I have an opportunity to buy a single bottle of 1982 Beringer Private
Reserve Cabernet. The only scores I could find were from Parker (87) and
Spectator (94) but no tasting notes. Being a big fan of this particular
cab, I am probably going to go for it but wondered if anyone has had any
experience (preferrably recent) with this, or similar cabs?

Cheers,
Gary

>I have an opportunity to buy a single bottle of 1982 Beringer Private
>Reserve Cabernet. The only scores I could find were from Parker (87) and
>Spectator (94) but no tasting notes. Being a big fan of this particular
>cab, I am probably going to go for it but wondered if anyone has had any
>experience (preferrably recent) with this, or similar cabs?
>
>Cheers,
>Gary
>
I recently tasted a 1982 Beringer PR and a 1982 Diamond Creek Red Rock Terrace.
Both were impeccable in condition. They were both very Bordeaux-like with
mature complexity, lot's of cedar, cigar box, leathery notes yet still holding
a fair amount of fruit. Both of these wines were showing their age and were
perhaps past their peaks but it would have been difficult to determine at first
whiff and taste that they were California wines and not French. The Diamond
Creek had a bit more complexity and tasted a bit younger than the Beringer
which was a bit more faded than the DC.
Bi!!

"CabFan" > wrote in message
...
>I have an opportunity to buy a single bottle of 1982 Beringer Private
> Reserve Cabernet. The only scores I could find were from Parker (87) and
> Spectator (94) but no tasting notes.

Are those scores, or years they were tasted?

Being a big fan of this particular
> cab, I am probably going to go for it but wondered if anyone has had any
> experience (preferrably recent) with this, or similar cabs?

I recently opened a 1982 Keenan Cabernet. For the vintage it was pretty
good - but that's not saying a lot. The ample tannins have carried the wine
pretty well, and there was sufficient fruit in evidence, although not in
abundance.

We had early rains in 1982, and a relatively cold and wet harvest season.
It was as bad in Napa as 1982 was good in France. Still, there were a few
decent wines made - but nothing stellar.

Tom S

On 29-Jan-2005, "Tom S" > wrote:

> >I have an opportunity to buy a single bottle of 1982 Beringer Private
> > Reserve Cabernet. The only scores I could find were from Parker (87)
> > and
> > Spectator (94) but no tasting notes.
>
> Are those scores, or years they were tasted?
>
> Being a big fan of this particular

Tom, sorry for not being clearer.... these are the scores that I was able to
find.

James Laube in his 1989 book on California Cabernets has the following
notes on the 1982 Beringer Private Reserve: "Another immensely
successful wine from what has proved to be a difficult vintage, richly
flavored and deftly balanced, with lush cedar, chocolate, plum and
currant flavors that are long and full on the finish. Drinkable now, it
should peak in another two to three years. Drink 1992-1999." He rated
it 92.

I don't recall ever tasting the 1982 Beringer, but I had a bottle of
1982 Diamond Creek, Volcanic Hill which I drank several years ago. It
was very good, and did not show any signs of going down hill yet.
------------------------------------
Mike's Wine Blog
http://mikeswinecellar.blogspot.com/

On 30-Jan-2005, " > wrote:

> James Laube in his 1989 book on California Cabernets has the following
> notes on the 1982 Beringer Private Reserve: "Another immensely
> successful wine from what has proved to be a difficult vintage, richly
> flavored and deftly balanced, with lush cedar, chocolate, plum and
> currant flavors that are long and full on the finish. Drinkable now, it
> should peak in another two to three years. Drink 1992-1999." He rated
> it 92.
>
> I don't recall ever tasting the 1982 Beringer, but I had a bottle of
> 1982 Diamond Creek, Volcanic Hill which I drank several years ago. It
> was very good, and did not show any signs of going down hill yet.

Thanks for the notes. I have acquired the bottle, and expect to open it in
the next few days... I'll be sure and post tasting notes afterwards.

Cheers,
Gary

On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 20:33:46 GMT, "CabFan"
> wrote:

>
>On 30-Jan-2005, " > wrote:
>
>> James Laube in his 1989 book on California Cabernets has the following
>> notes on the 1982 Beringer Private Reserve: "Another immensely
>> successful wine from what has proved to be a difficult vintage, richly
>> flavored and deftly balanced, with lush cedar, chocolate, plum and
>> currant flavors that are long and full on the finish. Drinkable now, it
>> should peak in another two to three years. Drink 1992-1999." He rated
>> it 92.
>>
>> I don't recall ever tasting the 1982 Beringer, but I had a bottle of
>> 1982 Diamond Creek, Volcanic Hill which I drank several years ago. It
>> was very good, and did not show any signs of going down hill yet.
>
>Thanks for the notes. I have acquired the bottle, and expect to open it in
>the next few days... I'll be sure and post tasting notes afterwards.
>

Good luck, hope it is a great experience, I am holding one each of
an '86 and '87 Beringer PR, I am interested to hear how that '82 is.

FWIW, last saturday we opened an '83 Heitz MV, and it was every bit
alive and kicking.
bob

If you can, look on p.7 of the Feb. 2005 issue of Decanter. The world's
largest bottle of wine was recently sold at a charity auction, and it is
filled with the 2001 Beringer Private reserve. The bottle alone weighs
68 kg(150 lb) empty. It is 1.38 m tall and holds 130 L., or about 173
bottles. The bottle was made in Sazava in the Czech Republic. The botle
is pictured next to a single bottle and the Beringer winemaster Ed
Sbragia. It sold for US$ 55,812 at Sotheby's New York. I think you may
have to hire a gorilla to pour from that bottle :-).

My mailbox is always full to avoid spam. To contact me, erase
from my email address. Then add . I do not
check this box every day, so post if you need a quick response.

On 1-Feb-2005, (Cwdjrx _) wrote:

> If you can, look on p.7 of the Feb. 2005 issue of Decanter. The world's
> largest bottle of wine was recently sold at a charity auction, and it is
> filled with the 2001 Beringer Private reserve. The bottle alone weighs
> 68 kg(150 lb) empty. It is 1.38 m tall and holds 130 L., or about 173
> bottles. The bottle was made in Sazava in the Czech Republic. The botle
> is pictured next to a single bottle and the Beringer winemaster Ed
> Sbragia. It sold for US$ 55,812 at Sotheby's New York. I think you may
> have to hire a gorilla to pour from that bottle :-).

I was thinking that a really long straw would be in order

In article >,
says...
>
>If you can, look on p.7 of the Feb. 2005 issue of Decanter. The world's
>largest bottle of wine was recently sold at a charity auction, and it is
>filled with the 2001 Beringer Private reserve. The bottle alone weighs
>68 kg(150 lb) empty. It is 1.38 m tall and holds 130 L., or about 173
>bottles. The bottle was made in Sazava in the Czech Republic. The botle
>is pictured next to a single bottle and the Beringer winemaster Ed
>Sbragia. It sold for US$ 55,812 at Sotheby's New York. I think you may
>have to hire a gorilla to pour from that bottle :-).
>
>My mailbox is always full to avoid spam. To contact me, erase
from my email address. Then add . I do not
>check this box every day, so post if you need a quick response.

I guess that I would need an "industrial grade" Vaccuvin to re-seal that
monster! OTOH, my cellar has become so crowded, that I couldn't even stand
that puppy upright on the floor. <G>

Hunt