Beaulieu Vineyard Napa Valley Tapestry Reserve 2017

Drink it now or cellar for up to 20 years. It is recommended to decant it for an hour.

Founded by Georges Latour in 1900, Beaulieu Vineyard, one of the oldest in the United States, is located in Rutherford, California. The company, which is now part of the Treasury Wine Estates group, owns vineyards in Rutherford, St. Helena, Calistoga, and Carneros AVAs where a wide variety of grapes are grown.

The Tapestry Reserve is a very elegant blend of five Bordeaux varieties. In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, which is the majority grape, there is Merlot, which contributes to the roundness and softness of the wine, and Malbec, which adds notes of fresh fruit. Small additions of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot balance the blend, contributing to the aromatic profile with hints of dark fruits and spices.

It is a complex and very balanced wine. The nose reveals fruity, herbaceous, and spicy notes in a broad and intense whole. On the palate, it is rich and smooth with a good concentration of berries and a medium body. The tannins are velvety and well-integrated and the finish is long and spicy. It is ready to drink now but can rest in the cellar and evolve for a couple of decades. Try it with a red meat stew, served with mushrooms.