Napa Valley. Notes of vanilla and creme brulee overlie cassis- and cherry-like fruit in the rich and fairly expansive aromas of this latest Beaulieu Private Reserve. But, while rich and relatively well-fruited, the wine runs headlong into abrasive astringency that is out of keeping with the rest of the wine. Demanding of long-haul cellaring, this one seems unlikely to acquire the supple texture of this proud line's best .

Rating for United States-California: 85 (slightly worse than average year)<br/><br/>Drinkability: drink now<br/>