Wine reviews
Opaque ruby. Powerful dark berry preserve aromas, with cured tobacco and roasted coffee qualities gaining strength with air. Deeply concentrated cassis and bitter cherry flavors are youthfully brooding and firmed by solid tannins. A bit inscrutable today but there is clearly superb material here. 91-93.
The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignons all had strong showings. Slightly more fruit-forward than the 2005s were at a similar stage, they may be more charming when bottled, and should easily last for 15 or more years, with the Beckstoffer To Kalon living for three decades or more. Gorgeous blackberry and cassis fruit notes intermixed with notions of crushed, scorched rocks, graphite, licorice, and pain grillé result in a prodigious aromatic display offered by the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard. Soft, fleshy, and opulent (it recalls the 2004 version), this stunner will be drinkable upon release, and should last for two decades.