Beringer Distinction Series Cabernet 2016 | The 99pt Private Reserve’s Little Brother
The Beringer Distinction Series Cabernet 2016 presents a saturated, inky, ruby-black center with heavy staining tears throughout the glass. Warm, plush black fruits of cassis, blackberry compote, black cherry, and cream. The textbook markers of Madagascar vanilla, raw chocolate, and organic upturned earth are enveloped by a sense of campfire smoke and spices. While the palate is expansive, plush, and supple with a very gentle, polished tannic grip. The density of the dark black fruit leads the charge all the way to the long silky finish. This wine shows all of the elements of Napa’s finest mountain vineyards and the polished edges of the hillside benches.
This Cabernet blend of Reserve Vineyards from Beringer: Bancroft Ranch & Steinhauer on Howell Mountain, Martson Ranch on Spring Mountain, and the Home Vineyard in St Helena form the foundation of this mountain and valley floor decadent red. All of these great sites make their way into the famed “Private Reserve Cabernet” from Beringer. So quality is through the roof. Most of all, Beringer Distinction Series Cabernet 2016 delivers some of the best Cabernet in Napa for a fraction of the price of other famed producers
Amazing Red Gems under $35
94JD | First released in 2014 and made with the idea to highlight richness and opulence, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Distinctions includes slightly more valley floor fruit compared to the Knights Valley Reserve and offers a forward, sexy, incredibly satisfying style as well as lots of blackcurrant fruit, ripe tannins, and impeccable balance. Despite the richer, more forward style, it’s going to evolve just fine on its balance and concentration.
93JS | This shows a ripe and flavorful center palate with dark-berry and floral character. Full-bodied, framed, and focused. Drink or hold.
93WA | “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Distinctions is blended of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petite Sirah, aged in 35% new French oak for 20 months. Deep garnet-purple colored, it bursts from the glass with crème de cassis, blueberry pie, and preserved plums over nuances of Chinese five-spice, hoisin, chocolate box, and dusty soil. Full-bodied, rich and decadent, it has loads of spicy layers and a firm, grainy backbone, finishing on an earthy note.”
About Beringer | Beringer’s Talented Son Returns
Over the past 141 years, Beringer has built its name on quality and consistency. The oldest continuously operating winery in Napa Valley (they used a federal license during Prohibition that allowed them to make wine for religious purposes), they’ve been instrumental in both the development of Napa’s international reputation while simultaneously serving as a critical link to its past.
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So, the 2015 vintage marks the homecoming of an heir. Mark Beringer, the great-great-grandson of one of Beringer’s co-founding brothers, took the helm of the estate as a winemaker that year and immediately wrote himself into the winery’s legacy with dazzling Cabernets at every tier.
While returning to the vineyards that his family first cultivated generations ago, 2015 shows Mark’s complete mastery of the house style that has twice earned Beringer the #1 Wine of the Year honor from Wine Spectator.
Pioneering Sustainable Farming
So, at Beringer, making great wines is caring for the land, animals, and people that make those wines possible. We have had sustainable practices in place for long before sustainable farming becomes fashionable. While all of our owned and leased vineyards are certified sustainable by third parties. And we provide our external growers with the resources they need to achieve sustainable farming practices.
