Beaulieu Vineyard 2014 BV Reserve Tapestry: Beaulieu Vineyard is located in the Napa Valley near Rutherford, California. It was established by Georges de Latour and his wife, Fernande, in 1900. The vineyard derives its name from the French phrase Quel beau lieu, which translates to English as “What a beautiful place.” Legend has it that Fernande de Latour uttered these words when she first saw the land that would become their original Rutherford vineyard.
De Latour’s knowledge of phylloxera, insects that had ravaged many Napa Valley vineyards, and his decision to import a rootstock variety from Europe that was resistant to the pests, helped secure his reputation as one of the early pioneers of California’s wine industry.
When Prohibition began in the United States, most wineries in the country were forced out of operation. However, Beaulieu Vineyard increased its business fourfold by obtaining a contract to sell sacramental wine to the Catholic Church. Following the repeal of Prohibition, de Latour journeyed to his native France and hired famed viticulturist and enologist Andre Tchelistcheff as winemaker… Under Tchelistcheff ‘s innovative leadership, the quality of Beaulieu’s wines increased dramatically.
In March 2017, Beaulieu’s parent company, Treasury Wine Estates, appointed Trevor Durling as the new General Manager and Director of Winemaking for Beaulieu Vineyard. He is only the fifth winemaker in Beaulieu’s 117-year history.
BV’s George de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most sought-after collectible wines in America. The 2013 Georges de Latour Private Reserve Le Coeur, which is only available in magnums, recently received 99 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, and goes for over $1,000.00 per bottle.
A bit more down to earth is the Beaulieu Vineyard 2014 BV Reserve Tapestry. A “Bordeaux-style” wine, the 2014, which recently received a whopping 95 points from wine writer James Suckling, is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot with touches of Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc. This is a rich, seductive wine, medium to full-bodied and boasting a long, spicy finish. It normally retails in the $50.00 – $60.00 range, but I’ve seen it online from various sources for $39.99. The perfect wine for an intimate Valentine’s Day dinner.
Domaine Lafage 2015 Bastide Miraflors Vieilles Vignes: Although only in his thirties, Jean-Marc Lafage already has almost 15-years’ experience of world class winemaking. One of the most sought-after winemakers in Europe, Monsieur Lafage lends his expertize with Southern European varietals to several top estates in both France and Spain (for example, he makes Las Rocas Garnacha with Eric Solomon) and also in South America. His best work, however, is at home at his estate in the Roussillon hills of southern France.
Jean-Marc and Eliane (also an accomplished winemaker) Lafage farm 160 hectares (395+ acres) of vines located south of the capital of French Catalonia, Perpignan. Some of their vineyards are situated a few kilometers from the Mediterranean, others in the foothills of the Pyrenees. The range of sites allows them to produce both refreshing whites and concentrated reds… and a number of fortified wines as well. The entire estate is farmed organically.
The grapes grown are primarily Grenache (Blanc, Gris & Noir), Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan, Marsanne, Roussanne, and Chardonnay; and a significant proportion of the vines are well over 50 years old. The harvesting is done by hand with fermentation taking place in stainless steel for the fresher white wines and concrete tanks and French oak demi-muids (600-liter capacity barrels) for the reds. The wines are then bottled unfiltered.
According to Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, which also bestowed an incredible 94 points, the Domaine Lafage 2015 Bastide Miraflors Vieilles Vignes is a vintage “almost too good to be true.” The wine is a blend of 70% Syrah and 30% old vine Grenache with an average vine age of 55 years.
I’ve tasted both the 2013 and 2014 Bastide Miraflors and both are excellent and highly rated… But the 2015 beats them all. This is a downright sexy wine, deep, unctuous, filled with berry fruits, and absolutely as smooth as silk on the palate. It is nothing short of sensational… And the price is pretty sensational as well. This wine averages $15.00 across the board; but it can be had from a variety of sources online for $11.00 – $12.00 per bottle. Quite a Valentine!
Cheers!
TAD
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