2006 Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve
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Tasting notes
(82% cabernet sauvignon, 13% merlot and the rest petit verdot, cab franc and malbec; mostly from Rutherford fruit) Good deep red. Expressive, claret-like aromas of strawberry, raspberry, currant, cherry, tobacco, menthol and spices. Supple and sweet, with good floral lift to the berry and tobacco flavors. Firm acids and rather suave tannins will not get in the way of enjoying this wine now. Winemaker Stambor is doing a lot of the malolactic fermentation of this wine in barrel, and does some stirring of the lees for the cabernet lots.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2006 Proprietary Red Wine Tapestry Reserve (a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot) is the finest example of this cuvee I have ever tasted. Flowery, licorice-infused, cassis notes intermixed with forest floor and lead pencil shavings are followed by a layered, impressively built wine with real opulence, lots of red and black fruits, low acidity, and lush tannin. It should drink well for 15+ years. One of the most dramatic revelations in my California North Coast tastings was the resurrection/renaissance of Beaulieu Vineyard, one of the historic names in California winedom. This was the source of some extraordinary Cabernet Sauvignons in the fifties, sixties, and early seventies, but the winery fell on hard times and was sold (it is now owned by the gigantic Diageo company). However, they have come back with a vengeance over the last few vintages. Michel Rolland, the brilliant wine consultant, was brought in to help resurrect the Private Reserve program, and it appears his magic has spilled over onto the other wines as well. Tel. (800) 373-5896; Fax (707) 967-0428
About the producer
Beaulieu Vineyard remains one of the most historically important wineries in Napa Valley. It is it one of the longest continuous running wineries in the region, as one of the few that kept operating throughout Prohibition.