Beaulieu Vineyard’s Cuvée Georges De Latour Private Reserve 1998 is one of Napa Valley’s most renowned red wines, named after the estate’s founder and crafted as its flagship label. While precise grape composition for each vintage can vary, this wine is traditionally Cabernet Sauvignon-driven, sometimes blended with small proportions of other Bordeaux varietals such as Merlot, Petit Verdot, or Cabernet Franc. The 1998 vintage, marked by a cooler and more challenging growing season in Napa Valley, has resulted in more restrained, elegant expressions compared to some of the richer, riper years. Expect a wine with notable structure, refined tannins, and layered aromas—typically blackcurrant, blackberry, cedar, dried herbs and tobacco leaf, with well-integrated oak notes that benefit from extended cellaring.
Napa Valley is California’s most celebrated wine region, famed for its patchwork of microclimates and varied soils, from volcanic ash to gravelly loam. This diversity, combined with warm daytime temperatures and cooling evening fogs from the San Pablo Bay, creates ideal conditions for growing Bordeaux varieties, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. Beaulieu Vineyard, established in 1900, is one of the valley’s pioneers and a benchmark estate whose Private Reserve has become a symbol of classic Napa winemaking—melding ripe new world fruit with old world restraint.
Given its pedigree and profile, the Cuvée Georges De Latour Private Reserve 1998 would make a splendid partner for robust meat dishes. Consider classic pairings like roast lamb with fresh herbs, aged ribeye, or duck breast in a red wine reduction. For a regional Californian touch, try it alongside tri-tip steak grilled over oak or a wild mushroom risotto. The wine’s mature character will also pair gracefully with aged hard cheeses or earthy vegetable tarts.
For ideal enjoyment, serve this wine at 16-18°C. Decanting for 1-2 hours will help the tertiary aromas emerge and soften any remaining tannins. The wine’s maturity means it is drinking beautifully now, but can continue to evolve gracefully for those who favour developed, nuanced reds.
