Wine Advocate | Robert Parker | June 30, 2011 97 points "One of the finest Private Reserves made over the last two decades, this phenomenal wine is obviously still an infant in terms of development, but it exhibits a dense purple color as well as an extraordinary nose of blackberries, white chocolate, licorice, tobacco leaf, smoky barbecue, charcoal and a burning ember-like note reminiscent of a Graves from Bordeaux. A dense, luscious, full-bodied, opulent style, with sweet tannin, this locked and loaded, intense, full throttle Private Reserve should be accessible in 5-6 years and last for 25-30." Vineyards With each vintage of the acclaimed Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Beringer Winemaker Laurie Hook chooses the best lots from our reserve vineyards in the Napa Valley, each of which demonstrate remarkable expression of terroir. Beringer’s extraordinary collection of vineyards is the result of a significant and decades-long relationship between viticulture and winemaking. This partnership began with Ed Sbragia and Bob Steinhauer in the 1970’s, when they worked tirelessly to identify vineyards that would produce the rich, intensely colored and flavored Cabernet Sauvignon grapes required for the Private Reserve. Just as critical as the relationship between viticulture and winemaking is the collaboration between Winemaker Laurie Hook and Ed Sbragia that has shaped the Reserve portfolio. Laurie and Ed have been working together since the 1980’s and that consistency is reflected in the 2007 vintage. Our Howell Mountain vineyards comprise the majority of the blend, lending their telltale structure and richness to the wine. Smaller contributions from vineyards in the Spring Mountain, Mt. Veeder and St. Helena appellations round out the wine and add to its immediately generous aromas and palate. Vintage The 2007 growing season began with a moderately warm winter, which was followed by a very mild spring and summer. This prompted an even, steady ripening in the grapes out in the vineyards and nice development of acids, sugars and phenolics. The dryness of the season resulted in smaller berries and clusters, with a notable concentration of flavors. Grapes for the 2007 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon were harvested between September 10 and October 24. Winemaking The Beringer reserve vineyards offer Cabernet Sauvignon of such quality that a minimalist approach to winemaking has long defined this special blend. Each vineyard is vinified separately and monitored carefully by Laurie, from the moment the fruit comes into the winery at Harvest. She uses tailored pump-over techniques for optimal extraction, and ages the wines in hand-selected, custom-toasted barrels of new French Nevers oak. Each lot was aged for almost two years before selection of the final blend, to allow each vineyard to express the depth of its unique terroir. The 2007 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon offers aromas of black currant, star anise and wild mint. Plush flavors of blackberry, cardamom and bittersweet cocoa are accented by mouth-coating tannins and a luscious finish. 2007 Components: • Cabernet Sauvignon: Bancroft Ranch (34%) • Steinhauer (33%) • Chabot (8%) • Lampyridae (8%) • St. Helena Home (6%) • Marston (5%) • Rancho del Oso (3%) • Steinhauer Cabernet Franc (2%) • Bancroft Ranch Cabernet Franc (1%)

Wine Spectator | James Laube | 94 points "Beringer ups the ante with its Knights Valley red; this offers rich, smooth, layered flavors of blackberry, wild berry, plum and cassis. Full bodied yet graceful and elegant, most interesting on the finish, where the flavors glide along and pick up a subtle lift of spice and mocha. Drink now through 2024. Beringer Vineyards has owned and farmed its Knights Valley vineyards since the mid-1960’s, when the Beringer family recognized that the cobbley, rocky alluvial soils were a great place to grow high quality wine grapes. The Knights Valley designation was first used on a Beringer label in 1974. Beringer was instrumental in garnering official recognition for the area in 1983 as a premier wine growing region in the form of its own American Viticulture Area (AVA) designation. Vintage & Vineyard The 2009 growing season was marked by a mild season overall. Light spring rains gave way to a serene, warm summer. Temperatures stayed even through August, giving the grapes an ideal timeframe in which to develop good acidity and phenolics. Overall yields were on the smaller side, making for intense varietal characteristics and flavor development immediately evident at Harvest. Located 17 miles northwest of the winery, Knights Valley vineyard is approximately 600 acres, and has volcanic, well-drained soils that are perfectly suited to Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Grapes for the 2009 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon were harvested between September 22nd and October 26th. Winemaking To maintain the unique characteristics of the different lots from varying areas of the vineyard, the winemaker kept them all separate through vinification and aging. Extended maceration created larger tannins to enhance the lush mouthfeel of the blend and extracted a maximum of color, aromas and flavors. The wines were then aged in small French Nevers oak barrels (28% new) for fifteen months and underwent malolactic fermentation for further development of texture and mouthfeel. After aging, winemaker blended the lots of Cabernet Sauvignon to highlight Knights Valley’s characteristically bright black cherry fruit.

Wine Spectator | James Laube | December, 2011, RATED 91 POINTS WINE SPECTATOR "A lot of Cabernet at this price. Combines ripe, plump, plum, black cherry and black berry flavors in a rich, smooth, polished style, full bodied and firming nicely on the finish, where the tannins have a minerally edge. Drink now through 2021." The 2009 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of clove, allspice, lavender, and cocoa. Juicy flavors of blackberry, sweet tobacco, and pink pepper are accented by fine, approachable tannins, nice body and a rich finish. 3602 cases produced !