant with a name that still confounds connoisseurs.  He had studied enology in Paris and was summoned to America in the late thirties to make wine for the family of Georges de Latour in Rutherford, California.  Nobody could know then the profound impact that this man, Andre Tchelistcheff, would have on the future course of the California wine industry. 

Four decades earlier in 1900 the de Latours founded the winery they named Beaulieu (beautiful place), and it flourished during the early part of the century.  In order to prevent the complete collapse of the winery during Prohibition, Monsieur de Latour made sacramental wines at BV. (Sometime in the early history of Beaulieu the name as additionally abbreviated "BV" to accommodate an American public which had difficulty pronouncing French words.)  After repeal de Latour concentrated on returning the winery to its former status; and before he died in 1940, he committed the land directly across from the winery to producing the finest Cabernet possible.  In his honor the wine made there was called Georges de Latour Private Reserve.

Winemaker Tcheltistcheff knew what great wine this small vineyard was capable of producing.  Immediately after Prohibition, the Cabernets from this select plot were sold to Californians as simple jug "Burgundy"; at that time no sophisticated audience of wine lovers existed.  However, Andre set out to create one.  Although practically nobody else in California was doing so, he insisted on aging red wines in small oak barrels.  This is viewed by many historical observers of the scene as one of his greatest contributions to California wine. (It was American oak, however, and it is still preferred to this day at BV over the more subtle, less aggressive French oak.)  Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon first appeared on the American market with the 1936 vintage.  It was a benchmark occasion for California wine, for it was the first post-Prohibition attempt at producing a premium varietal at what was in those days a very premium price.  It is interesting to note that the 1936 BV Reserve sold for $8.50 a case when it was released in 1939 and could still be purchased in 1955 for $1 per bottle!! Tchelistcheff went on to make many more innovative technological contributions to the California wine industry; he officially retired in 1972.  Since Tchelistcheff's "retirement" he has consulted to dozens of wineries.  Today, in his eighties, Andre Tchelistcheff is revered as the "father of the modern California wine industry."

As the wine from the Georges de Latour Vineyard grew famous, Beaulieu became known as the "royal house of Napa" - crosstown rival Inglenook notwithstanding.  American Presidents always served BV Private Reserves to visiting dignitaries in the fifties and the sixties.  Some older vintages of the Private Reserve have  become legendary and demand prices in auctions approaching those of the Grand Crus of Bordeaux (the great 1936 BV Reserve now commands over $2000/bottle).  With the proliferation of a number of great Cabernet producers in the 1970's, BV lost its unquestioned leadership.  Some maintain that BV continued to make great wines and that the winery was simply overlooked as trendy connoisseurs sought out the hottest new boutiques. 

BV has a strong history of growing grapes on some of the best sites in Napa Valley. Beginning in 1904, Georges de Latour propelled this wine growing region onto the world stage with his first vineyard purchase in Rutherford - known as BV Ranch #1. Today, with more than 1,100 acres of estate vineyards and long-term relationships with our grower partners, Beaulieu Vineyard is the largest producer of Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley. We focus on combining our long term knowledge of each vineyard with extensive research on clones, trellising styles, and viticultural techniques. The results are finely tuned growing practices for each location that produce the absolute highest quality grapes.

Today the legacy of Andre Tchelistcheff lives on at Beaulieu Vineyard but the current winemaker is Trevor Durling.  Trevor presides as only the fifth winemaker in the winery’s 117-year history.  A native Californian, Trevor was raised in Sonoma County, the heart of Northern California’s wine country.  With a love of agriculture, science and cuisine, Trevor pursued his studies at the University of California Davis in the Viticulture and Enology program.  As winemaker at Beaulieu Vineyard, Trevor incorporates his passion for creating fine wines, while preserving the heritage and legacy of Beaulieu Vineyard.
Another Great Napa Valley wine made by Trevor:

Hewitt Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2016     
Price: $135.00            Sale $118.80

On the celebrated Rutherford Bench of the Napa Valley, the historic 60-acre Hewitt Vineyard has been producing highly sought-after wine grapes since it was first planted in the late 19th century. The inaugural 2001 vintage was the first single-vineyard wine produced from this historic location. The distinctive character of Hewitt is presented in a single-vineyard Cabernet, allowing the vineyard to sing with its own unique voice rather than being hidden within an ensemble blend from other vineyards. Winemaker Trevor Durling, chooses only the highest quality fruit to exhibit the truest expression of this remarkable terroir for this limited-production bottling.

Our 2016 Hewitt Cabernet Sauvignon is dynamic and powerful, with incredible generosity and opulence on the palate. The inviting aromas and flavors unfold into sumptuous ripe blackberry, black cherry and black currant, followed by hints of dark chocolate, mocha, and rum-raisin. With layers of complexity, the mid-palate is chewy and rich, revealing multi-dimensional dense dark fruit with focused persistence and density. Incredibly age worthy, this is a wine that truly exemplifies both the personality of Hewitt Vineyard and the tremendous concentration and elegance of the 2016 vintage. The finish is long and inviting with velvety textured tannins. Hewitt Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted to be cellar-worthy, however, if you can’t wait to enjoy a glass, we recommend decanting to allow the fullest expression to evolve and reveal itself within the glass.