Wine reviews

January 2020

Winemaker Benoit Touquette hit a home run with the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane, which is possibly the wine of the vintage. Based mostly on Cabernet Sauvignon from a magical, first growth site just outside of St. Helena, it reveals a deep purple hue as well as powerful notes of blackcurrant liqueur, chocolate, unsmoked tobacco, and gravelly earth. With its full-bodied richness, sweet tannins, and opulent texture, you’d never guess it came from the 2017 vintage. It’s a remarkable achievement for an incredibly talented team. I suspect it might close down with 2-4 years of bottle age, so I’d either try a bottle immediately on release or do your best to hold off for 7-8 years. – JD