I recently opened a bottle of 1999 BV Georges de Latour Private Reserve and enjoyed it very much. I was able to purchase this wonderful wine at a big discount after the press regarding TCA levels.
I would like to bring up the topic of TCA levels and how wine drinkers perceive it in this and other wines.
I am a Chemist and so am interested in this topic.

I tasted the 99 (and had a bottle of 91) and could not find anything wrong... Other than the taste was awfull small!

Webmarin,

I noticed that you live in Sausalito, CA. I have some very good friends that live there. By any chance do you know the Zaroffs? One of the best veal chops I have ever had was in a restaurant in Sausalito. I cannot think of name of the rest. right now. Anyway welcome to the forums.

IW

Life without wine?...... Yeah Right.<br /><br />I believe we have 2 lives; the life we learn with and the life we live with after that.

Sorry. Don't know them. We do have some great restaurants though! I rarely have to leave town for fine dining.

Thanks for the welcome.

Beaulieau Vineyard, Napa

Winetrip January, 2003

One of the icons of the Napa Valley, BV has fallen on hard times as of late, due to a Wine Spectator report chronicling a high percentage of cork taint among their 1997, 1998, and 1999 vintage bottlings. An additional detractor, at least for me, was their corporate decision to put on upscale airs about five or six years ago. There is a charge today for tasting even the lower-end wines, and the reserve wine tasting now weighs in at a hefty $25 for 5 1.5 ounce tastes. What the heck! I went for the reserve tasting.

2000 Carneros Reserve Chardonnay
A solid Chardonnay, with honeyed citrus, apple/pear fruit, toast and spice. Medium-full in body. Nice honeyed fruit and spice on the afterflavor.
MSRP: $28 My Rating: 90 points

2000 Carneros Reserve Pinot Noir
Ripe black cherry and berry fruit, with a note of tea. Soft and silky; easy to drink.
MSRP: $28 My Rating: 90 points

1991 Georges de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon
This has been their flagship bottling for nearly 50 years now, since the days of legendary winemaker Andre Tchellsicheff. This wine is in its prime now, showing complex aromas and flavors of cellar, mushrooms, cedar, a rich core of dusty cranberry fruit, anise, minerals, and a hint of mint.
MSRP: $90 My Rating: 92 points

1999 Tapestry Reserve
Deep, opaque, ruby violet color lets you know that this Meritage blend is a serious wine. It does not disappoint. There is a rich core of black berry fruits and plum here, dusted with terroir, with additional complexity from layers of licorice, chocolate, and black olive. Pretty and seductive.
MSRP: $45 My Rating: 92 points

1999 Georges de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon
Ah, the current release… What the…?? It’s corked!! So the empirical evidence is at hand (or, should I say, nose). The Wine Spectator was right on with their concerns about cork taint at this winery. At these stratospheric prices, I would have to recommend not buying BV wines from 1997-1999, or until the green light is once again given.
MSRP: $100 My Rating: Unrated

highdesertwine

High,

Was the Corked wine served at the winery? What did they say and do about it?

Derek

acaronianasa

...No, I didn't mention it to the reserve tasting room manager... They s'posedly taste and check every bottle... If they can't tell the difference, what am I to gain by mentioning it??

The person I was with worked for BV, and didn't mention it either, although suspecting that I was right...

It is amazing how the corporate types love to jump on things like this...

highdesertwine

Looks like Tapestry is the way to go for the '99 BV's, p/u'd 3 bottles @ Costco (while searching for bordeaux!) great price--$26.99
I passed on the GLT this year, probably a good move.

*********************************
"my heart is drenched in wine"

I've bought a lot of 1996 Tapestry and some 1997 Tapestry. I've also bought quite a bit of the Rutherford label. I have had corked wines in the bunch 2 of the 3 Tapestry 1997 I've opened were slightly corked. I've had one Rutherford corked out of about 10 opened which is average for me.
I have had the most corked bottles with their 1997 and 1999 pinot noir regular and reserve bottlings.

To answer your general question: I get approximately 10% of my bottles corked. It is a very annoying problem and I'm a big fan of screwcap as a result.
On the other hand, my wife is a great cook and can usually distinguished all of the herbs and spices in a new dish but can't seem to see the corkness of wines except in the most obvious cases. So TCA does not affect eevrybody the same way.