Beaulieu Vineyard Red Blend Tapestry Napa Valley 2022

Beaulieu Vineyard is one of Napa Valley's most historic and iconic wineries, and Tapestry is their Bordeaux-loving alter ego to the famous Georges de Latour Cab. It's a five-grape blend impeccably designed for pure drinking pleasure with its luxurious texture and crushable layers. James Suckling gave the 2022 a very tidy 94 points, and we've got it well below retail. 

Most people know Beaulieu Vineyard for its towering Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet, but if you want to see the winemaking team really flex their blending muscles, Tapestry is where it’s at. First made in 1990, Tapestry has always been BV's tribute to their French roots and a nod to the classic Bordeaux blends and Clarets of the world. Instead of leaning on a single grape, it weaves together the five traditional Bordeaux varieties into one wine, hence the name. It's a fun contrast to the flagship Cab with the same historic Rutherford pedigree, but with a little more spice, savory complexity, and old-world personality.

The 2022 is textbook Tapestry, and roughly half the Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the famed western benchland of Rutherford, with the balance from Calistoga, Howell Mountain, and St. Helena. The Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec are sourced from BV's estate vineyards, and the Cabernet Franc comes off Howell Mountain. This vintage carries a generous dose of Malbec and Petit Verdot, which is a little unusual for a Napa blend and gives the wine some extra backbone. It leads with 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, rounded out with 14% Malbec, 10% Petit Verdot, 6% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, and it's aged in 60% new French oak to give it some polish without an overwhelming influence of oak.

James Suckling scored it 94 points, calling it structured, spicy, and full with generous fruit and noting that the Malbec and Petit Verdot add real “structural spine.” It opens with cassis, black plum, and dark cherry, then bringing in savory pops of graphite, dried herbs, tobacco leaf, and violet, culminating with a savory, almost peppery lift. The tannins are firm but well-mannered, while the finish carries warm cinnamon and a nutty toastiness. It’s super approachable right now – praise be – yet it has some road ahead if you're patient. VERY limited quantities available, so if you’re on the hunt for a well-crafted, super friendly red from a historic Napa estate, go ahead and get in there!

FOOD PAIRINGS: Grill up a skirt steak and serve topped with blistered, garlicky tomatoes and torn burrata. Woof, whatta meal.