1978 BV Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve
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Tasting notes
A massive treat unearthed from the cellars of the newly located Union Square Cafe. Light and delicate and essence of old Napa. Such transparency and grace! Pretty impressive lifespan. (JR)
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Over the years, my notes on the 1978 B.V. Private Reserve have been wildly inconsistent. In this tasting (February, 1995), the wine performed up to its highest standards, displaying fully mature aromas of roasted herbs, red and blackcurrants and cherries intertwined with caramel and spice notes. Dense, rich, and full-bodied, with a velvety texture and gobs of spicy oak, this high alcohol, lusty-styled Cabernet Sauvignon offers a compelling glass of delicious wine. Readers should be aware that I have tasted a number of bottles that are significantly less impressive, leading to the often shared observation from wine enthusiasts that B.V. stands for "Bottle Variation."
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.