Beaulieu Vineyard, Rutherford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2019

Rutherford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon comes exclusively from the distinguished Rutherford Bench terroir, from hand-selected vineyard parcels under the ownership of Beaulieu Vineyard. It is matured for 21 months in 100% French oak barrels (80% first-fill). The wine expresses an exquisitely bright and vibrant fresh blackcurrant aroma, that could easily belong to a top Saint-Julien from a top vintage. Like its counterparts in Bordeaux, it also evokes nuances of summer vineyard footpath dust (the famous ‘Rutherford Dust’ note), juicy blackberries and woodland glade wild raspberries straight off the cane. On the palate, it has a rich, rounded, velvety nature, with fabulously decadent texture to the tannins, and everything is enlivened by vibrant fruit concentration and harmonious balance. This legendary wine could evolve in the cellar for decades, and yet is irresistibly delicious already. Crack on!