The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa, which is a 6,000-case cuvée, consists of a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This wine offers up the classic black and red currant scents along with some tobacco leaf and underbrush, a touch of soil undertones and a whiff of chocolate. Medium to full-bodied and fruit-driven, it is best drunk over the next decade.

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. This wine is also outstanding and shows that a good wine with a relatively large production can be achieved. Rich black and red currant notes, charcoal, graphite and spice box are all present in this deep ruby/purple wine that is rich, pure and best drunk over the next 12-15 years.

Beringer’s 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa offers plenty of ripe blackcurrant fruit intermixed with notions of licorice, Christmas fruitcake and a touch of oak. It possesses a savory, medium to full-bodied, expansive mouthfeel, so drink it over the next 10-12 years.

The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa is a good effort for this vintage, probably due to a strict selection. It offers plenty of red and black currant fruit intermixed with hints of white chocolate, coffee bean and underbrush, and a medium-bodied, nicely etched flavor and structural profile. This 2011 should drink well for a decade. Despite the enormity of this enterprise (multiple wineries and a global network), the flagship estate in northern California, Beringer Vineyards, continues to be in very capable winemaking hands, and the quality of the wines remains exceptionally impressive, particularly when you look at some of the huge production numbers of their lower priced offerings. The red wines currently in the market are from the challenging 2011 vintage. As for the Private Reserve Cabernets, production can vary significantly depending on the vintage, from around 8,000 cases to nearly twice that in an abundant year. As for the single vineyard wines, I will keep my notes short as these are only available to members of the Beringer Wine Club. I was surprised by how strongly all these 2011s performed, but three of the single vineyards are on Howell Mountain. These are all excellent wines, but it seems to me that the Private Reserve, a blend of the best lots from these sources, always turns out to be Beringer’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon. Tel. (707) 963-8989

The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is richer, deeper and riper than the Knights Valley bottling. Chocolate, mocha, plums and spices come to life in this fleshy, mid-weight wine. Readers who appreciate a more mineral-inflected style of Cabernet will prefer the Knights Valley bottling, while those who appreciate radiant, fruit-forward Cabernets are likely to prefer the Napa Valley. Both are beautiful. The blend is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% each Petit Verdot and Merlot. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020. This lineup from Beringer is full of highlights. The top Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings are terrific, but I am just as drawn to the entry and mid-tier offerings for their superb value and wide availability in the market. Tel. (707) 963-7115