Beaulieu Vineyard
Reserve Tapestry Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Napa Valley, California, USA
Surprisingly beautiful. Great bottles. Tannins smooth — enough for structure but not in the way. Dark fruit. Great.
Surprisingly beautiful. Great bottles. Tannins smooth — enough for structure but not in the way. Dark fruit. Great.
Apr 1st, 2024
More advanced than other 97’s I’ve had. Still grit with flowers. Always get a touch of Cognac from the mid 90’s BV Tapestry’s. Less on the 97. Beautiful, ripe, foral fruits with spice, barrel toast with evolution & integration. Incredible structure, balance. Violets for days. Still has 5-8 years.
This bottle on auction are more advanced than my bottles or others bought at auction. This is just around it’s precipice where other bottles I’ve had required more time. Another 8 years. This is more within 3 years. I would add that a 1997 94 points rating greatly over shadows a young(ish) vintage of the same. Just gets better and better with each sip.
1997 the vintage of our modern times. This wine was about $25 on release, give or take. Today, it drinks like a $100 plus bottle of Napa Cabernet.
More advanced than other 97’s I’ve had. Still grit with flowers. Always get a touch of Cognac from the mid 90’s BV Tapestry’s. Less on the 97. Beautiful, ripe, foral fruits with spice, barrel toast with evolution & integration. Incredible structure, balance. Violets for days. Still has 5-8 years.
This bottle on auction are more advanced than my bottles or others bought at auction. This is just around it’s precipice where other bottles I’ve had required more time. Another 8 years. This is more within 3 years. I would add that a 1997 94 points rating greatly over shadows a young(ish) vintage of the same. Just gets better and better with each sip.
1997 the vintage of our modern times. This wine was about $25 on release, give or take. Today, it drinks like a $100 plus bottle of Napa Cabernet.
Lots of funk. Didn’t fully blow off.
Lots of funk. Didn’t fully blow off.
Dec 4th, 2022The finish to opening night always results in either new or old world Cabernet. 2019 is no exception!
The nose reveals, ripe, ruby, slightly stewed & candied fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, blueberries, baked rhubarb, strawberries and dry cranberries. Dark & milk chocolate, mocha, caramel, light vanilla, anise, dry crushed rocks, dark rich, moist soil, steeped tea leaves, dark fruit cola/liqueur, mint, dry herbaceous, bay leaf with fresh, dark, red, blue flowers with violets and hints of lavender.
The body is full and lush. Tannins are well resolved, dark, tarry soft and still has 5-7 plus years of life ahead. The structure, tension, length and balance have hit harmony. She’s an elegant beauty. Ripe, ruby, slightly stewed & candied fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, blueberries, baked rhubarb, Thompson raisins, strawberries and dry cranberries. Dark & milk chocolate, mocha, salted caramel, light vanilla, anise, medium, dark spice, dry underbrush, dry crushed rocks, used expresso grounds, cognac notes, brunt creme brûlée, dark rich, moist soil, limestone, volcanic minerals, steeped tea leaves, dark fruit cola/liqueur, mint, dry herbaceous, bay leaf with fresh, dark, red, blue flowers with violets and hints of lavender. The acidity is excellent. The finish is, elegant, polished, well balanced, harmony fruit & earth, polish and persists on and on.
The right 20 year old BV Tapestries are such a pleasure to sip!
Photos of, night shot of our candle lit backyard, rose bushes and Sofia soaking up the late afternoon sun under our mushroom shaped Japanese Maple.
The finish to opening night always results in either new or old world Cabernet. 2019 is no exception!
The nose reveals, ripe, ruby, slightly stewed & candied fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, blueberries, baked rhubarb, strawberries and dry cranberries. Dark & milk chocolate, mocha, caramel, light vanilla, anise, dry crushed rocks, dark rich, moist soil, steeped tea leaves, dark fruit cola/liqueur, mint, dry herbaceous, bay leaf with fresh, dark, red, blue flowers with violets and hints of lavender.
The body is full and lush. Tannins are well resolved, dark, tarry soft and still has 5-7 plus years of life ahead. The structure, tension, length and balance have hit harmony. She’s an elegant beauty. Ripe, ruby, slightly stewed & candied fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, blueberries, baked rhubarb, Thompson raisins, strawberries and dry cranberries. Dark & milk chocolate, mocha, salted caramel, light vanilla, anise, medium, dark spice, dry underbrush, dry crushed rocks, used expresso grounds, cognac notes, brunt creme brûlée, dark rich, moist soil, limestone, volcanic minerals, steeped tea leaves, dark fruit cola/liqueur, mint, dry herbaceous, bay leaf with fresh, dark, red, blue flowers with violets and hints of lavender. The acidity is excellent. The finish is, elegant, polished, well balanced, harmony fruit & earth, polish and persists on and on.
The right 20 year old BV Tapestries are such a pleasure to sip!
Photos of, night shot of our candle lit backyard, rose bushes and Sofia soaking up the late afternoon sun under our mushroom shaped Japanese Maple.
The follow up to the 03 Brane-Cantenac. So good but still youthful now as I mentioned this 97 still is in @Paul T- Huntington Beach recent post of his 2013.
The tannins are round, softened but still meaty & somewhat tarry.
The nose is still brooding. Ripe lush, ruby, fruits of, blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries, baked to poached strawberries. Dark, rich, sweet forest floor, mix of Indian & Asian spice with palate piercing heat, notes of Cognac, steeped tea, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, black licorice, tarry notes, day crushed rocks, limestone minerals, grey volcanic minerals, light tobacco with ash, used leather, sandalwood, bright, fresh; dark, red, blue florals with violets.
The palate is ripe, lush, juicy & floral fruits of; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries, baked to poached strawberries, raspberry highlights & pomegranate. Dark, rich, sweet forest floor, mix of Indian & Asian spice, notes of Cognac, steeped tea, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, black licorice, tarry notes, day crushed rocks, limestone minerals, grey volcanic minerals/ash, moist, grey clay, light tobacco with ash, used leather, sandalwood, bright, fresh; dark, red, blue florals with violets, insane, waterfall acidity, woven, layered, structured, nicely tensioned with great length and a incredibly balanced, well polished finish that goes on for two to three minutes.
If you are 15-20 years plus patient w/ these bottling’s, they are one of the very best values in Napa Valley.
The follow up to the 03 Brane-Cantenac. So good but still youthful now as I mentioned this 97 still is in @Paul T- Huntington Beach recent post of his 2013.
The tannins are round, softened but still meaty & somewhat tarry.
The nose is still brooding. Ripe lush, ruby, fruits of, blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries, baked to poached strawberries. Dark, rich, sweet forest floor, mix of Indian & Asian spice with palate piercing heat, notes of Cognac, steeped tea, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, black licorice, tarry notes, day crushed rocks, limestone minerals, grey volcanic minerals, light tobacco with ash, used leather, sandalwood, bright, fresh; dark, red, blue florals with violets.
The palate is ripe, lush, juicy & floral fruits of; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries, baked to poached strawberries, raspberry highlights & pomegranate. Dark, rich, sweet forest floor, mix of Indian & Asian spice, notes of Cognac, steeped tea, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, black licorice, tarry notes, day crushed rocks, limestone minerals, grey volcanic minerals/ash, moist, grey clay, light tobacco with ash, used leather, sandalwood, bright, fresh; dark, red, blue florals with violets, insane, waterfall acidity, woven, layered, structured, nicely tensioned with great length and a incredibly balanced, well polished finish that goes on for two to three minutes.
If you are 15-20 years plus patient w/ these bottling’s, they are one of the very best values in Napa Valley.
It is interesting to me how people shy away from the Tapestry in a lot of cases. When you drink this wine young, it’s just ok to good. However, if you get a great vintage (like 97 is) & let it age 20 years in bottle in a temperature controlled environment, you get a very special Napa Cabernet for a small price. When you consider the prices on quality Napa Cabernets at well over $100(s), this is a steal back in 99 for around $25.
The nose reveals a touch of barnyard that mixes into the ruby, liqueured style fruits of; blackberries, dark & slightly sour black cherries, sugar, black plum, poached strawberries, creamed, black raspberries, haunting blueberries, black licorice, light sweet tarry notes, cinnamon, light clove & even lighter nutmeg with vanilla, steeped, fruit teas, mixed berry cola, some red licorice, limestone minerals, fresh & old tobacco, used leather, saddle-wood, light granite, herbaceous notes, dry crushed rocks, dry brush, touch of black pepper with bright, fresh & dry, dark, red, blue, purple florals framed in violets.
The body is round, lush and still somewhat thick. The tannins are round, chewy, tarry and about 60% resolved. This 97 has another 10 years plus ahead with proper storage. Our cork showed some age in terms of feel but, nearly no seepage. It is ruby & lush as it sings over the palate. Shows a touch of barnyard on the palate like the nose that mixes into the ruby, liqueured style fruits of; dark currants, blackberries, gooseberries, olallieberries, dark & slightly sour black cherries, sugar, black plum, poached strawberries, creamed, black raspberries, haunting blueberries, black licorice, light sweet tarry notes, cinnamon, light clove & even lighter nutmeg with vanilla, light burnt caramel, mocha, steeped, fruit teas, mixed berry cola, some red licorice, cognac notes, dark roast coffee, limestone minerals, fresh & old tobacco, used leather, saddle-wood, light granite, herbaceous notes-sage dominate, beautifully, soft dark spices with some palate heat, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, barely moist clay, dry brush, touch of black pepper with bright, fresh & dry, dark, red, blue, purple florals framed in violets. The acidity shows the beauty that nature gave to Napa in 97. The finish is well balanced, nicely polished, an elegant beauty queen that persists on your palate nicely and your mind for months/years down the road.
This wine is far more special on the palate than the technical score I’ve given it.
Photos of; a sunset over the George de Latour Vineyard, the gateway into the BV tasting room on Hwy 29, their tasting room and outside their tasting room & grounds.
It is interesting to me how people shy away from the Tapestry in a lot of cases. When you drink this wine young, it’s just ok to good. However, if you get a great vintage (like 97 is) & let it age 20 years in bottle in a temperature controlled environment, you get a very special Napa Cabernet for a small price. When you consider the prices on quality Napa Cabernets at well over $100(s), this is a steal back in 99 for around $25.
The nose reveals a touch of barnyard that mixes into the ruby, liqueured style fruits of; blackberries, dark & slightly sour black cherries, sugar, black plum, poached strawberries, creamed, black raspberries, haunting blueberries, black licorice, light sweet tarry notes, cinnamon, light clove & even lighter nutmeg with vanilla, steeped, fruit teas, mixed berry cola, some red licorice, limestone minerals, fresh & old tobacco, used leather, saddle-wood, light granite, herbaceous notes, dry crushed rocks, dry brush, touch of black pepper with bright, fresh & dry, dark, red, blue, purple florals framed in violets.
The body is round, lush and still somewhat thick. The tannins are round, chewy, tarry and about 60% resolved. This 97 has another 10 years plus ahead with proper storage. Our cork showed some age in terms of feel but, nearly no seepage. It is ruby & lush as it sings over the palate. Shows a touch of barnyard on the palate like the nose that mixes into the ruby, liqueured style fruits of; dark currants, blackberries, gooseberries, olallieberries, dark & slightly sour black cherries, sugar, black plum, poached strawberries, creamed, black raspberries, haunting blueberries, black licorice, light sweet tarry notes, cinnamon, light clove & even lighter nutmeg with vanilla, light burnt caramel, mocha, steeped, fruit teas, mixed berry cola, some red licorice, cognac notes, dark roast coffee, limestone minerals, fresh & old tobacco, used leather, saddle-wood, light granite, herbaceous notes-sage dominate, beautifully, soft dark spices with some palate heat, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, barely moist clay, dry brush, touch of black pepper with bright, fresh & dry, dark, red, blue, purple florals framed in violets. The acidity shows the beauty that nature gave to Napa in 97. The finish is well balanced, nicely polished, an elegant beauty queen that persists on your palate nicely and your mind for months/years down the road.
This wine is far more special on the palate than the technical score I’ve given it.
Photos of; a sunset over the George de Latour Vineyard, the gateway into the BV tasting room on Hwy 29, their tasting room and outside their tasting room & grounds.
definitely more austere than more recent years
definitely more austere than more recent years
1 person found it helpfulFeb 1st, 2015
1997 I think 97 was a big year from wine and if this was a straight cab a ten would be in the making for this double magnum stored nicely. The Tapestry is a mellowed and lighter but because it was a double magnum it held up nicely. Better than the than the seventeen year old cork that fell apart when opening. Thought it was a bust with that but after straining and an hour to breathe not a hint of corky taste. Mellow. Fruit and nice finish. BV did it right.
1997 I think 97 was a big year from wine and if this was a straight cab a ten would be in the making for this double magnum stored nicely. The Tapestry is a mellowed and lighter but because it was a double magnum it held up nicely. Better than the than the seventeen year old cork that fell apart when opening. Thought it was a bust with that but after straining and an hour to breathe not a hint of corky taste. Mellow. Fruit and nice finish. BV did it right.
1 person found it helpfulDec 12th, 2014A fantastic red. Dinner at Archetype in St Helena. Deep flavors and complex. Will age for many more years.
A fantastic red. Dinner at Archetype in St Helena. Deep flavors and complex. Will age for many more years.
Mar 17th, 2017