1974 - Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Beaulieu Vineyard, Napa Valley

The 1974 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve Georges de Latour was served blind at a restaurant in Beaune, from a vintage where California excelled. The wine is in a very beautiful place, born in a year when, in my limited experience, California could do no wrong. There is a noticeable maturation in color, with just a touch of turbidity. The bouquet instantly puts your mind at rest that you are in the company of a noble Napa Cabernet. Vestiges of red fruit, mulberry, singed leather, espresso and light terracotta aromas meld together effortlessly. You’re already in the palm of its hand before putting the glass to your lips. The palate is beautifully balanced with fine-grain tannins and brown spices intermixed with dark berry fruit and an easy-going yet persistent mocha and espresso-tinged finish. The 1974 is not a show-off. It’s just an exquisite, mature Californian Cabernet entering its dotage with panache.

1974 was an outstanding vintage and one that produced a notably fuller/riper style at Beaulieu. Pale to medium brick-tawny colored, the 1974 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve Georges de Latour offers up a gorgeous perfume of dried roses, vanilla pod, toasted nuts, and orange peel, leading to a core of dried figs and unsmoked cigars. The medium-bodied palate is lively and plush with delicate, perfumed flavors and a peppery finish. 29,900 cases were made—the largest production in the history of this label.