2001 & 2004 Beringer "Private Reserve" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

“Just hitting late adolescence, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon cuvee exhibits an opaque dark purple color along with a beautiful, smoky, sweet black currant, licorice, truffle, toast and underbrush-scented nose. With fabulous concentration, great intensity and tremendous purity, this voluptuously textured, full-bodied classic is one of the all-time great Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignons. While drinkable now, it will continue to evolve for at least another 20 years. Of all the superb Private Reserve vintages, the 2001 ranks alongside the 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2005 and 2007.” (05/2011)

“Beringer's 2001 Private Reserve is in a great spot today, as it is mature and yet has enough depth to drink well for at least another handful of years. Black cherry, plum, gravel, spice, licorice and leather lend quite a bit of savory intensity. There is a bit of low level brett that might trouble some tasters, but it is not overly dominant in this bottling. In 2001 most of the fruit was from the Steinhauer, Bancroft and Chabot ranches. (AG)” (04/2023)

“Rich and concentrated, packed with flavors ranging from Golden Delicious apples through peaches, pears and ripe mangoes. The generous dose of oak provides a blast of vanilla and sweet tannins that are balanced with the fruit. This young wine also has acidic verve that will carry it through five years or more of aging. *Editors' Choice*” (01/2004)

“A massive youngster, with a fine structure and firm, chewy tannins. Dense and concentrated, only offering glimpses of what lies ahead. Shows dried currant, herb, sage and wild berry flavors. (JL)” (07/2005)

“I’ll start with the best wine, which is the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve, which is a blend of 6% Bancroft, 42% Steinhauer, 18% St. Helena Home Vineyard, 11% Marston, 3% Chabot, 3% Rancho del Oso, and 2% Lampyridae fruit. This spectacular 2004 has notes of barbecue smoke, roasted meats, black currants, licorice and a blackberry-like richness. Hints of coffee bean and white chocolate also make an appearance in this plump, full-bodied, voluptuously textured, dense ruby/purple-colored wine. This is a beauty.” (04/2014)

“Bright, dark red. Dark raspberry, toffee, cedar, anise, sweet butter, smoked meat, minerals and nutty oak on the complex, inviting nose. A suave, fine-grained, perfumed midweight with fresh acidity and underlying minerality energizing its cassis, spice and mineral flavors. This wonderfully silky, very long wine boasts a near-perfect integration of fruit, acidity and tannins. The finish leaves the mouth perfumed. Delicious now but built for a long life in bottle. (ST)” (07/2015)

“Ed Sbragia blends this wine from eight sites. The Steinhauer Ranch on Howell Mountain made the largest contribution to this vintage (42 percent), followed by the St. Helena Home Ranch (18) and Bancroft Ranch (15). His 2004 shares the lush seamlessness that has long characterized the blend, but it also has a dark savor, with more character to the tannins than has been apparent in past vintages. The saturated fruit has a gunflint edge, a tight, mineral structure that will develop with age. Serve it with the dark meat of game birds, such as roast squab.” (02/2008)

“Plenty of fresh, vibrant, snappy plum, blackberry and wild berry notes are at the core, with a texture marked by gravelly earth and cedar. The tannins give the finish firmness, holding the flavors on the palate. (JL)” (11/2014)

“Dark berry and oak spice aromas. Rich, mouthfilling black currant and black cherry, plus toast, minerals and cedar. Full bodied and with substantial tannic structure, it remains on the elegant side and promises rewards with cellaring. 18/20 points (LM)” (06/2008)