The 2011 Chardonnay Private Reserve, which all comes from the Gamble Ranch, is a knock-out wine. Winemaker Laurie Hook seems to have backed off some of the aggressive new oak that this cuvee possessed twenty or so years ago. The result is a wine that has some wood, but is more renowned for its beautiful buttery citrus and hints of white peaches, apricots and tropical fruit. Impressively textured, full-bodied, deep, fresh, pure and well-balanced, this is a great example of Napa Chardonnay. Drink it over the next 4-5 years.
Despite the enormity of this enterprise (multiple wineries and a global network), the flagship estate in northern California, Beringer Vineyards, continues to be in very capable winemaking hands, and the quality of the wines remains exceptionally impressive, particularly when you look at some of the huge production numbers of their lower priced offerings. The red wines currently in the market are from the challenging 2011 vintage. As for the Private Reserve Cabernets, production can vary significantly depending on the vintage, from around 8,000 cases to nearly twice that in an abundant year. As for the single vineyard wines, I will keep my notes short as these are only available to members of the Beringer Wine Club. I was surprised by how strongly all these 2011s performed, but three of the single vineyards are on Howell Mountain. These are all excellent wines, but it seems to me that the Private Reserve, a blend of the best lots from these sources, always turns out to be Beringer’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon.
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