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Napa Valley

Napa Valley AVA is the most famous winemaking region in the United States and one of the most prestigious in the world. With nearly 43,000 acres of vineyards and more than 300 wineries, it is the heart of fine wine production in the United States. Winemaking started in Napa in 1838 when George C. Yount planted grapes and began producing wine commercially. Other winemaking pioneers followed in the late 19th century, including the founders of Charles Krug, Schramsberg, Inglenook and Beaulieu Vineyards. An infestation of phylloxera, an insect that attacks vine roots, and the onset of Prohibition nearly wiped out the nascent Napa wine industry in the early 20th century. But by the late 1950s and early 1960s Robert Mondavi and other visionaries were producing quality wines easily distinguishable from the mass-produced jug wines made in California’s Central Valley. Napa Valley’s AVA was established in 1983, and today there are 16 sub-appellations within the Napa Valley AVA. Many grapes grow well in Napa’s Mediterranean climate, but the region is best known for Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay is also very successfully cultivated, and about 30% of the AVA’s acreage is planted to white grapes, with the majority of those grapes being Chardonnay,

1942 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; base neck fill; label condition issue; signed by the winemaker; recorked 02/1970

1942 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; lightly elevated cork; label condition issue; signed by the winemaker; recorked 02/1970

1943 Beaulieu Vineyard Dry Sauternes

Capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; mid shoulder fill; light label condition issue

1943 Beaulieu Vineyard Dry Sauternes

Capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; light signs of past seepage; mid shoulder fill; label condition issue

1947 Louis M. Martini Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; top shoulder fill; light label condition issue

1948 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; base neck fill; label condition issue; signed by the winemaker; recorked 02/1970

1949 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; signs of past seepage; light label condition issue

1956 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; signs of past seepage; top shoulder fill; light label condition issue

MB  ***   

1959 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; very top shoulder fill; label condition issue

MB  ***   

1960 Charles Krug Vintage Selection Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; depressed cork; signs of past seepage; very top shoulder fill

1962 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; label condition issue

1965 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; lightly elevated cork; light signs of past seepage; base neck fill; label condition issue; light writing on label

1965 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; very top shoulder fill; label condition issue; light writing on label

1966 Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; 3.5 cm ullage; label condition issue

1966 Robert Mondavi Zinfandel

Light capsule condition issue; top shoulder fill; label condition issue

1967 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; signs of past seepage; top shoulder fill; light label condition issue

VN  94   

1968 Beaulieu Vineyard Beaulieu Burgundy Vineyards 2 & 4

Light capsule condition issue; 3 cm ullage; heavy label condition issue

1969 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Capsule condition issue; lightly elevated cork; very top shoulder fill; label condition issue; vintage label askew

1969 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; base neck fill; label condition issue; writing on label

MB  *****   
WS  92   

1970 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; base neck fill; label condition issue

1970 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon

Lightly depressed cork; top shoulder fill; label condition issue

1970 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; very top shoulder fill; label condition issue

1970 Louis M. Martini California Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

Base neck fill; light label condition issue

1972 Heitz Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; very top shoulder fill; label condition issue

1972 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; base neck fill; label condition issue