Established in 1876, Beringer is California's oldest continuously operating winery. It all began in 1868 when Jacob emigrated from Mainz, Germany to New York and then later to Napa Valley. After being a cellar foreman for Charles Krug Winery, Jacob and his brother Frederick purchased 215 acres of land next to Charles Krug in St Helena. This would become the home for the estate. Their first release occurred in 1876. Beringer was the first winery in the world to receive Wine Spectator’s #1 Winery of the Year for their red and white wines (1986 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and the 1994 Private Reserve Chardonnay)

This wine is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot and 2% Malbec, aged for 22 months in French Oak barrels (64% New). The fruit is sourced from multiple estate vineyards including Howell Mountain, which is fully expressed in the framework of this bottling. This black-opaque beauty holds nothing back with a explosive bouquet of purple violets, graphite and dusty cocoa. It is extremely well-constructed and concentrated with lush black raspberry coulis interwoven with fine pencil shavings, anise, melted fudge and a potpourri of fruitcake spices. This pleasurable wine offers a lush, creamy mid-palate with silky tannins that make it gratifying at every turn through the long, expansive finish. Patience will reward those who are willing to cellar this opulent wine for it will have a enduring future.

By W Peter Hoyne