Deep ruby color; black cherry, prune, mulberry on the nose; dark cherry, blackcurrant, plum, chocolate, balsamic notes, earthiness on the palate.
Dry; significant tannins, decanting advised. Some balancing acidity (3.75 pH). Medium-full body. Silky mouthfeel, especially after decanting. Impressive depth and length. Serious red wine, which will thrill serious red wine lovers but put off those who are not into massive, assertive cab-led reds; 14.8% ABV.
Blend of 82% cabernet sauvignon, 7% merlot, 5% petit verdot, 4% cabernet franc, 2% malbec; aged 20 months in French oak, 67% new, with a mix of toasts. Bottle aged for a year prior to release. This is big, classic Cali fruit and oak bomb.
Beringer prides itself on being California’s oldest continually operating winery. It began in 1875 when Jacob Beringer and his brother Frederick purchased land and became one of the first Napa Valley wineries. Beringer survived Prohibition by making sacramental wines for churches. At end of Prohibition, Beringer became the first winery to offer public tours, starting the Napa Valley tourism era.
In 1967, the 91-year-old Beringer Winery received State Historical Landmark designation. Five years later, the Rhine House on the property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1990, The Wine Spectator named Beginger’s cab the wine of the year, and six years later, a Beringer chardonnay took the same honor. Beringer is the only wine maker to have both a red and white named The Wine Spectator wine of the year.
Mark Beringer, the great-great-grandson of founding brother Jacob Beringer, is the winemaker. Mark earned a degree in enology at California State University–Fresno, then started his career at Benziger. Later, he joined Duckhorn and became VP of winemaking. He next went to Artesa as VP and winemaker.
In 2015, Mark came back to his Beringer beginnings as chief winemaker to follow in footsteps of Laurie Hook, now winemaker emeritus. “I’m absolutely thrilled to be making wines for the very winery that my ancestor built, and be part of the next chapter in this important story of Beringer and of the Napa Valley,” Mark notes on the winery’s website.
Beringer is a brand of Treasury Wine Estates, an Australian-based global winemaking and distribution operation that traces its roots to Penfolds Wine and Foster’s Group beer. Treasury is a major international player in the wine world, making wine in 12 countries, selling more than 35 million cases of wine a year, and generating more than $2 billion in sales. Labels you may recognize include Sterling, Stags’ Leap, Beaulieu Vineyard, Beringer, Chateau St. Jean, Acacia Vineyard, Blossom Hill, Rosemount, Walking Dead, 19 Crimes, Greg Norman Estates, Lindeman’s, Wolf Blass, and their flagship—Penfolds.
Beringer Quantum Red Wine, Napa Valley 2017 is polished, fruit-forward, serious red blend led by cabernet sauvignon. Decant this big boy. Pair with hearty beef cuts; wild game; roast or grilled lamb; linguine pasta with mushrooms and caramelized onions; portabello mushrooms; hard cheeses (cheddar, gouda); blue cheese. $50-65
