2005 Beringer Montagia

A joint project between Beringer and the well-known Hall of Fame quarterback, Joe Montana, is the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Montagia. Its deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by aromas of creme de cassis, white chocolate, toasty oak, black currants, and sweet cherries. Full-bodied with admirable purity, texture, and length, it should be consumed over the next 15 years. Beringer continues to turn out an impressive array of wines, proving that a gigantic global operation can be focused on quality and character. Beringer’s Pinot Noir program continues to show more and more promise. Beringer’s Cabernet Sauvignon program includes two outstanding bargains, one from Knight’s Valley and one from Napa. They are both serious Cabernet Sauvignons meant to be drunk young, but both are capable of lasting a decade or more. For their Private Club members, Beringer offers approximately 200 cases of all the single vineyards that go into their Private Reserve cuvee. I’ll keep my tasting notes brief since these wines are only available to Private Club members. However, it is always interesting that, aside from two or three of the single vineyards, the Private Reserve final blend is always the finest wine of the group. This has been proven time and time again at these tastings. Tel. (707) 963-7115; Fax (707) 963-1735