Experience the 2023 Georges de Latour in the New Georges de Latour Library at BV
It’s here, and it is spectacular. The latest in an unbroken line of outstanding vintages that debuted in 1941, our Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, vintage 2023, is a worthy tribute to our founder and continuing inspiration. James Suckling honored this flagship wine with 99 points, and now you can enjoy it where it all began, in our beautifully restored and reimagined historic winery. To experience our winery in the most refined and in-depth way, we recommend our new Georges de Latour Table Experience. It’s where remarkable wine, perfectly paired seasonal cuisine, and BV heritage education meet.
The Georges de Latour Table Experience
One of our favorite features in the new BV hospitality center is the Georges de Latour Library. It’s a place of quiet intimacy in the heart of our historic winery, and the ideal atmosphere for an in-depth wine-and-culinary experience like the Georges de Latour Table.
This multi-course pairing explores BV’s most celebrated wines with thoughtful culinary alignment and historical context. Created by Winery Chef Sam McKenzie, the experience is ever evolving, pairing the finest seasonal dishes with its perfect BV wine companion, elevating each glass. Along the way, your host weaves in the stories, milestones, and winemaking philosophies that shaped Georges de Latour’s enduring vision, offering an educational lens on why these wines have defined Napa Valley for generations. Luxurious, enlightening, and unmistakably BV, it is a rare opportunity to dine within the very heart of our heritage.
Learn more and book your Georges de Latour Table experience here
2023 Georges de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon Awarded 99 Points by James Suckling
A perennial favorite of critics and connoisseurs alike, our Georges de Latour Private Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon shines again in the 2023 vintage.
“The level of refinement and purity is immense, with flashy, perfumed aromas of black currants, olive brine, graphite, violets, mocha and licorice. The palate is in near-perfect balance, with a silken mouthfeel and fine-boned tannins that lead to a refined, pure and succulent finish. This is a truly excellent wine from an excellent vintage. Drink or hold.” – James Suckling, December 2025
An Ideal Season
Nature was on our side in 2023, providing the perfect conditions for slow-and-steady grape development that resulted in a fresh, harmonious, and balanced wine. Heavy winter rains alleviated the drought, refilling groundwater reserves and reservoirs and increasing soil moisture. Bud break was delayed and the vines grew strong and healthy. The cooler weather continued, lengthening hang times, bringing elegance and beautiful terroir expression to the grapes. We harvested the Cabernet Sauvignon during the last two weeks of October, significantly later than usual, and the overall quality was exceptional.
Georges' Personal Wine Becomes BV's Renowned Flagship
When legendary winemaker André Tchelistcheff left Paris to join BV in 1938, one of the first things Georges de Latour did was pour him a glass from the de Latour family’s private cache of red wine. André was impressed, and Georges explained: “This wine shows what’s possible. I want all my wines to be this good. That’s why I’ve brought you here.” Not only did André achieve this lofty goal, but his boundless curiosity, penchant for detailed experimentation, and love for mentoring changed the Napa Valley, helping to elevate it to global status. When it debuted in 1941, Georges’ inspiring “house wine” had been transformed into our Georges de Latour Private Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. It swiftly gained acclaim and built a reputation as California’s Original Cult Cab.
For the 2023 vintage, we hand-selected the best grapes from our iconic BV Ranches No. 1 and No. 2. Originally planted by Georges de Latour in the early 1900s, these vineyards lie on the western bench of the Rutherford AVA. We focused on clonal selections 6, 4, 169, 7, and 8, which yield small berries with the high skin-to-juice ratio needed to make intense, long-lived wines.
Meet Winery Chef Sam McKenzie
Sam McKenzie developed and leads BV’s first-ever dedicated culinary program, which debuted with the reopening of our historic hospitality center this summer. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Sam has worked in some of Northern California’s most respected kitchens and winery estates, where he grew a deep understanding of the relationship between food, wine, and hospitality. At BV, Sam’s menus reinterpret classic dishes once served at the estate to feel both familiar and unexpected, bridging BV’s past with its present. Seasonality and sense of place are central to his work, and he’s currently creating a winery garden that will eventually supply ingredients for his dishes.
What’s his vision for the culinary program? “At Beaulieu Vineyard, the starting point is always the wine,” says Sam. “Our role in the kitchen is to create dishes that complement and elevate what’s in the glass, so that each element works in harmony, and the wine ultimately completes the experience.”
FAQ
What does “Rutherford Dust” mean in Beaulieu Vineyard’s Cabernet Sauvignon?
Legendary Beaulieu Vineyard winemaker André Tchelistcheff once said, “It takes Rutherford Dust to grow great Cabernet.” When he joined BV in 1938, he noticed that the wines had an intriguing “whiff of clean dirt with a high-toned note, like pencil shavings.” That note, what he later named “Rutherford Dust,” is unique to the Rutherford AVA’s terroir and pronounced on our BV ranches. Beyond the distinctive aroma, the “Dust” lends our wines an unmistakable texture with soft, grippy tannins like fine cocoa powder.
What are the pairing dishes like at BV’s new culinary experiences?
Winery Chef Sam McKenzie describes his cooking as clean, balanced, and purpose driven. His work emphasizes restraint and precision, allowing acidity, texture, and umami to support the wines without overpowering them. Whether he’s crafting small bites for BV’s Heritage Tasting or elaborate, coursed meals served in the historic Georges de Latour Library, his focus is always on creating a cohesive and memorable experience. Sam aims to surprise and delight guests, redefining expectations of winery dining and leaving a lasting impression of both the wines and the place they come from.
What kinds of tastings does Beaulieu Vineyard offer?
We offer a wide range of elevated experiences at our newly reimagined winery and hospitality center. From simple tastings that will introduce you to our portfolio of wines, to vineyard walking tours, to coursed pairing meals that reveal the depth of our terroir and heritage, and even a full-day immersion, there’s something for every interest and budget. You can explore all our offerings here.
