Saturday, May 7, 2011

Beringer Winery

Please see our updated 2014 review here: Beringer Revisited

Beringer is a winery that has something for everybody, and you will surely enjoy your visit. They make world class Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignons but also excellent Port style wine.  Be sure to sample the premium wines in their Rhine House, though, if you are serious about wine.

We have been to Beringer many times over the past forty years.  It has a beautiful grounds and interesting buildings that visiting friends and relatives love to see.  (Yes, it can be busy and touristy during peak times.) They offer tastings of their inexpensive line of wines, but these are completely different than the reserve wines, which are in a another building called the Rhine House.  Reserve wines are now served ($25) on the first floor instead of the second, however. This review is of Beringer's reserve wines and not their other inexpensive line of wines, which are fine for the money.  Beringer also has an incredible wine library of old and rare releases.

First, let me say that Beringer has always had really good service and our host, Ed, was one of the best ever.  Courteous, informative, knowledgeable, and friendly, he was the epitome of the ideal wine host. Some wineries seem to forget how important this is, but not Beringer.

Our tasting began with a Beringer Sauvignon Blanc ($30), the Beringer 2005 Merlot ($50) and then the Beringer 2006 Cabernet Franc ($50).  All three were good, and we bought several bottles of Sauvignon Blanc. But the Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignons were the main reason we visited, so we did a vertical tasting of the 2005, 2006 and 2007.  The Beringer 2005 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($115) was rated 93 by The Wine Advocate and it is easy to see why.  It is incredibly well balanced with nice fruit and a generous touch of chocolate on the palate.  The Beringer 2006 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($115) was rated 92 but was definitely not as good as the 2005. The real knockout, however, was the Beringer 2007 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($89). Robert Parker rated it a 95.  With a cherry aroma, it was very well balanced with cherry and a touch of chocolate on the palate, nice soft tannin and a good finish. Simply put, this is a great Cab!!!  It is easily worth the $89 and you can buy it for even less if you are a wine club member. Increasingly, 2007 appears to be an especially good year for Napa Cabs. 

At the end we shared a sip of the sweet dessert wine, a Beringer 2006 Nightingale, which was very pleasant at only $40 a bottle.  It is made with Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. While we were waiting for our wine orders to be filled, we were offered a glass of their Beringer 1987 Port (style) Cabernet Sauvignon ($60) from their wine library. I think this is the best California port style wine I've ever tasted.  It is even be better than some Portuguese Vintage Ports I've had that were many times the price.  It is amazing that a winery can offer such great Reserve Cabs and then follow up with a wonderful Port.  We strongly recommend that you visit Beringer and try their reserve wines, especially the 2007 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.
2000 Main St
St Helena, CA 94574
(707) 967-4412
Visited 5/7/2011 

Titus Vineyards

Titus Vineyards makes one of the finest California Cabernet Francs I’ve ever tasted. We went to Titus Vineyards for the annual Napa Neighbor Afternoon in the Vineyards on May 7th, 2011  This was primarily a vineyard tour, but they offered some tastings as well. Titus is a small vineyard that is usually open only by appointment.  We were offered a very nice Titus Sauvignon Blanc and Titus Cabernet Sauvignon. There was a Zinfandel, too, but it was all gone before we could taste it.  When asked about their famous Cabernet Franc, which I had read so much about, I learned that they did not have any open.  Of course, this was not an official tasting but a vineyard tour, and this is a small family owned and operated vineyard, so that was certainly understandable.



A few minutes later, I was offered a glass of Titus 2009 Cabernet Franc ($36).  Staff said I looked so disappointed that they opened a bottle for us.  I did not take tasting notes but this was one of the finest California Cabernet Francs I have encountered.  It was not overly fruit forward, but was interesting and complex with some pleasant herbal tones. If you don't have an opportunity to tour Titus Vineyard, I recommend you purchase a bottle if you like Cab Francs.



Titus Vineyards is a second generation family owned and operated vineyard that was founded in 1968 by Lee and Ruth Titus.  The original vineyard on their site were planted in the 1880s.  Much of their fruit is sourced out to other wineries.  It was not until 1990 that Titus released its first vintage under its own label.  Titus does  not have a tasting room, so you cannot simply drop in.  Tastings may be arranged, however, by appointment.
Titus is listed on page 176 of the book The New Connoisseurs' Guidebook to California Wine & Wineries (2010 edition) by Olken and Furstenthal, but the book states "No Tasting" rather than "Tasting by Appointment."  I asked them while there and you definitely may make a tasting appointment.  The book further states that Philip Titus "finds time to achieve great things at the family winery."  In Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book 2011, it states that they make, "very good Cab Sauv., an outstanding spicy Zin and Cab Fr." I was sorry to have missed the Zin, but the Cab Franc really was outstanding and I recommend you try it and visit this small vineyard. I would love to visit them again and do a more comprehensive tasting.

Titus Vineyards
2971 Silverado Trail
Saint Helena, CA 94574
(707) 963-3235
Visited May 7, 2011