Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
One of my most remarkable wine experiences in a lifetime of tasting, the 1968 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon has stood the test of time, and the wine promises to evolve and become even more incredible with further aging in the bottle. Showing incredible synergy of elements—cedar, red and black currants, sweet earth, tantalizing spices—there are only a handful of wines that have ever been able to reach this level of greatness. Drinks superbly now. (Tasted: October 13, 1990, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Spectator
A big and juicy old wine, with a youthful heart of fruit. Dark ruby in color, with an abundance of blackberry, plum, dark chocolate, tar and mint aromas. Similar flavors make for a full-bodied, chewy mouthfeel. Long finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This wine remains at its plateau of maturity, with greater holding power than the 1970. There is a lot to be said for the 1968, a fascinatingly perfumed, spicy, richly fruity wine with full body, outstanding concentration, and wonderful freshness and length. Pristinely stored bottles should drink well for another 10-15 years.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.