2016 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve

As with the 2015, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve shows the vintage beautifully and is more pure, classic, and elegant. Notes of crème de cassis, graphite, lead pencil shavings, and freshly crushed rocks give way to a medium to full-bodied, seamless Cabernet that has remarkable purity of fruit and impeccable balance. Made from 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot aged in 83% new French oak, it’s more reserved and backward than the 2015 and will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for two decades.

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve is superb. Rich, deep and explosive, with tremendous density, the 2016 possesses notable character and breeding. The 2016 is a dark, muscular wine that will drink well for many years once it recovers from its recent bottling. A blast of dark cherry, plum, chocolate, leather and menthol punctuates the finish. Steinhauer and Bancroft Ranch form the core of the 2016.

Composed of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot aged for 20 months in 83% new French oak, the deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve sings of crème de cassis, kirsch, blackberry preserves and blueberry pie, with loads of chocolate box, floral and baking spices hints. Full-bodied with a firm, chewy frame and loads of savory accents, it delivers a long, multilayered finish. 13,304 cases produced, to be released in January of 2020.