The spectacular 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve came in at 14.2% natural alcohol. The good news is that winemaker Ed Sbragia produced 10000 cases of this beauty. Just hitting late adolescence this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon cuvee exhibits an opaque dark purple color along with a beautiful smoky sweet black currant licorice truffle toast and underbrush-scented nose. With fabulous concentration great intensity and tremendous purity this voluptuously textured full-bodied classic is one of the all-time great Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignons. While drinkable now it will continue to evolve for at least another 20 years. Of all the superb Private Reserve vintages the 2001 ranks alongside the 1991 1994 1995 1997 2005 and 2007. The performances of the two other Cabernet Sauvignons were surprising since I tend to think of these wines as needing to be drunk early in life. The 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Knight's Valley and 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa are both outstanding efforts. Furthermore they prove that you don't have to pay a premium price to get a top-notch wine from this large winery.

Beringer's 2001 Private Reserve is in a great spot today, as it is mature and yet has enough depth to drink well for at least another handful of years. Black cherry, plum, gravel, spice, licorice and leather lend quite a bit of savory intensity. There is a bit of low level brett that might trouble some tasters, but it is not overly dominant in this bottling. In 2001 most of the fruit was from the Steinhauer, Bancroft and Chabot ranches. -- Antonio Galloni