Beaulieu Vineyard
Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
This was a well-stored example and the cork was in pretty great shape; extracted with the aid of a Durand. Opened about an hour before service and poured into a decanter. Enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 1981 pours a garnet color with a slight orange-ish rim; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with mostly desiccated notes of dark and red fruit: red currants, confected cherry, organic earth, mushroom, leather, eucalyptus, baking spice. Umami AF. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. While showing its age, this is very much alive. The entire bottle was enjoyed by all. Drink now.
This was a well-stored example and the cork was in pretty great shape; extracted with the aid of a Durand. Opened about an hour before service and poured into a decanter. Enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 1981 pours a garnet color with a slight orange-ish rim; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with mostly desiccated notes of dark and red fruit: red currants, confected cherry, organic earth, mushroom, leather, eucalyptus, baking spice. Umami AF. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. While showing its age, this is very much alive. The entire bottle was enjoyed by all. Drink now.
Jun 27th, 2025
Weirdness finally left... Gorgeous. Welcome to the Portfolio.
Weirdness finally left... Gorgeous. Welcome to the Portfolio.
2 people found it helpfulJan 13th, 2016
Totally unexpected fruit notes and structure. I think all the acid held it together
Totally unexpected fruit notes and structure. I think all the acid held it together
1 person found it helpfulSep 30th, 2015
Wow! Tasting wonderful at 40 years. Wife and I birth year for thanksgiving. From magnum. Tons of pepper black and green. Plums, cherries, stewed fruits, but acidity and tannins still there. Some baking spice, earth, currants as well. Shocked at how good this is.
Wow! Tasting wonderful at 40 years. Wife and I birth year for thanksgiving. From magnum. Tons of pepper black and green. Plums, cherries, stewed fruits, but acidity and tannins still there. Some baking spice, earth, currants as well. Shocked at how good this is.
Nov 26th, 2021
Happy birthday J. Fantastic at 38 years. Not showing any ill affects of age. Velvety with nice juicy fruit and secondary notes of leather, bitter chocolate, forest floor and only soft thread of tertiary notes on the finish. Still had tannins. This was 2 of 2 and this drank as good, if not better, than the one last year. A pleasure.
Paired with A5 NY strip.
Happy birthday J. Fantastic at 38 years. Not showing any ill affects of age. Velvety with nice juicy fruit and secondary notes of leather, bitter chocolate, forest floor and only soft thread of tertiary notes on the finish. Still had tannins. This was 2 of 2 and this drank as good, if not better, than the one last year. A pleasure.
Paired with A5 NY strip.
Full tertiary but hints of dried red berries. Fun! Birth year wine for JG!
Full tertiary but hints of dried red berries. Fun! Birth year wine for JG!
Jul 21st, 2018
Very disappointed as the 1980 was hands down better and this vintage was higher rated. I smell eucalyptus but the finish is dead. Past it's prime.
Very disappointed as the 1980 was hands down better and this vintage was higher rated. I smell eucalyptus but the finish is dead. Past it's prime.
Oct 21st, 2016
Deep garnet core fading to tawny brown rim. Complex bouquet of cherry, red currants, raisins, dates, and sweet pipe tobacco. Elegant, balanced, and "Old World" in style with vibrant acidity and surprisingly persistent red fruit and tannic texture despite 35 years in the bottle. Drank from a magnum.
Deep garnet core fading to tawny brown rim. Complex bouquet of cherry, red currants, raisins, dates, and sweet pipe tobacco. Elegant, balanced, and "Old World" in style with vibrant acidity and surprisingly persistent red fruit and tannic texture despite 35 years in the bottle. Drank from a magnum.
Aug 7th, 2016