Reviews & Ratings
2018 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon "Clone 169"
Winery: Beaulieu Vineyard
Vintage: 2018
Wine Name/Vineyard: "Clone 169"
Wine Category: Cabernet Sauvignon
Grape blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Bottle size: 750 ml
Region: Rutherford
State or country: CA
Price: $190
Cases produced: 399
KWG Score: 93.5 (based on 3 reviews)
Ken's Wine Rating: Excellent (94.5)
Review date: May 10, 2022
Wine Review: This opaque and dark purple Clone 169 Cabernet Sauvignon from Beaulieu Vineyard opens with a fragrant and inviting ripe black cherry bouquet with hints of leather, wet stone and boysenberry. On the palate, this wine is full bodied with plus acidity. The mouthfeel is nicely balanced, soft, and silky. The flavor profile is stony minerality and black currant blend with notes of blueberry and Twizzler black licorice stick. We also detected some hints of muddled mint in the aftertaste. The finish is dry, and its dusty tannins linger and last for a very long time. Pair Cab with a New York Strip steak. Enjoy - Ken & Dave
Winemaker Notes: This very limited bottling of the 2018 Clone 169 Cabernet Sauvignon demonstrates the unique characteristics of a wine made from vines planted to this single, outstanding clone during the exceptional 2018 vintage. Full of flavor and intensity, this Cabernet shows lovely red berry fruit and floral aromas and characters. A fragrant bouquet of rose petal, lavender, red currant, cassis, and Bing cherry sits alongside fresh savory notes of mint, cinnamon, clove, cola, vanilla spice, tea leaf and potpourri, all a tribute to the Rutherford terroir and nuances from the well-integrated oak aging. The fine-grained cocoa-powder Rutherford Dust tannins are plush while the wine is silky, smooth, and approachable with a generous texture showcasing great finesse and elegance. Vibrant acidity supports the core of red fruit and depth of the lengthy mouthwatering finish. While enjoyable now, this wine will continue to develop complexity in the bottle and will age well for another 20+ years when stored at ideal cellar temperatures.
Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Beaulieu Vineyard 2018 Clone 169 Cabernet Sauvignon.
