Beaulieu Vineyard Georges De La Tour Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Beaulieu Vineyard Georges De La Tour Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is a flagship Rutherford Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon bottled at 14.7% ABV in a 750ml format. This vintage earned 97 points from James Suckling and 96 points from Decanter, landing at #75 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2020 — a testament to its place among California's most celebrated reds.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.7%  |  Origin: Rutherford, Napa Valley, California  |  Vintage: 2017  |  Producer: Beaulieu Vineyard

Production & Heritage

Beaulieu Vineyard was founded in 1900 by Georges de Latour in the heart of Rutherford, and the Georges De La Tour Private Reserve series — named in his honor — has been the estate's crown jewel since 1936, when legendary winemaker André Tchelistcheff began shaping its identity. The 2017 vintage is composed of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. Roughly half the must was fermented in new French oak barrels to encourage early tannin integration and textural density, while the remainder was fermented in stainless steel and concrete to preserve fruit freshness. The wine then aged for 22 months in 95% new French oak, sourced from a curated selection of just ten premium cooperages chosen specifically to build structure without harsh astringency. BV is currently part of the Treasury Wine Estates portfolio.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Deep garnet-purple in the glass, the nose opens immediately with concentrated blackberry, black currant and boysenberry. Layers of spice cake, red roses, camphor, dark chocolate and new leather emerge with time.

Taste: Full-bodied entry with substantial breadth and weight. The mid-palate delivers rich, brawny flavors of blackberry, cassis, dark plum and mocha, while well-integrated notes of vanilla, caramel and baking spice reflect the extended aging in new French oak. There is a molasses-like depth that rounds out the peak without becoming cloying.

Finish: Long and supple, defined by the signature "Rutherford Dust" tannins — a round, cocoa-powder texture that gives the wine firm presence and lingering grip. The dark fruit and spice slowly fade, leaving a polished, earthy resonance.

How to Drink Georges De La Tour 2017

This wine is best served neat in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass at around 60–65°F; decanting for 45 to 60 minutes allows the layered aromatics to fully unfold. While it stands on its own as a sipping wine, its structure and intensity also pair powerfully with food-driven settings.

Best For

• Gifting a serious Napa Valley collector or wine enthusiast
• Anchoring a comparative tasting of iconic Rutherford Cabernets
• Celebrating a milestone anniversary, retirement or achievement
• Building a cellar with age-worthy California vintages from the 2017 harvest

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Georges De La Tour 2017 taste like? It is a full-bodied, fruit-driven Cabernet Sauvignon dominated by blackberry, cassis and dark plum, with integrated mocha, vanilla and baking-spice undertones from 22 months in new French oak. The finish is defined by supple, cocoa-powder tannins characteristic of Rutherford terroir.

How does Georges De La Tour 2017 compare to Heitz Cellar Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon? Both are historic, single-appellation Napa Valley Cabernets with decades of pedigree, but they express different vineyard personalities — Georges De La Tour leans into Rutherford's earthy, dust-like tannin structure and generous French oak influence, while Martha's Vineyard is known for its distinctive eucalyptus and mint character from its Spring Valley site. The 2017 Georges De La Tour's 97-point James Suckling score places it among the highest-rated wines from either estate in this vintage.

Is Georges De La Tour 2017 good for cellaring? Yes — the combination of robust Rutherford tannins, high proportion of new French oak and concentrated fruit suggests a drinking window that extends well into the 2030s, with the tannic structure providing a strong framework for further development in bottle.

Where is Georges De La Tour 2017 made? It is produced by Beaulieu Vineyard in Rutherford, a sub-appellation of Napa Valley in California renowned for its bench-land Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards. The estate has been rooted in this district since its founding in 1900.

What foods pair well with Georges De La Tour 2017? Grilled prime ribeye steak complements its tannic weight and dark fruit. Braised short ribs echo the wine's mocha and molasses depth. Aged Comté or Gruyère highlights its baking-spice notes. Roasted lamb with rosemary matches the wine's earthy, herbal undertones. Dark chocolate torte mirrors the cocoa-powder finish.

What sizes does Georges De La Tour 2017 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format for this vintage.

Is Georges De La Tour 2017 worth the price? It positions as a premium-to-ultra-premium Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, competing with other flagship estate wines from Rutherford and Oakville. Its 97-point James Suckling score and placement in the Top 100 Wines of 2020 list provide strong critical validation for the price tier, particularly given the quality of the 2017 Napa vintage overall.

Why Georges De La Tour 2017?

Few California Cabernets carry a lineage stretching back to 1936, and the Georges De La Tour Private Reserve remains one of the longest-running premium wine programs in Napa Valley. The 2017 vintage represents a particularly strong expression of that heritage — dual 96- and 97-point critical scores confirm the wine's exceptional quality, while the meticulous cooperage selection and split fermentation in oak, stainless steel and concrete deliver a balance of density and freshness that many fully oak-fermented Cabernets struggle to achieve. For collectors and enthusiasts who value both provenance and palate, this bottling earns its flagship status.