Beaulieu Vineyards (BV) Georges De Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2010 $65

by Dwight Casimere

NAPA VALLEY,Ca--Treat yourself to something really special this summer. Grilled steaks on the open hardwood fire with fire roasted potatoes and grilled asparagus and corn-on-the-cob is the perfect meal to go with Beaulieu Vineyards (BV) Georges De Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2010 ($65). If you like powerhouse Napa Valley Cabs, this is it. It combines power with elegance. The wine should be decanted when served so that it can open up and reveal all of its rich, luxurious flavor. It might seem a little tight at first, but after an hour or so, it really begins to become expressive. 

The deep purple, almost black color of the wine should give a hint as to what lives beneath the surface. The first thing to address you is the aroma redolent of crushed violets and red American Beauty roses. There are flavors of crushed ripened blackberries, dark cherries and dark 70% cocoa Godiva chocolate and licorice along with the bite of a touch of cassis and cracked black pepper. The wine has been aged in new French oak barrels, so there are plenty of toasty baking spices present both in the nose and on the palate. Try Tahitian cinnamon, a hint of nutmeg and allspice with a whiff of Maduro tobacco and hints of potpourri and cedar. Add a touch of garden fresh rosemary to the meat and a side of mushrooms and you have the makings of an outstanding meal that will live long on the palate and in memory. This wine can age ten years or more, but it's so delicious that drinking it now won't be a crime. This is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty of a wine designed to make your next al fresco meal one to remember.