Rating

The 2007 Chardonnay Private Reserve (always one of California’s top Chardonnays) has toned down the toasty oak component, exhibiting excellent nutty, honeyed, buttery notes of orange marmalade, brioche, and spice. Full-bodied, rich, and pure, it reminds me of a Burgundian premier cru from Chassagne-Montrachet or Meursault. Beringer continues to turn out an impressive array of wines, proving that a gigantic global operation can be focused on quality and character. Beringer’s Pinot Noir program continues to show more and more promise. Beringer’s Cabernet Sauvignon program includes two outstanding bargains, one from Knight’s Valley and one from Napa. They are both serious Cabernet Sauvignons meant to be drunk young, but both are capable of lasting a decade or more. For their Private Club members, Beringer offers approximately 200 cases of all the single vineyards that go into their Private Reserve cuvee. I’ll keep my tasting notes brief since these wines are only available to Private Club members. However, it is always interesting that, aside from two or three of the single vineyards, the Private Reserve final blend is always the finest wine of the group. This has been proven time and time again at these tastings. Robert Parker 92 points (Dec 2008)

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When I first began making Private Reserve Chardonnay, back in 1978, we simply went out into our vineyards and selected the grapes with the most concentrated, complex flavors. We still make this selection, and we still recognize that certain vineyard blocks consistently produce richer fruit. However, in the decades since, we`ve learned to take early steps that help us grow more luscious fruit through the viticultural practices we have adopted. Now we are truly producing the grapes for this wine `by the vine,` rather than by vineyard selection only. We ensure that each vine is balanced individually in terms of the amount of fruit relative to the foliage. That process starts at pruning and carries on throughout the growing season as our vineyard workers assess and adjust each vine and its crop. This approach bumps up the quality of all our Chardonnays and gives me even more choices for the special fruit I select for the Private Reserve. I believe our early and constant attention to the vine is really paying off in the concentrated aromas and flavors we are getting in the glass. -Ed Sbragia, Winemaster