Truth or dare? Well, truth is, we dare you to find another Napa Cab this outstanding in the mid-$30s with a name as famous as Beringer attached to it. The Private Reserve Cabernet is about triple the cost of this wine, while the quality is comparable as they both share some of the greatest Napa vineyards out there, along with the same impeccable winemaking that made Beringer the famous family they have remained since 1876. In this 100% Cabernet, the very best of Napa Valley’s wild mountaintop and valley floor appellations were masterfully blended for unheard-of complexity within humble affordability.

A seamless amalgamation of a multitude of deeper, near opaque reds from garnet to crimson. The nose offers black currant, blackberry infused with espresso bean, Asian spices, incenses, and sweet cigars. Brawny on the palate while retaining impeccable fruit purity resonating through well-integrated toasty oak. There is superb density that sustains over a long, rich, full-bodied, impressively endowed tannic finish. This thrilling Cab is just fine to sip on its own, yet with a meal to pair it would need a serious, decadent cut of meat and rich sides.

There is no denying how influential Beringer has historically been. With a new generation taking over, they have attained new heights as Robert Parker expressed well recently; “despite the enormity of this enterprise (multiple wineries and a global network), the flagship estate in northern California, Beringer Vineyards, continues to be in very capable winemaking hands, and the quality of the wines remains exceptionally impressive, these are all excellent” and this limited production black label ‘Distinction Series’ Cabernet is the shining example of the new guard’s ability to elevate the legacy even further. At nearly half off, this is a no brainer to collect, cellar or savor.

Here is what the wine press has to say:

92 Points – James Suckling - “Lots of ripe fruit to this cab with dried berries, cherries, currants and chocolate undertones. Full and powerful, yet there’s a freshness and firmness to it all. Drink in 2021, but very approachable now in a fruit-forward way.”