Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2024- Bold Flavors, Prices, and Specs

As a sommelier with over 7 years of experience curating wine lists for upscale restaurants, I eagerly await each new vintage release of Beringer’s iconic Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Having tasted every vintage of this wine since 2017, I can attest that the 2024 offering promises to continue the tradition of bold, complex flavors balanced by refined structure that this Cabernet is known for.

Beringer’s Knights Valley: A Napa Valley Treasure

In my years in the wine industry, I’ve seen few Cabernet Sauvignons from California that can rival the depth and dimension of flavor notes displayed by the Knights Valley. Located in the foothills of Mount St. Helena, this tiny AVA’s low yields and volcanic soils imbue the grapes with intriguing minerality and concentration. When expertly crafted by Beringer’s skilled winemaking team, the results are nothing short of magical. For more on Beringer’s history and winemaking philosophy, visit the Beringer Vineyards official website.

Pricing and Availability

Based on past vintages, the 2024 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon will likely retail around $120 per 750ml bottle. For a wine of this caliber and reputation, I believe this represents an excellent value for consumers. The 2018 vintage, for example, earned 94 points from Wine Spectator and still sells for over $100 on the secondary market.

In this article, I’ll share my tasting notes and insights on what to expect from the 2024 vintage when it hits shelves next year. Whether you’re a Beringer fan eager for the newest release or someone looking to try this renowned Napa Cabernet for the first time, read on for an inside look.

Tasting Profile and Flavor Notes

Over its nearly 150-year history, Beringer has honed an expert understanding of the Knights Valley terroir. They leverage this knowledge to create a wine that fully expresses the unique personality of this tiny AVA each vintage. For more on Knights Valley’s terroir, check out Napa Valley Vintners.

Based on recent vintages, I expect the 2024 Knights Valley Cabernet to exude aromas of black cherry, ripe plum, graphite, and baking spice. A few swirls should reveal more complex notes of violet, smoked meat, and dark chocolate as well.

On the palate, this wine coats every inch of the mouth with concentrated flavors of blackberry, mocha, and subtle minerality. Despite the bold fruit presence, Beringer’s deft use of oak aging gives this Cabernet structure and balance. The tannins provide grip without aggressiveness, while the natural acidity keeps each sip lively. The finish lingers long after the last taste, with echoes of espresso and peppercorn fading slowly. For detailed tasting notes and reviews, visit Wine Enthusiast.

I anticipate the 2024 vintage will follow in the footsteps of the 2018, which displayed a very similar aromatic and flavor profile in its youth. While delicious upon release, the 2018 grew even more harmonious and multidimensional with a few years of cellaring. For insights into aging potential, see Wine-Searcher.

The Winemaking Advantage

Beringer’s founding in 1876 makes it the longest continually operating winery in Napa Valley. This extensive experience translates to exceptional winemaking practices fine-tuned over nearly a century and a half. Learn more about Beringer’s winemaking techniques on the Napa Valley Register.

To craft the Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Beringer sources grapes from the finest sites in the AVA based on meticulous selection criteria. Once harvested, the grapes undergo extended maceration and soft cap fermentation in stainless steel tanks to gently extract maximum color and flavor.

After fermentation, the wine is transferred into a combination of new and once-used French oak barrels for aging. The oak not only gives texture and structure but it allows subtle oxidation to round out the rich fruit flavors. After at least 18 months of barrel aging, only the very best lots are selected for the final Knights Valley Cabernet blend. This exacting approach elevates the wine to iconic status vintage after vintage.

Food Pairing Suggestions

With its intense concentration of flavor, ripe tannins, and balanced structure, the 2024 Knights Valley Cabernet begs to be paired with equally bold cuisine. Here are a few of my favorite pairings certain to be a hit at your next dinner party:

• Pepper-crusted filet mignon – The smoky peppercorns accentuate the graphite notes of the Cabernet while the rich meat highlights the black cherry flavors. Explore more food pairings at Wine Spectator’s Food & Wine.
• Braised lamb shanks over polenta – The savory, tender lamb and creamy polenta work beautifully with the wine’s mocha and spice notes.
• Pappardelle with wild mushroom ragu – Earthy porcini and meaty shiitake mushrooms complement the minerality and concentration of this Cabernet Sauvignon.
• Aged cheddar cheese plate – The smooth, nutty flavors of an aged cheddar or gouda contrast nicely with this wine’s lively acidity. For cheese pairing tips, visit Cheese.com.

I always have a few bottles of Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet in my personal cellar, both to monitor its evolution and to pair with celebratory meals for years to come. I encourage all serious wine lovers to give this world-class Cabernet a try. The 2024 vintage is sure to carry on this wine’s legacy of greatness.

For more updates on wine trends, check out our article on Emerging Wine Trends in 2024-Unique Varietals and Regions to Watch

Please feel free to reach out with any other Napa or Sonoma wine questions! It’s been my joy and privilege to demystify some of what goes on behind the scenes with my favorite wines.