These are notes from a local wine shop's vertical tasting of BV Private Reserve Cabernets. The prices are current and they are available now from that shop (which I won't name here) I wasn't in attendance (dammit!) because it sold out before I called to make a reservation. :^(
I have tasted some of them, and am holding bottles of a couple. Of the ones I've tasted the 1976 was my favorite. I bought it whenever I saw it (I think it was $16US on release) and drank it all in its (and my!) youth. It was utterly _delicious_ then, and apparently still is. 1976 was a drought year in California, and the crop yields were quite low. That made for great intensity of the fruit, and the wine was superbly balanced. Andre T. would have been proud to have made that wine, but IIRC the winemaker was Tom Selfridge.
I'm _very_ tempted to buy a bottle...
Tom S
"BV Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Tasting! For those of you lucky enough to attend the Beaulieu Vineyards tasting of Georges de Latour Private Reserves, you know it was a tremendous success, with the wines being perfectly stored in the BV Cellars then shipped directly to us. What a treat! For those who could not attend don't despair because the wines we tasted that night are still available at great prices. Here are a few notes:
1976 - $129.99- This was one of our favorite wines of the night. Fully mature, with a brickish tinge around the rim, the wine showed exotic notes of cedar, ginger and cassis with a healthy dose of the distinctive Rutherford dust. The fill levels are like a current release! Set this one upright, decant, and taste a living bit of California history!1984 - $79.99 This wine was also fully mature and a bit darker than the'76. Great price for a perfectly stored wine from a legendary vintage.
1986 - $97.99 The '86 is still quite youthful, showing a powerful tannic backbone but supported by complex dark berry, spice, tobacco and mineral nuances.1987 - $119.99 Many folks thought this was the best wine of the night. Remarkably youthful with gobs of rich cabernet fruit, this wine will continue to improve over the next 3 to 5 years.
1990 - $74.99 This was the first vintage that BV began using French Oak in the Private Reserve. Quite spicy, still youthful, and a great price!1991 - $64.99 The price on this one makes us say "What were they thinking?" From a great vintage with over 10 years bottle age, this is priced the same as current vintage.
1993 - $71.99 The '93 showed beautifully, with a great balance between powerful youthful fruit and the nuances that some bottle age can bring. This actually was the favorite of the flight that included '95 and '97!1995 - $85.99 This wine was still quite tight, but you could tell that all the elements for great Cabernet are in there. We actually got to try the left over bottle the next day, after it had been opened over 24 hours and it was fantastic. 93 points Wine Spectator.
1997 - $94.99 The '97 is still a baby. Deeply concentrated and rich with layers of complexity and great length and great structure, this wine has a long and beautiful life ahead of it. 95 points Wine Spectator.SOLD OUT BUT MORE MAY BE AVAILABLE2000 - $64.99 Incredibly concentrated and powerful for the vintage. Thick and rich with some floral and herbal notes that reminded us of Cabernet Franc, We were surprised to learn this was 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Decant for an hour or two and serve this with grilled New York Steaks or cellar for up to 10 years.
2001 Pre-Arrival. 3 Bottle Price $194.97 - 6 Bottle Price $377.94 - We had to beg the winemaker to let us pour this wine before it had been released. This was also a favorite of the tasting, showing classic and beautiful Cabernet fruit but also showing a firm tannin structure that is unusual in California Cabs these days. we think that the 2001 will be equal to or better than the '97."