2014 Boich Family Cellar Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III Cabernet Sauvignon

Boich Family Cellar is a new Napa Valley venture started by John Boich. The estate makes single vineyard wines with grapes sourced from some of Napa’s most prestigious vineyards, including Howell Mountain Vineyard, Wall Road Vineyard, and Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard. Jeff Ames, one of the valley’s most sought after winemakers, is winemaker for Boich. Ames is a former assistant to star winemaker Thomas Brown, and Ames also has made wine for Schrader and Tor Kenward, among others. The 2014 vintages are in the debut releases, and Boich Family production is limited to about 900 cases. The wine is generally available only through a mailing list. Robert M. Parker Jr. called the 2014 Boich Family Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon a “magnificent Cabernet Sauvignon from a first-growth vineyard that once was the backbone for many of the famous BV Private Reserves of the 1950s and 60s.”

Rutherford AVA is just north of the Oakville AVA in the heart of Napa Valley, and it is equally distinguished. It is home to Beaulieu Vineyard and inglenook, arguably Napa Valley’s most historically influential wineries. Inglenook started making in wine in the late 19th century, and Beaulieu Vineyards was producing by the first years of the 20th century. BV founder Georges de Latour is particularly esteemed for having recruited Andre Tchelistcheff, a renowned research oenologist, to move from France to Napa Valley in 1938 and run BV’s winemaking. The legendary Tchelistcheff brought European winemaking techniques to Napa Valley and vastly improved wine quality. Other Rutherford winemakers followed his lead. Today there are 5,000 vineyard acres in Rutherford and many acclaimed producers. The famous Silverado Trail with its exclusive, limited production wineries, runs partly through Rutherford AVA. Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignons are characterized by supple tannins, richness, notes of cherry and plum, depth and the ability to age for several decades. Besides Cabernet Sauvignon the AVA also grows Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel. It received its AVA designation in 1994.

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.