More about the 2019 PURLIEU BECKSTOFFER GEORGES III VINEYARD RUTHERFORD CABERNET SAUVIGNON: The 2019 Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon from Beckstoffer’s Georges III Vineyard is a commanding expression of one of Napa Valley’s most storied heritage sites. Situated in Rutherford, this vineyard—originally planted by Georges de Latour in the 1920s—has long been associated with producing world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. Purlieu sources from prized blocks within the vineyard, where gravelly, well-drained alluvial soils and consistent afternoon sun produce fruit of immense concentration, purity, and finesse. Under the direction of winemaker Julien Fayard, a protégé of Philippe Melka, the wine is crafted with precision and reverence for the vineyard’s historic pedigree. In the glass, the 2019 vintage is both opulent and structured. It opens with an aromatic tapestry of ripe blackcurrant, blackberry, and cassis layered with graphite, violet, and hints of crushed herbs. Aged for 18 to 20 months in 80–100% new French oak, the wine delivers luxurious texture and depth, with firm yet polished tannins that frame a powerful core of dark fruit and earthy minerality. Notes of dark chocolate, espresso, and baking spices emerge with air, revealing the wine’s complexity and promise for long-term aging. This bottling from Purlieu is a masterclass in single-vineyard Cabernet, seamlessly marrying Rutherford’s signature dust with modern elegance and richness. The 2019 vintage, marked by a long, even growing season, allowed for slow, steady ripening and the development of nuanced character. With its impressive concentration, refined structure, and sense of place, the Purlieu Beckstoffer Georges III Cabernet Sauvignon stands as both a tribute to Napa Valley tradition and a benchmark for contemporary excellence.