2019 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges De Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Wow! The aromas to this are really exceptional, with a tangerine edge to the blackcurrants, graphite, lead pencil, flowers and wet earth. It changes all the time. So expressive and refined. Full-bodied with great intensity and depth of fruit. The ultra-fine tannins display millions of layers. The texture on the palate is superb and lasts for minutes. This is the new 1974 George de Latour, which was a legend. Real Napa Valley red here. Drinkable now, to understand it, but truly great in five to six years and onwards. Benchmark.

100 points James Suckling

Fragranced and richly fruited on the nose, vivid and vibrant. Smooth yet with crunchy fruit, this makes an immediate impression. Exuberant, racy and fruit forward with a sense of detail and character. I like the soft floral touches, the sweet blackcurrants and red berry elements, the chalky, minty fresh edges as well as some wild thyme and bay leaf herbal notes and a soft dusting of coffee and cocoa powder. Lots of tension still but also richness and concentration. The powdery yet also fleshy texture is so captivating and together with a mouthwatering capacity gives this wine such star power. Elegant and refined with supreme freshness and a real sense of vibrancy. That said, it's more serious than the stunning 2018, less immediately approachable - it feels cooler but with more precision. One to wait for. Amazing styling going on by winemaker Trevor Durling. This has to be one of the best value Napa Valley wines going. Ageing 20 months in French oak (95% new). More Petit Verdot in the blend than usual at 9%.

97 points Georgina Hindle Decanter

Another stunning vintage of this classic wine, blended with 9% Petit Verdot, this wine is dark and brooding in black cherry, cassis and currant, with a rich nose of baking spice. Lengthy and generous in tannin, it shows a backbone of ageworthy structure and complexity, with a lasting thread of dark chocolate. Enjoy best from 2029–2039.

97 points Virginie Boone Wine Enthusiast

While the quality of the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve Georges de Latour is indeed excellent, what may be even more impressive is that there are more than 12,000 cases of the stuff. Marked by scents of cherries, dusty earth, dried herbs and hints of cedar, it's full-bodied, silky and complex, with a lingering finish. It doesn't require much cellaring, but it should drink well for close to two decades. Nicely done. Drink: 2024-2040.

94 points Joe Czerwinski Robert Parker

A true Napa Valley icon, Georges de Latour Private Reserve traces its roots back to the early 1900s, when Georges de Latour founded Beaulieu Vineyard in Rutherford and helped shape the region’s reputation for world class Cabernet. The wine rose to legendary status under André Tchelistcheff, whose influence defined a more refined, age worthy Napa style that still echoes today. Modern custodianship continues that legacy, balancing richness with structure and longevity.

Sourced primarily from Rutherford benchland vineyards, where gravelly soils and warm days tempered by cool evenings create ideal conditions, this is Cabernet with both power and poise. The site is famous for that unmistakable dusty character, often referred to as Rutherford dust, which adds a savoury, textural edge.

Deep, inky ruby in the glass, the aromatics are layered and expressive. Blackcurrant, blackberry and dark plum sit alongside cedar, graphite and a touch of cocoa. There is a subtle floral lift and a savoury note that adds depth and intrigue.

The palate is full bodied yet composed, with dense dark fruit framed by firm, finely grained tannins. Oak is seamlessly integrated, bringing notes of vanilla, spice and toast, while a line of acidity keeps the wine balanced and focused. There is real concentration here, but it never feels overblown, instead carrying through to a long, structured finish.

This is built for serious food. Think prime rib, slow braised short ribs, or lamb with rosemary and garlic. It also pairs beautifully with aged cheeses, where its structure and richness come into play.

While approachable with a good decant, it is at its best with time. Expect it to evolve over fifteen to twenty years, softening into a more complex, layered expression with notes of leather, tobacco and earth.

There is a sense of history in every glass, a wine that captures the evolution of Napa Cabernet while remaining grounded in tradition and place.