Wine reviews

December 2008

The dense purple-hued 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard is fashioned from a gravelly site that was probably an old riverbed. A beautiful effort, it reveals notes of scorched rocks, blue and black fruits, lead pencil shavings, and sweet toasty oak along with dazzling purity, a full-bodied, multilayered mouthfeel, and a long, smooth finish. It has avoided the vintage’s hard, spiky tannins, and should provide plenty of pleasure over the next 15+ years. Production for these cuvees ranges from a low of 160 cases to a high of 400 cases.