First wine since July trips! Back label: This 25-acre vineyard, planted in day and limestone soils, is situated in Salignac Gironde, 15 miles northeast of Bordeaux. He belongs to the Comtes de Tastes. Welldrained, south-facing slopes explain the name : Beaulieu, or
"beautiful plage".
Under the enlightened management of Count Vianney de Tastes, cover tropping, "green-harvesting" and leaf-pulling are the rule.
Consequently, yields are very low for the appellation at just 2,5 tons/acre, the equivalent of one bottle of wine per vine.
The 15-year old vines include 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon. At 2,226 vines/acre, density is twice the average of most New World vineyards!
The hand-harvested fruit undergoes a pre-fermentation, cold maceration (3-5 days) after which the juice is slowly fermented (10-15 days), and then macerated for as long as taste (Tastes?) deems necessary. Malolactic then takes place in barrel, 60% of which are new.
The wine is aged on its lees for 12 months, gaining additional richness, freshness, and complexity and then bottled on the estate. Enjoy it now and over the next 5-7 years. Nice wine with complexity, earthy plummy aromas and lively palate. — 4 months ago
Light blue fruit with a salty edge of Iodene. A bit of funk. Good. — 3 months ago
Lovely Burgundy. — 7 months ago
Great classic Napa Cab, soft tannins, earthy aromas, medium to full bodied. Love it — 6 days ago
Tobacco. Structure. Great with steak. Not too much fruit — 5 months ago
1970 | Cabernet Sauvignon
Beaulieu Vineyard; Georges de Latour Private Reserve
Napa Valley; California, USA
(95-97; Drink 2025-40+)
3h decant
Nose has ripe cherry, cedar++, charcoal, grilled black cherry, faint olive and over-ripe blackberry.
Palate has dried cherry/blackberry, tobacco, strawberry, vanilla, dried mint, leather with medium+ tannins and plenty of acidity to hold for decades.
Epic, even besting the 1968 & 1995 for my palate!
Happy Father's Day 2024 to all. — 6 months ago
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
I would say this bottle sold on release for either side of $25. At this point, stunning with Chateaubriand.
This is at its peak. Excellent integration & evolution. It’s in its stupid faze.
The nose ripe blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, baked dark cherries & strawberries, pomegranate. Baking spices-clove, cinnamon, nutmeg & vanillin, dry herbs-sage, thyme, anise to black licorice, bight red, blue, purple florals,
The palate is ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, plum, strawberries, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg, dark spice, dry twig, dark cola, black tea, anise to black licorice, crushed limestone, withering to dark, red flowers, perfect acidity, excellent tension, structure, balance and elegant finish that lasts two-minutes and lands on spice & earth.
Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁 🎅 ❄️ ⛄️ — 2 days ago