Beaulieu Vineyard Beaulieu Vineyard Rutherford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 750ml

A very attractive red now, with complexity and yummy drinkability. It’s medium-bodied with medium, round tannins that are fresh and more-ish. It’s dusty and lightly earthy with dark currants as well as tobacco. So much going on, in a subtle and refreshing way. 85% cabernet sauvignon, 10% petit verdot, and 5% malbec. Drink or hold.

Bright and fruity with black currant, blackberry, boysenberry and black licorice notes, but not overdone. Full-bodied with tension from tannins that nicely frame the wine. Firm, bright and focused, even racy. Drinking so well now but will age beautifully.

Deep black-fruit flavors, moderate tannins and a sense of good density make this wine from one of Napa’s oldest producers impressive. Cloves, cedar, blackberries and a touch of anise combine for good complexity on the palate. Best from 2026–2032. (Jim Gordon)

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Reserve, which functions as the second wine to the Georges de Latour Private Reserve, is classic Rutherford with its black (and some blue) fruits supported by graphite, chocolate, and gravelly earth. It's medium to full-bodied, has fine tannins, terrific balance, and the vintage's focused, precise, yet concentrated style front and center. It's a second wine but still has 15 years or more of prime drinking. There are just over 5,000 cases produced.

A vibrant version, with deliciously pure cassis and plum fruit pouring through, carried by a loamy note that runs underneath. Offers lively accents of cedar and apple wood along the edges, with a twang of iron emerging on the violet-accented finish. Best from 2025 through 2040. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 5,348 cases made.

Juicy and relatively open-knit, with a gush of blackberry, black cherry and plum compote flavors taking the lead, followed by hints of licorice and apple wood. Shows a nice racy edge through the finish. Drink now through 2033. 10,152 cases made. (James Molesworth)

The first wine in the progression that really speaks to the winery’s Rutherford roots, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Reserve is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Malbec that boasts aromas of ripe cherries, accented by baking spices, subtle cedar notes and a hint of mint. It’s medium to full-bodied on the palate, showing off the silky, fine-grained tannins typical of the region, finishing long and softly dusty, with a hint of cocoa.