Buena Vista Winery, founded in 1857, has a rich and unrivaled heritage as the first premium — and certainly the most colorful — of all of the wineries in California. Its founder, Agoston Haraszthy, the self-proclaimed “Count of Buena Vista,” was a vivacious and eccentric pioneer with a veritable love and unending commitment to California wine. Nearly 164 years later, and after facing many challenges, Buena Vista Winery has not only endured but, is thriving. 1857 Red Wine honors this storied history and is a reflection of the quality, dedication and revitalization of the winery since joining Boisset Collection in 2011.
The 1857 Red Wine opens with a beautiful nose of crème de cassis, anise and floral notes. Layered flavors of cherry, plum and blackberry are accented by notes of cocoa and toasted oak. This is a full-bodied and elegant wine with fine-grained tannins and a dense mouthfeel. There is a touch of cardamom on the long and lingering finish.
Best of Class
March 18, 2021 | Wine Advocate
This is the first vintage of this new label by Buena Vista, commemorating the year it was founded. The 2018 Red Wine 1857 is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc. The Cabernet Sauvignon is from the Morris vineyard on Diamond Mountain, the Petit Verdot was harvested from the Larkmead vineyard in Calistoga, and the Cabernet Franc is from the Casa Nuestra vineyard in St. Helena. It was aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, 45% new. Very deep purple-black colored, it slowly unfurls to reveal fantastically fragrant notes of candied violets, star anise, clove oil and chocolate mints, over a core of crème de cassis, Black Forest cake and blueberry pie with hints of pencil shavings and fallen leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with rich, seductive black and blue fruit layers, framed by oh-so-plush tannins and a seamless line of freshness, finishing very long and perfumed. Only 50 cases were made. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown
