The 2018 BV Private Reserve Georges de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon is a standout offering from Beaulieu Vineyard, located in the historic Napa region of California's North Coast. This wine is a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, and 3% Malbec, aged for 22 months in 95% new French oak barrels. It boasts an alcohol content of 14.5% and is sealed with a cork closure.
This vintage has garnered high praise from several notable wine critics. Decanter awarded it a score of 96, highlighting its "rich and fruit-filled" nose with blackcurrants, raspberries, and black cherries, complemented by dried herbs and perfumed aromatics. The review notes its "full-bodied" nature with layers of cherry, liquorice, and tobacco leaf, combined with "velvet-like tannins and sustaining acidity" that suggest great aging potential.
James Suckling gave this wine an impressive 98 points, describing it as "full-bodied with chewy tannins that are in-check and nicely polished." He praised its "blackberry, blackcurrant, and mint" notes, along with "smoke, toasted oak, and bark" that enhance the fresh yet ripe fruit profile. He recommends drinking it after 2024.
Vinous also rated the wine at 98 points, calling it "fabulous," and highlighting its "inky red fruit, chocolate, leather, and licorice" flavors. Antonio Galloni of Vinous noted the wine's depth and finer tannins, attributing this to shorter skin contact and reduced barrel fermentation, which allow the unique characteristics of the Rutherford sites to shine through.
Wine Enthusiast's Virginie Boone awarded it 97 points, appreciating its "complex and structured" nature with "notes of black currant, cassis, and forest" and a foundation that promises "elegant ageability." Boone suggests enjoying it best from 2028 to 2038.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave it 96+ points, lauding its "flamboyant scents of blackberry preserves, wild blueberries, and crème de cassis." The review also noted its "firm grainy tannins and seamless freshness" supporting a "muscular black fruit" finish.
Jeb Dunnuck rated it 97+ points, calling it a "gorgeous wine" reminiscent of the 2016 vintage but slightly more tannic. He praised its "full-bodied richness, a beautiful sense of purity and freshness, flawless balance, and a great finish," and noted its potential for aging over the next 20-25 years.
Wine Spectator was slightly more reserved, giving it 92 points and describing it as "juicy, ripe, and inviting," with notes of "cassis, plum, and boysenberry compote," though it found the finish "a bit taut."
Finally, Jane Anson awarded it 95 points, noting a "beautiful" profile with "floral notes, cocoa powder, the classic Rutherford dust," and "freshness." She emphasized its "grip and restraint" and confirmed its aging potential.
In summary, the 2018 BV Private Reserve Georges de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon is a highly acclaimed wine, celebrated for its rich, complex flavor profile and excellent aging potential.
