1986 Beaulieu Vineyard George De Latour Private Reserve

A nice hard to find bottle. Label shows a small amount of wear. Bottle fill to the bottom of the neck. Capsule in good shape.

About the Wine "Deep dark ruby in color, the aromas reflect classic Rutherford notes of black cherry and currant, with licorice, loam and dried herb components. The wine is medium to full bodied with layered flavors of dark berries, currants, cherries, slate, anise and vanilla...Reserve level Cabernet-based wines are vinified in a similar manner. Grapes were hand picked at optimal maturity and crushed into stainless steel fermenting tanks. Fermentation lasted 7-10 days, with peak juice temperatures reaching 85°F. The must was gently pumped over/punched down 2-3 times per day to carefully extract aroma and flavor components. Pressed at dryness, the individual vineyard lots were transferred to a variety of barrels for malolactic fermentation and extended aging...Nearly opaque black ruby-violet color. Pronounced, herbal, licorice-vanilla and dark cherry aromas, fragrant and explosive intensity. Definite clone 6 influence. Full-bodied, with a thick chewy texture, ripe black and red fruits, firm but supple tannins and no sense of jamminess or over-ripeness. Ripe tannins and solid acidity provide underpinning. Hints of licorice and mineral, as well as bittersweet cocoa, show up in the very long finish. This wine has high fruit intensity combined with strong structure to insure extended aging up to two decades from vintage, and should be the longest aging Private Reserve of the 1990’s."

50-year anniversary bottling of Beaulieu's famed Georges de Latour Private Reserve. Cellared at the winery, this is an opportunity to taste a piece of Napa Valley history. 89 points Wine Spectator: "Balanced and lively, with aromas of plum, mint, flowers and shells. Full-bodied and velvety, with a very good but slightly one-dimensional fruit structure and a long finish. — Georges de Latour Private Reserve vertical." (02/00)

PREVIEW: Will go on Auction at Ebay January 3, 2008.