When I was in northern California the week before Thanksgiving, the rumors that were swirling about the impending sale of Beringer by its international corporate owner, Nestle, to an investment consortium proved true when the sale was announced. Let's hope the new owners maintain the status quo, as Beringer has had an exceptional run of highly successful wines since the mid-eighties. Considering the diversity of wines produced, I would be hard pressed to single out another winery that has enjoyed as much success as Beringer has over the last decade.With the exception of a chunky, overly-oaked Pinot Noir, it is impossible to find anything less than top-flight at Beringer, with many of the firm's wines undeniably special. Beringer, not content to rest on its laurels, has also made a 1994 Terre Rouge, a wine made of 100% Cabernet Franc from their vineyard on Howell Mountain. Cabernet Franc can produce a marvelous wine, but it usually does not make a wine of great intensity or richness. Beringer has succeeded in pushing up the extract level while at the same time keeping the incredible perfume and complexity offered by Cabernet Franc. Aged in 100% new oak, this is an intense, compelling example of Cabernet Franc that will slide down the palate easily when released in several years. Unfortunately, only 100 cases were produced.Beringer has once again proven that they are one of the qualitative leaders in California as they continue to turn out reference point wines - not only for California, but the world. Tel. (707) 963-7115; Fax (707) 963-5054

Some interesting red wines in the Beringer portfolio that might be overlooked given the lemming-like rush to latch onto the Beringer Cabernets and Howell Mountain Merlots, include a strikingly rich and complex Cabernet Franc called Terre Rouge from Beringer's Howell Mountain vineyard. The 1994 Cabernet Franc Terre Rouge exhibits a dense ruby/purple color, a spicy, fragrant, black fruit, mineral, and chocolatey-scented nose, rich flavors, and a moderately weighty feel on the palate. The wine's tannin and acidity are soft and well-integrated. Although it is easy to understand and drink, this Cabernet Franc promises to evolve gracefully for a decade. This exceptionally well-run winery continues its impressive display of high quality wines in all price ranges and varietal categories.Tel. (707) 963-7115; Fax (707) 963-1735