BV Tapestry Reserve with Steaks

Beaulieu Vineyards Tapestry Reserve with Steaks 

Twice in the last week we’ve grilled out steaks and opened this Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend which proved to be a perfect accompaniment. 

Last Thursday night we had an impromptu dinner with kids and grandkids, Linda grilled a flank steak served with baked potatoes, asparagus and tossed salad. I pulled from the cellar this aged Napa Bordeaux Red Blend as an accompaniment. 

This was a perfect food-wine pairing and as I write often in these pages, an optimal pairing enhanced the enjoyment of both. 

We hold a dozen and half vintages of this wine dating back three decades. I find it a good QPR (quality-price-ratio) red blend to have on hand for such occasions. 

On last Thursday evening, we opened the Beaulieu Vineyards Tapestry Reserve 2003.

We enjoyed this same label as featured in these earlier blogposts - 2012 BV Tapestry Reserve Vertical and Constant Red Blend Tasting, and, 2020 BV Tapestry 2001 With Artisan Cheese, excerpted here … 

This iconic label Tapestry Reserve is from the iconic historic Napa Valley producer Beaulieu Vineyards, that dates back to 1900. French founder Georges de Latour initially bought a small, four-acre property in the town of Rutherford as a surprise for his wife. The land eventually became the foundation for Beaulieu Vineyards. The producer survived Prohibition by having one of a handful of contracts to supply churches with sacramental wine. After Prohibition the winery grew and continued to thrive, experimenting with varietals, blends and aging. Under the direction of the legendary André Tchelistcheff, the winery became one of California's preeminent producers.

Tchelistcheff, trained as a wine master in France, shaped the character of BV’s wines during the 1950s and 1960s. Today the winery is famous the breadth and depth of its portfolio, anchored by its flagship, BV Georges de Latour Private Reserve, but also includes, besides Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel.

The landmark Beaulieu Vineyards estate winery sits prominently on Napa Valley Highway 29 in Rutherford. It has grown to one of the pre-eminent Napa Valley producers, through acquisition of vineyards in other parts of Napa Valley, the winery owns 1,029 acres and produces a total of 750,000 bottles a year.

I’ve written about Beaulieu Vineyards and the Tapestry Reserve label often in these pages, notably in this more detailed feature back in 2023 - BV Tapestry with Beef bourguignon.

We hold nearly two dozen vintages of this popular label going back to a few remaining bottles of a full case acquired from the highly acclaimed 1997 vintage. Interesting that that vintage was uniquely packaged in a premium heavier, slightly larger bottle than all the others. It consistently offers sophisticated drinking for a high QPR - Quality Price Ratio, often rivaling the much more expensive flagship label. We strive to keep this label in stock, replenishing consumed bottles with current vintage releases for reliable, quality, sophisticated wine to pair with grilled beefsteak, or enjoyable sipping such as this. 

This label dates back to its inaugural release in 1990, Tapestry Reserve is a tribute to the producer’s French heritage and the classic world renowned Bordeaux blends and Clarets. It is sourced from a selection of specific vineyard blocks of top-quality grapes that give Tapestry “the combined attributes of terroir expression and a round, approachable tannin structure”.

About half of the Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the western benchland of the Rutherford American Viticultural Area (AVA), and the balance from the Calistoga, Howell Mountain and St Helena AVAs.

It also contains in the traditional Bordeaux Blend, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec, all sourced exclusively from BV estate vineyards in Calistoga, Knights Valley, Rutherford and Yountville. Also, Cabernet Franc, added to lend complexity, depth and “intrigue”, comes from Howell Mountain.

At twenty-four years, this label, foil, and most importantly the cork and fill level were still pristine. I selected this older vintage as part of cellar inventory management, drinking an older vintage before it wanes from diminution of aging past its prime drinking window. It was a pleasant surprise that this turned out to be a Goldilocks bottle, not too young, not too old, still at the apex of its drinking window/profile.

We've been fans of BV Tapestry for a long time with our collection dating back a dozen vintages to the mid-nineties. Tapestry as it's name so aptly states, is a blend of classic Bordeaux varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and accent portions of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. The predominant Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from the historic BV Ranches No.1 and No. 2 vineyards in Rutherford, selected from specific blocks of reserve-quality grapes that give Tapestry the combined attributes of rich character and softer tannins for relatively early approachability. To complement the Rutherford Bench Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot is added from Beaulieu’s vineyard in the Los Carneros region and the remaining grapes in the Blend from various Napa Valley vineyards.

Beaulieu Vineyard Reserve wines are handcrafted from the finest grapes of the vintage, focusing on premier estates in Rutherford, Carneros and other Napa Valley appellations. For more than 100 years, Beaulieu Vineyard has set the benchmark for rich, classic Napa Valley wines. Their legacy honors the marriage between state-of-the-art technology and gentle, traditional winemaking methods, a combination that enhances the expression of their remarkable vineyard terroir.

Georges and Fernande de Latour bought their first four acres in Napa Valley’s Rutherford region in 1900. Steadily, they increased their property, purchasing 127 acres in 1903, what’s now called BV Ranch No. 1, with BV Ranch No. 2 following in 1907. From the start, they imported vines from Europe that were resistant to phylloxera, a pest that destroys the roots and leaves of grape vines. These performed beautifully in the area’s Mediterranean climate. Always aspiring to lift the quality of Napa Valley as a whole, Georges offered them to fellow growers as well.

Since its inception in 1990, our Tapestry Reserve has always been a tribute to our French heritage and a nod to the classic Bordeaux blends and Clarets that are world-renowned. We always source from a selection of specific vineyard blocks of top-quality grapes that give Tapestry the combined attributes of terroir expression and a round, approachable tannin structure. Roughly half of the Cabernet Sauvignon was grown on the famous western benchland of the Rutherford American Viticultural Area (AVA) and the balance from the Calistoga, Howell Mountain and St Helena AVAs. The Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec are sourced exclusively from our estate vineyards in Calistoga, Knights Valley, Rutherford and Yountville. The Cabernet Franc lends complexity, depth and intrigue, coming from Howell Mountain.

Beaulieu Vineyard "Tapestry Reserve" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 2003 

That release was rated 90 points by Wine Advocate and wrote this about this tasting, “This 2003 Beaulieu Vineyard "Tapestry Reserve" exhibits a more complex nose than its more famous and expensive sibling, the Georges de Latour. I enjoyed it slightly more because of its nuances and additional complexity.”

This release is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.

Winemaker Notes - “Nearly opaque black-ruby in color, the 2003 Tapestry Reserve strongly showcases the concentration that came from this late-ripening vintage. Exotic aromas of black olive, dark cherry, vanilla-rosemary oak spice and dark cocoa with anise lead to rich, medium-full-bodied flavors of cedar, tobacco, dark currant and olives. The tannins are rich but not harsh.” 

RM 90 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?187546

Then, a week later, last night, we opened the Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve 2008. I opened this to go with rib-eye steak left over from the other night, served as steak sandwiches with avocado. This was another deliciously perfect pairing - enhancing the enjoyment of both the food and the wine. 

This release was awarded 91 points by Wine Spectator and 90 points by Connoisseurs’ Guide. 

Winemaker Notes - “Weaving together five classic varietals, our 2008 Beaulieu Vineyard Reserve Tapestry begins with deep, briary blackberry and cassis character from Cabernet Sauvignon. Velvety black-cherry character comes from a generous blending of Merlot, while Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot add violet, licorice, forest loam and graphite nuances, as well as deep hues and texture. Tapestry elegantly demonstrates the art of blending varietals to create a wine that combines multilayered flavors with supple, graceful tannin structure.”

Like the other vintage releases this is a blend of designated Bordeaux varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot.

At eighteen years of age, this is at the apex of its drinking window and while it won’t improve with any further aging, it should drink well for another five years or more. 

The foil and label, and most importantly, the fill level and cork were still pristine - evidence of the ideal conditions for aging in our cellar. 

In this blogpost back in 2020, Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve 2008, I wrote, “ We still hold three bottles of this release. This is aging very nicely as tonight's tasting eight years later was consistent with the last tasting note back in 9/14/2012 when I wrote: "Wow. Immediately I stated that this is the most expressive Tapestry I can remember with its vibrant full floral perfume. Dark ruby color with a slight purple hue, medium-full bodied, polished, smooth and nicely balanced - big bright vibrant expressive floral tones that are pervasive throughout accented by sweet ripe black currant and black berry fruits, a layer of vanilla, hint of cassis and tangy cinnamon spice and pleasant sweet oak with fine smooth polished tannins with that clinging long floral essence that holds for minutes.This was remarkably approachable for such a recent vintage. Barrel aged in 50% new oak."

Very enjoyable, this was pleasant, approachable sophisticated yet easy sipping. 

RM 91 points.

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2020/03/beaulieu-vineyard-tapestry-reserve-2008.html

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1198005

https://www.bvwines.com/

BV Tapestry 2001 With Artisan Cheese

BV Tapestry 2001 With Artisan Cheese

For some casual sipping with some artisan cheeses, I pulled from the cellar this vintage aged Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend from a historic iconic producer. 

Beaulieu Vineyards Napa Valley Tapestry Reserve 2001

This iconic label Tapestry Reserve is from the iconic historic Napa Valley producer Beaulieu Vineyards, that dates back to 1900. French founder Georges de Latour initially bought a small, four-acre property in the town of Rutherford as a surprise for his wife. The land eventually became the foundation for Beaulieu Vineyards. The producer survived Prohibition by having one of a handful of contracts to supply churches with sacramental wine. After Prohibition the winery grew and continued to thrive, experimenting with varietals, blends and aging. Under the direction of the legendary André Tchelistcheff, the winery became one of California's preeminent producers.

Tchelistcheff, trained as a wine master in France, shaped the character of BV’s wines during the 1950s and 1960s. Today the winery is famous the breadth and depth of its portfolio, anchored by its flagship, BV Georges de Latour Private Reserve, but also includes, besides Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel.

The landmark Beaulieu Vineyards estate winery sits prominently on Napa Valley Highway 29 in Rutherford. It has grown to one of the pre-eminent Napa Valley producers, through acquisition of vineyards in other parts of Napa Valley, the winery owns 1,029 acres and produces a total of 750,000 bottles a year.

I’ve written about Beaulieu Vineyards and the Tapestry Reserve label often in these pages, notably in this more detailed feature back in 2023 - BV Tapestry with Beef bourguignon.

We hold nearly two  dozen vintages of this popular label going back to a few remaining bottles of a full case acquired from the highly acclaimed 1997 vintage. Interesting that that vintage was uniquely packaged in a premium heavier, slightly larger bottle than all the others. It consistently offers sophisticated drinking for a high QPR - Quality Price Ratio, often rivaling the much more expensive flagship label. We strive to keep this label in stock, replenishing consumed bottles with current vintage releases for reliable, quality, sophisticated wine to pair with grilled beefsteak, or enjoyable sipping such as this.  

This label dates back to its inaugural release in 1990, Tapestry Reserve is a tribute to the producer’s French heritage and the classic world renowned Bordeaux blends and Clarets. It is sourced from a selection of specific vineyard blocks of top-quality grapes that give Tapestry “the combined attributes of terroir expression and a round, approachable tannin structure”.

About half of the Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the western benchland of the Rutherford American Viticultural Area (AVA), and the balance from the Calistoga, Howell Mountain and St Helena AVAs. 

It also contains in the traditional Bordeaux Blend, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec, all sourced exclusively from BV estate vineyards in Calistoga, Knights Valley, Rutherford and Yountville. Also, Cabernet Franc, added to lend complexity, depth and “intrigue”, comes from Howell Mountain.

At twenty-four years, this label, foil, and most importantly the cork and fill level were still pristine. I selected this older vintage as part of cellar inventory management, drinking an older vintage before it wanes from diminution of aging past its prime drinking window. It was a pleasant surprise that this turned out to be a Goldilocks bottle, not too young, not too old, still at the apex of its drinking window/profile. 

We already had opened a couple artisan cheeses from earlier in the week which were a nice pairing with crackers and the wine. Especially good pairing was the Murray’s Jarlsberg. 

Beaulieu Vineyard "Tapestry Reserve" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 2001 

This release was rated 92 points by Wine Enthusiast back in 2004.

Winemaker Joel Aiken said, “A lovely wine, one that is more accessible than Private Reserve, but the tannins suggest ageability.” 

Winemaker Notes - “Dark ruby in color, the Tapestry's aromas evoke scents of black cherry, herbs, vanilla-oak and some black pepper. Medium-full bodied, the wine's fruit flavors are at the forefront; cherry and blackcurrant, followed by nuances of licorice, dark chocolate and peppercorn. Fleshy yet backed by firm, ripe tannins, the finish shows some torrefaction notes from the oak now, but should evolve gracefully with 4-7 years in the bottle.”

Dark garnet colored, medium-full-bodied, complex and nicely integrated, smooth, polished, elegant, black currant fruits are highlighted by notes of mocha chocolate, black tea, coffee and herbs with hints of licorice, with soft silky tannins on the graceful finish for very pleasant drinking. This exceeded my expectations. Wish I had more of this, Would be fabulous with a grilled beefsteak! 

RM 92 points. 

https://go.cellartracker.com/wine/191504

https://www.bvwines.com/

BV Tapestry Reserve with Tenderloin Filet of Beef

Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve 1997 with Tenderloin Filet of Beef

Linda bought a full tenderloin of beef and trimmed it and cut it up to craft a couple of filets of beef for dinner. She does this often to get a better cut of beef and have the chance to cut her own beef steaks from the side. She grilled the beefsteaks on the gas grill and served them with Caesar salad and escalloped potatoes. 

We both felt it proved to be a great pairing, and showed even better with the dessert, tuxedo chocolate cake with fresh berries and whipped cream! 

I pulled from the cellar this Bordeaux varietal blend from Napa Valley as an accompaniment to pair with the grilled beefsteaks. Normally, I would seek a ‘Goldilock’s’ Vintage bottle, one not to young and not too old for our respective taste preferences. Tonight, I took a chance and pulled a 1997 vintage Napa Bordeaux Blend.

I’ve written often in these pages about the Napa Valley 1997 vintage Cabernet Sauvignons - how it was a highly rated vintage, following a lackluster off-vintage in 1998, resulting in high expectations (and prices) back in the day. And, over the ensuing years, the 1997 seemed to under-achieve, being closed and less than inspiring. Meanwhile, the panned 1998 vintage was vibrant and enjoyable, and a great bargain in the decade that followed release. 

This bottle, Beaulieu Vineyards "Tapestry Reserve" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Bordeaux Blend, was one of a full case that I acquired upon release, and still hold several bottles. 

We hold a dozen and half vintages of this label, a Bordeaux varietal blend, that I love to taste for such occasions. Interesting that of the three dozen bottles, from fifteen different vintages we hold of this label, according to our CellarTracker records, the 1997 is the only one that was packaged in a heavy over-size ultra-premium bottle. 

Based on our experience with this vintage over the years, I was half expecting this to be lackluster, and perhaps even past its prime drinking window, on the downslope of its drinking curve, and certainly beyond suitable drinking for Linda, who prefers younger, less aged wines. 

In fact, tonight, this bottles was a pleasant surprise, meeting lofty expectations for the vintage release, and still showing much fruit to suit Linda’s expectations as well as my own. 

At twenty-seven years, the foil, label, and most importantly the fill level, and more importantly, the cork, were in pristine condition, not showing any diminution from aging whatsoever. 

I opened and double decanted the bottle before serving, and when I tapped it, bright fruit aromas filled the room. It showed no diminution from aging and held up well, appearing to still be at the apex of its drinking window. Of course, for the first decade, perhaps two, after release, these bottles seemed closed and not yet ready to present themselves in their best light. Hence, I avoided, or at least tread lightly in opening 1997 Napa Cabernet the last several years, and if this bottle is an indication, it’s time! My published tasting notes archive in these pages show twelve previous tasting of this vintage/label. 

My records and tasting notes indicate I opened at least ten of those bottles in the first decade following release. Tonight’s tasting showed this bottle being better than one opened and written about back in 2016, shown below. 

Beaulieu Vineyards "Tapestry Reserve" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Bordeaux Blend 1997

BV - Beaulieu Vineyards is one of the most storied estates, producers and vineyards in Napa Valley, dating back more than a hundred years. The Tapestry bottling is BV’s lower priced homage to Clarets and Old-World Bordeaux blends. Half of the fruit comes from the Rutherford AVA, rounded out with grapes from Coombsville, Oakville, and Calistoga. The label tends to provide a high QPR - Quality Price Ratio, for a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux varietal blend, especially when compared with their flagship Georges de Latour label, another Napa Cab Bordeaux blend, that sells for as much as three to four times the price! 

This release was given 94 points by Wine Spectator and 92 points by Wine Enthusiast. Wine Spectator gave it a “Top 100 of 2000” and a Spectator Selection, in 2000. 

Tonight, this was most consistent with an earlier tasting in 2009 when I wrote - Subtle berry, dark cherry, slight earthy leather, licorice on the moderate tannin finish, and gave it 90 points.

Wine Spectator described it as “Big, bold, rich and polished, this is an immense and deeply concentrated Cabernet blend laden with ripe plum, currant, anise, green olive and cedar notes and finishing with gripping tannin.” 

As I have noted, I think the 1997 release was overhyped and over-rated at the time. 

Winemaker’s notes for this release - “Dark ruby-violet color. The deep character of the '97 vintage is revealed in the fine, vanilla-scented, allspice, clove, blackberry and cherry bouquet of this wine. The youthful flavors are very deep and full-bodied, showing ripe, mouth-filling, anise and black fruit character. Richly textured, with firm but ripe tannins, there is plenty of extract and flesh to balance the structure. Persistent minerality and spicy fruit in the finish add complexity and depth to this powerful wine, which should reach its peak in a decade, though it is opulent enough now to enjoy with rich meat dishes.”

 In 2016 I wrote, One of the remaining bottles of a case acquired upon release, my tasting journal index shows eleven previous tasting notes published for this wine.

Dark garnet colored, starting to show some rust orange hues and slight bricking on the edges showing some diminution from aging, medium-full bodied, an initial funkiness burned off soon after opening eventually showing and drinking fine, like when younger.

Black berry and black cherry fruits, slight earthy leather, licorice and a tone of bark on the moderate tannin finish. Opened further and softened more over the course of the evening.

Earlier tasting notes indicated further softening and enhanced fruit revealed a day later.

RM 89 points.

http://cellartracker.com/w?192928

https://www.bvwines.com/

Beaulieu Vineyards BV Tapestry Reserve Napa Valley Red Wine

Beaulieu Vineyards BV Tapestry Reserve Napa Valley Red Wine

We hold nearly two decades of this label dating back to the mid-1990's.  The basic Bordeaux Blend of the extensive BV portfolio, it represents pretty good QPR for a sophisticated Napa Valley based Bordeaux Blend. 

Our Cellartracker records indicate we acquired several bottles of this label upon its release and distribution back in 2014.  That said, never-the-less, our previous tasting of this wine was at the Trattoria Fiamma Restaurant at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas back in 2016. 

For that client dinner in Las Vegas at Trattoria Fiamma which specializes in sophisticated traditional Italian cuisine,  our diners selected beef and other wine friendly dishes so I selected from the winelist I selected an obligatory Italian, a Massolino Barolo, and then this well known popular Napa red from the award winning winelist.

The Las Vegas dining experience offers sensational  surroundings of architecture and design of the mega casino resort hotel, the dining rooms and their eye-popping showcase wine cellars.  

Our business focused non-wine enthusiast crowd called for a modicum of reasonableness in moderate wine selections. Hence, I chose some carefully selected, moderate priced well known predictably pleasant, easy drinking reds that would appeal to the group. The extensive wine-lists offer choices in all price ranges and styles and highlighted this as a key American selection at a reasonable price-point for sophisticated dining.

Tonight, Linda and Sister Pat opened this with Greek Salad dinner. We men went to the last day of the season MLB (baseball) game, and joined them later and enjoyed the remains of this wine with the salad and leftover grilled beefsteak from the previous evening. 

I had pulled this wine from the cellar and set it aside for this evening since it was old enough to be mature and at its prime, yet young enough to be fruit filled and enjoyable and easy pleasurable drinking for the ladies. It proved to be just that - and a perfect pairing with the remaining grilled beefsteak!

Beaulieu Vineyards BV Tapestry Reserve Napa Valley Red Wine 2011

This label was introduced with the 1990 vintage was developed as a tribute to BV's French heritage and the classic Bordeaux blends that are world-renowned. The label is sourced from a selection of specific vineyard blocks of top-quality grapes that give Tapestry the combined attributes of terroir expression and a round, approachable tannin structure. 

This release was a blend of Bordeaux varietals - 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot, 5% Malbec, and 3% Petit Verdot.

Winemaker Vineyard notes: "We chose specific blocks of top-quality grapes that give Tapestry the combined attributes of terroir expression and a round, approachable tannin structure. Roughly half of the Cabernet Sauvignon was grown on the famous western benchland of the Rutherford American Viticultural Area (AVA) and the balance from the Calistoga, Oakville, and Coombsville AVAs. The Merlot comes from our vineyards in the warmer parts of Carneros and the Rutherford Bench, while the Petit Verdot and Malbec are sourced exclusively from our estate vineyards in Rutherford. The Cabernet Franc is grown on Howell Mountain where berries are small, concentrated and extremely expressive."

"The low-yields of an exceptional cool vintage gave our 2011 Reserve Tapestry its refined elegance, while five Bordeaux-heritage varietals contributed layer-upon-layer of flavor complexity. This is a wine that shows the artistry of the winemaker. Winemaker Jeffrey chose Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc for the wine's core of briary blackberry and cassis expression and its firm tannin structure. He then added Merlot for plush mid-palate texture and a hint of cherry. Petit Verdot and Malbec complete the blend with nuances of ripe plum, rose, forest loam and graphite." 

This wine shows well for a vintage that was challenging for winemakers and was generally panned by the pundits. Interesting that very often the blockbuster vintages don't meet the lofty accolades and expectations, while the 'lesser' vintages often exceed such. I am finding the 2011's to offer very pleasant easy drinking these days, at great value due to their suppressed prices due to the lackluster ratings for the vintage. 

At twelve years, the fill level, foil, label and cork were ideal and this was most likely at the apex but end of its prime drinking window and likely to start to diminish from this point forward.

Tonight's tasting was consistent with that earlier one that I posted in these pages in a tasting report on that Las Vegas dinner and wine and food pairing when I wrote:

"Dark garnet colored, medium bodied, tight, structured black berry core with tones of cassis, graphite and clove spice and a hint of cedar and creosote on a moderate smooth tannin laced finish."

RM 89 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1843548

https://www.bvwines.com/ 

http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2016/03/wine-and-dine-at-trattoria-fiamma-mgm.html