1999 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve

(13.9% alcohol; 11% Chabot, 20% St. Helena, 4% Bancroft, 51% Steinhauer, 10% Rancho del Oso and 4% Cabernet Franc): Good full medium red. Warm, inviting, highly perfumed aromas of currant and curry powder. Juicy and sharply delineated, conveying good verve to the dense flavors of spices, herbs and green today. Not a fruity style but boasts lovely mineral lift. This will make a very flexible food wine.

Production: 12,500 cases; Alcohol: 13.9%; Blend:100% Cabernet Sauvignon; Harvest Dates: October 12 to November 3.The 1999 Private Reserve was made from four fruit sources, the St. Helena Home Vineyard, Bancroft Ranch, Tre Colline and Marston Ranch. According to Ed Sbragia, the growing season in 1999 is largely remembered for its moderate temperatures, late start because of erratic spring weather and one of the coldest Septembers anyone can remember in Napa Valley. In late September, temperatures finally hit the nineties, and October was beautiful. This appears to be a very good rather than great Napa vintage and many producers may have pulled the harvest trigger too soon. Beringer’s 1999 Private Reserve reveals a dense purple color along with a flinty, herbal, austere personality that comes across like a young Medoc. Still vigorous, primary and unformed at age 13, it does not reveal the volume and ampleness I would expect of a top-flight Cabernet Sauvignon from either Beringer or Napa Valley. There is decent density, but the tannins are high and I’m not sure they will completely resolve themselves before this wine hits full maturity in a decade or so.

Ruby-red. Highly nuanced nose combines currant, plum, smoky oak, minerals, licorice and mint. Wonderfully sweet, sappy and dense. The most complex of these '99 cabernets, with enticing flavors of currant, minerals and brown spices. Very long, slow-building finish features big but sweet and fine tannins. Suave and impressive.