Beaulieu Vineyard, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 2019

The Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon expresses juicy blueberry and purple grape notes, alongside savoury nuances of crushed graphite, mulberry leaf and Bovril; the aromas intensify as the wine is exposed to air. On the palate, the flavours are intense and yet the texture is mellow, with velvety tannins and balanced acidity. There is an appealing buttery richness, and the juicy fruit flavours persist well on the finish. This is made up of 95% Beaulieu Vineyards estate-grown fruit, split roughly 50:50 between the Rutherford and Calistoga districts. The 5% that does not come from Beaulieu land is selected from top growers and sites, that the winemaker judges will enhance the balance of the final composition. The wine is aged 18 months in French, American and European oak barrels, of which 30% are first-fill.