Beaulieu Vineyard Clone 4 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Profile & Story

For more than 100 years, Beaulieu Vineyard has set the standard for rich, classic Napa Valley wines. Their legacy honors the marriage between state-of-the-art winemaking technology and gentle, traditional winemaking methods, a combination that enhances the expression of their remarkable vineyard terroir. Varietal Composition: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Sourcing: Rutherford, Napa Valley AVA. Barrel Aging: 22 months in French oak (100% new). Analysis: Alcohol 14.9%; Total Acidity 5.9 g/L; pH 3.71. Ageability: 2024-2044. Vineyards: In 1980, Beaulieu Vineyard began a 14-year series of trials in conjunction with UC Davis to identify Cabernet Sauvignon clones best suited to the Rutherford Bench terroir. Two clones (numbers 4 & 6) were ultimately selected for grafting to rootstocks planted in the well-draining, alluvial fan soils of the estate vineyards. Clone 4, also known as the Mendoza clone, was originally identified and isolated in Argentina before introduction in the United States. Distinguished by its larger berry size and tighter clusters, Clone 4 produces rich, concentrated Cabernet with approachable tannins for wines that are characteristically lush, round, and opulent in style. Winemaking: At the state-of-the-art winery dedicated exclusively to the production of Reserve wines, the latest technology was used to destem and optically sort the berries to retain only the highest quality fruit. Cold-soaking of the must and gentle pump-overs extracted the flavor-rich skins into the juice. Upon completion of primary fermentation, the skins were pressed and the wine was transferred into French oak barrels for in-barrel malolactic fermentation and aging for 22 months. Because of the unique character of this clonal selection, the wine is treated as a separate lot and a very limited amount is bottled. Vintage 2021: The 2021 season was joyous and welcome after the challenges of prior vintages. Harvest yielded exceptionally fine fruit, some of the best in recent years. Early winter rains led to almost no notable precipitation for the rest of the growing season, providing ideal weather for grapes to flower, bloom, and set in early spring. Budbreak occurred early in April, followed by flowering and bloom in May. The summer saw early and even ripening throughout the valley, with veraison beginning in early July. Due in part to drought conditions, harvest yields were low, and grapes were intensely flavored and smaller in berry size.