Wine reviews
Tight and intense, with crisp acidity and pointed fine-grained tannins cloaking the licorice, blackberry and wild berry flavors, accented by savory, crushed-rock minerality. Best from 2020 through 2030. 200 cases made.–JL
Not surprisingly, the dazzling 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard displays an almost La Mission Haut-Brion wet gravel/pebble note that gives it a striking minerality. That, in addition to blueberry and black currant fruit, are all present, as are hints of new saddle leather, incense and white flowers. The tannins are supple and the wine full-bodied, fleshy, authoritative and impressive. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 20-25 years. -RP
I will keep my tasting notes for the barrel samples of 2013 red wines short since they will be reviewed from bottle next year, but it looks to be the finest overall vintage for Alpha Omega to date, even eclipsing what they accomplished in 2012. There are several candidates for perfection, including the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane and the 2013 Proprietary Red Blend ERA. Right behind them are some other killer examples, including the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras, 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III, 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon, 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Stagecoach Vineyard and the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper. Even the 2013 Proprietary Red Blend Nuance, which is meant to be their more delicate, Margaux-like Cabernet, should turn out to be as good as the 2012. By and large, one sees super-richness, purity, intensity and depth in these 2013s, with even more delineation and tannin than the 2012s. It will be a great vintage, resulting in two fabulous back-to-back vintages for Alpha Omega. Swiss-born Jean Hoefliger had plenty of experience in Bordeaux and working with Michel Rolland at Newton Vineyards before taking over the reins at Alpha Omega. He has hit pay-dirt with the 2012s, the finest vintage I have tasted from this ambitious winery located on Route 29, south of St. Helena. They have some great vineyard sources for their Cabernet Sauvignon, particularly the range of Beckstoffer-owned, first-growth quality sites spread throughout Napa