Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Over the years, my notes on the 1978 B.V. Private Reserve have been wildly inconsistent. In this tasting (February, 1995), the wine performed up to its highest standards, displaying fully mature aromas of roasted herbs, red and blackcurrants and cherries intertwined with caramel and spice notes. Dense, rich, and full-bodied, with a velvety texture and gobs of spicy oak, this high alcohol, lusty-styled Cabernet Sauvignon offers a compelling glass of delicious wine. Readers should be aware that I have tasted a number of bottles that are significantly less impressive, leading to the often shared observation from wine enthusiasts that B.V. stands for "Bottle Variation."
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.