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Beringer Vineyards Private Reserve Napa Valley Chardonnay 2014
95 Points Parker - Limited Beringer's top Chardonnay from the Gamble Ranch vineyard. Beringer's Private Reserve Chardonnay is primarily sourced from their Gamble Ranch property in the Oakville AVA of Napa Valley. Each lot was kept separate from harvest all the way through the winemaking process. The wine was aged for 9 months in 88% new French oak with full malolactic fermentation, and the lees were stirred weekly to enrich the texture and profile. Only the finest lots were then selected for inclusion in this Private Reserve bottling. From winemaker Laurie Hook: "Aromas of hazelnut and grilled pineapple are followed by flavors of lush, tropical fruits, balanced by a hint of citrus. A rich, creamy mouthfeel is rounded out by a lengthy, elegant finish." 92 Points Wine Spectator: "The fruit is ripe and juicy, seemingly sweet and shaded by spicy, toasty oak, allowing tiers of flavors to unfold in a graceful, elegant and understated manner. Drink now."
Ratings on Delectable
Sipping Fine Wine 
Had another ‘14 in my cellar. A Napa producer since 1876, established by Jacob Beringer & continues in its 3rd century. In a word, a “BIG” Chardonnay. Pale with stone and tropical fruit aromas and complex spice. Sitting on 80% new French oak, the palate shows ripe apple, apricot, pear & lemon flavors with sweet vanilla spice. Nice buttery mouthfeel, creamy, balanced with lively acidity and toasty oak adding an ending of minerality. Aging well!
Had another ‘14 in my cellar. A Napa producer since 1876, established by Jacob Beringer & continues in its 3rd century. In a word, a “BIG” Chardonnay. Pale with stone and tropical fruit aromas and complex spice. Sitting on 80% new French oak, the palate shows ripe apple, apricot, pear & lemon flavors with sweet vanilla spice. Nice buttery mouthfeel, creamy, balanced with lively acidity and toasty oak adding an ending of minerality. Aging well!
9.1Sipping Fine Wine
Napa's benchmark producer since the establishment of the vineyard in 1876. Pale yellow with stone and tropical fruit aromas and oak spice. Sitting on 80% new French oak, the palate shows apple, apricot, pear and lemon flavors with sweet vanilla spice. Nice mouthfeel, slightly creamy, balanced with lively acidity and toasty oak adding an ending of minerality.
Napa's benchmark producer since the establishment of the vineyard in 1876. Pale yellow with stone and tropical fruit aromas and oak spice. Sitting on 80% new French oak, the palate shows apple, apricot, pear and lemon flavors with sweet vanilla spice. Nice mouthfeel, slightly creamy, balanced with lively acidity and toasty oak adding an ending of minerality.
9.0
Isaac Pirolo
I couldn't help but pit this against my recent tastings of Chateau Montelena's 2013. Stylistically, they are worlds apart. The Montelena is less imposing, and even coy by comparison, but it's piercing acidity shocks the palate, firing the flavors everywhere, but with a linear feel. The Beringer begins with rich aromatics of tropical fruit, coconut, cream brûlée, and meringue, with a dash of dill. Everything translates through to the palate, which flaunts its round figure. The lack of acidity releases the wine on the palate to pursue its less-than-subtle seduction. I will admit, I was no match for this temptress Chardonnay. That said, by comparison to the Montelena, the Beringer feels like it has been cosmetically enhanced. Fortunately, it was in just the right places.
I couldn't help but pit this against my recent tastings of Chateau Montelena's 2013. Stylistically, they are worlds apart. The Montelena is less imposing, and even coy by comparison, but it's piercing acidity shocks the palate, firing the flavors everywhere, but with a linear feel. The Beringer begins with rich aromatics of tropical fruit, coconut, cream brûlée, and meringue, with a dash of dill. Everything translates through to the palate, which flaunts its round figure. The lack of acidity releases the wine on the palate to pursue its less-than-subtle seduction. I will admit, I was no match for this temptress Chardonnay. That said, by comparison to the Montelena, the Beringer feels like it has been cosmetically enhanced. Fortunately, it was in just the right places.
9.3
Kaushal Kantawala
Rich and buttery with a toasty vanilla mid palate and an apricot finish.
Rich and buttery with a toasty vanilla mid palate and an apricot finish.
9.0
Paul Jakubowski
Excellent! Medium gold color. Nutty and buttery, but not overpowering. Complex. Very similar but many of the White Burgundy’s I’ve been drinking.
Excellent! Medium gold color. Nutty and buttery, but not overpowering. Complex. Very similar but many of the White Burgundy’s I’ve been drinking.
9.5Brandon Boesch
Interesting. Had this after a Kistler. I find this so much more complex. Green apples, apricots, lemons, cream, and some oak. But the finish lingers for over a minute. Just lovely.
Interesting. Had this after a Kistler. I find this so much more complex. Green apples, apricots, lemons, cream, and some oak. But the finish lingers for over a minute. Just lovely.
9.4
Hanibal
one of those purchases you end up regretting !
one of those purchases you end up regretting !
8.8
Sawyer Donovan
A wonderful Costco purchase! Love big buttery chards and the malolactic fermentation gives this Chardonnay a creamy, toasted finish.
A wonderful Costco purchase! Love big buttery chards and the malolactic fermentation gives this Chardonnay a creamy, toasted finish.
8.2
Steve Parker
So glad I enjoyed this lovely bottle before reading some of the reviews. Beautiful, soft, creamy. Very restrained/ balanced oak.
So glad I enjoyed this lovely bottle before reading some of the reviews. Beautiful, soft, creamy. Very restrained/ balanced oak.
9.2
Satoshi Fukuroe
甘くはないけど美味しい
甘くはないけど美味しい
8.7
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