Provenance Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Provenance Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 is a full-bodied Rutherford Napa Valley red wine bottled at 15.2% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Sourced primarily from the prestigious Beckstoffer George III vineyard — one of California's most sought-after vineyard sites — this vintage earned an average critics score of 90 points and an 89 from Wine Spectator.

Quick Facts: ABV: 15.2%  |  Origin: Rutherford, Napa Valley, California  |  Vintage: 2013  |  Producer: Provenance Vineyards

Production & Heritage

Provenance Vineyards focuses on Rutherford appellation Cabernet Sauvignon, drawing most of its fruit for this bottling from the Beckstoffer George III vineyard — a site first planted in 1895 by Thomas Rutherford himself, for whom the appellation is named, and later owned by the de Latour family who founded Beaulieu Vineyards. The 2013 blend is 92% Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance composed of Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. The wine aged for 22 months in predominantly French oak barrels, with a smaller proportion of American and Hungarian oak casks contributing additional complexity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Generous blackberry and crème de cassis lead into deeper layers of rum raisin, black licorice, violet, and anise. Behind the dark fruit, hints of summer savory and creosote add a savory, smoky dimension.

Taste: The entry is bold and densely concentrated, with deep blackcurrant and black cherry flavors meeting ripe, well-integrated tannins on the mid-palate. Blue fruit and clove emerge alongside a gravelly minerality and loamy soil character that speaks to the Rutherford dust terroir. Balanced acidity gives the wine energy and lift despite its full-throttle weight.

Finish: Long and warming, with dark chocolate, vanilla from new oak, and deep berry flavors lingering well past the last sip. Dusty cocoa powder and spice trail off with impressive purity.

How to Drink Provenance Cabernet

A wine of this concentration and structure is best served at 60–65°F in a large-bowled glass. Decanting for 30 to 60 minutes opens up the secondary aromas and softens the tannins. Given the 2013 vintage's maturity, it drinks well now but still has structure to hold. Pair it with grilled bone-in ribeye where the wine's cassis and smoky notes mirror the char; braised short ribs, which match its weight and dark fruit; or aged hard cheeses like Comté, whose nuttiness complements the oak-driven vanilla and cocoa tones.

Best For

• Serving alongside a prime steak dinner for a special anniversary
• Gifting a Napa Valley wine collector who values single-vineyard provenance
• Anchoring a vertical tasting of Rutherford Cabernets across vintages
• Cellaring for continued development over the next several years

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Provenance Cabernet 2013 taste like? It is a bold, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon dominated by blackcurrant, black cherry, and blue fruit, layered with dark chocolate, clove, and a distinctive gravelly minerality often associated with Rutherford terroir.

How does Provenance Cabernet compare to Beaulieu Vineyard Rutherford Cabernet? Both wines source fruit from Rutherford — in fact, the Beckstoffer George III vineyard used by Provenance was historically part of the de Latour estate that founded Beaulieu Vineyards. Provenance tends toward a richer, more densely extracted style at 15.2% ABV, while BV Rutherford typically presents a slightly more restrained profile.

Is Provenance Cabernet 2013 good for cellaring? Yes — the ripe tannin structure, balanced acidity, and 22 months of oak aging give this vintage a solid framework for continued development, though it already drinks well with decanting given its decade-plus of bottle age.

Where is Provenance Cabernet made? Provenance Vineyards produces this wine in the Rutherford appellation of Napa Valley, California, sourcing primarily from the historic Beckstoffer George III vineyard, a site first planted in 1895.

What foods pair well with Provenance Cabernet 2013? Grilled ribeye or filet mignon mirrors the wine's smoky, dark-fruit intensity. Braised lamb shanks match its full body and spice. Aged Gouda or Comté complement the vanilla and cocoa oak notes. Dark chocolate desserts echo the finish, while mushroom risotto highlights the earthy, loamy character.

What sizes does Provenance Cabernet come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Provenance Cabernet 2013 worth the price? For a Rutherford Cabernet sourced from the Beckstoffer George III vineyard — one of Napa's most revered sites — the Provenance bottling positions as a strong mid-premium value, particularly given the 90-point average critics score and the pedigree of the vineyard source.

Why Provenance Cabernet 2013?

The defining advantage here is vineyard sourcing: the Beckstoffer George III site carries genuine Napa Valley history, planted over a century ago by the man who gave Rutherford its name. That heritage translates into a wine with authentic Rutherford dust character — the gravelly, mineral-driven backbone that collectors prize. The 2013 vintage delivered warm, even conditions across Napa Valley, and at over a decade of age this bottle shows the rewards of patience: fully integrated oak, resolved tannins, and a complexity that younger vintages cannot replicate. With an average critics score of 90 points, it stands as a compelling representation of what Rutherford Cabernet can achieve at a price point well below many neighboring single-vineyard bottlings.