Wine reviews
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is one of those surreal, flawless, start-of-the-art, mind-blowing wines that one is so fortunate to find. Waves of blueberries, blackberries, red berries, licorice, smoke and vanillin soar from the glass of this complex beauty. Extremely full-bodied and velvety textured with not a hard edge to be found, this outrageous Cabernet Sauvignon is already drinking well. It should only get better for another decade, and last for 2-3 decades. It is interesting to note on the back labels of these wines that alcohol levels range from 14.8% for the Dr. Crane, 15.1% for the Missouri Hopper, and a whopping 15.9% for the To Kalon. These are three great first-growth vineyards from Andy Beckstoffer. The To Kalon is clearly equal to a first-growth Pauillac, the Dr. Crane to a firstgrowth Graves, and the Missouri Hopper remains to be seen, but it is another potentially fabulous site. -RP