A joint project between Beringer and the well-known Hall of Fame quarterback, Joe Montana, is the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Montagia. Its deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by aromas of creme de cassis, white chocolate, toasty oak, black currants, and sweet cherries. Full-bodied with admirable purity, texture, and length, it should be consumed over the next 15 years. Beringer continues to turn out an impressive array of wines, proving that a gigantic global operation can be focused on quality and character. Beringer’s Pinot Noir program continues to show more and more promise. Beringer’s Cabernet Sauvignon program includes two outstanding bargains, one from Knight’s Valley and one from Napa. They are both serious Cabernet Sauvignons meant to be drunk young, but both are capable of lasting a decade or more. For their Private Club members, Beringer offers approximately 200 cases of all the single vineyards that go into their Private Reserve cuvee. I’ll keep my tasting notes brief since these wines are only available to Private Club members. However, it is always interesting that, aside from two or three of the single vineyards, the Private Reserve final blend is always the finest wine of the group. This has been proven time and time again at these tastings.Tel. (707) 963-7115; Fax (707) 963-1735

The offering from the famed San Francisco 49er's Hall of Fame quarterback, Joe Montana, the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Montagia, exhibits a dark ruby/purple color in addition to a big, sweet nose of pain grille, espresso roast, chocolate, and cassis. This limited cuvee (200 cases) is opulent, full-bodied, juicy, and succulent. It should drink beautifully for 12-15+ years. Previously recommended: 2005 Chardonnay Sbragia Limited Release (93), 2005 Chardonnay Private Reserve (93), 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve (92).Tel. (707) 963-7115; Fax (707) 963-1735

A dark ruby/purple hue and notions of blueberries, blackberries, and currants characterize the 2003 Montagia (fashioned from a vineyard owned by former All-Pro quarterback, Joe Montana). While it does not possess the weight and richness of the 2002, it offers lovely sweetness and a corpulent, up-front style. Consume it over the next decade. Previously recommended: 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Knight’s Valley (90), 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa (89), 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Bancroft Ranch (90), 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Chabot Vineyard (92), 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Marston Vineyard (90+), 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve (94), 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Quarry Vineyard (88?), 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Rancho del Oso (87), 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena Home Vineyard (93), 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Steinhauer Vineyard (90), 2004 Chardonnay Napa (87), 2004 Chardonnay Private Reserve (92), 2004 Chardonnay Sbragia Limited Release (93).Tel. (707) 963-7115; Fax (707) 963-1735

The partnership with NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana to produce the 2002 Montagia looks to have hit pay dirt in this vintage. Dark purple to the rim with rich, concentrated creme de cassis fruit intermixed with cedar, spice, licorice, and smoke, the wine has an opulent attack, big, full-bodied power, and loads of elegance married to considerable flavor concentration and authority. This is a beauty and, to my way of thinking, the finest example yet of this cuvee. It should drink well for 12-15+ years. Tel. (707) 963-7115; Fax (707) 963-1735

The project Ed Sbragia has with Hall of Fame San Francisco 49er quarterback, Joe Montana, the 2001 Montagia (a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc from four of the Private Reserve vineyards that Beringer uses for their top cuvee) is an improvement over the 2000. A dense ruby/purple color is accompanied by sweet notes of licorice, plums, black currants, flowers, and smoke. There is plenty of new oak in the mouth as well as outstanding density and ripeness, and a long, heady finish. It requires another 2-4 years of bottle age, and should drink well for 15+. Tel. (707) 963-7115; Fax (707) 963-1735