2003 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Bancroft Ranch
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Tasting notes
The medium to full-bodied, rich, sexy 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Bancroft Ranch (14.1% alcohol), from a vineyard which also lies at an 1,800-foot elevation on the western slope of Howell Mountain, exhibits lots of sweet, chocolaty, ripe black currant fruit, Asian spice, sassafras and roasted coffee beans. As I have indicated before, the Private Reserve is a blend from at least six separate vineyards owned by Beringer. Most are Howell Mountain sites, although there are two in St. Helena and one on Spring Mountain. Beringer offers their single vineyard cuvees to their private and wine list customers at the winery, and they are often worth taking a look at, as in certain vintages they can truly excel. I find it remarkable that the Beringer winemaking team continues to show their genius by the fact that their Private Reserve is always the finest of them, and it’s the one that is blended with the other single vineyards. In any event, the following is a quick synopsis of the 2003 single vineyard offerings, which are all limited in availability. Tel. (707) 963-7115
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Good medium red. Cassis and bitter chocolate on the nose. Lusher and sweeter than most of these single-vineyard 2003 cabernets, with a more generous, chocolatey ripeness and a tangy, vinous quality. Finishes with fairly sweet, ripe tannins. The crop level here was just two tons an acre, according to Ed Sbragia.