Wine reviews
All three 2013s ratchet up the level of extract and seem even more focused and precise than the 2012s, and are rich, layered, full-bodied and super well-endowed. It’s hard to have a favorite right now, although my early inclination is to go with the Beckstoffer To Kalon, since it’s such a fabulous site. But the Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper is similar and the Cloudy’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the Dutch Henry Canyon area of Napa is also impressive. More on these when they are in bottle. Bacio Divino, a project of Claus Janzen and his son, offered three vintages of their single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons and a couple generic bottlings, plus other assorted bottlings from their terrific value-priced wines, such as Pazzo. There are also a couple of Burgundy-styled wines made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Dutton Ranch, which I decided to include since they’re the only Sonoma County wines from Bacio Divino. -RP
From another of Andy Beckstoffer's sites in Oakville, Missouri Hopper is a mix of cassis, kirsch and leather, its fullbodied structure marked in generous toasty oak. Tea and leather provide a savory edge, balancing the richness of the red fruit. Drink now through 2023. Cellar Selection. - V.B.
Intense and powerful, supple and graceful, with moderate tannins. Offers ultraripe blackberry and black licorice flavors without losing velocity. Drink now through 2028. 212 cases made.-JL
The 2013 Janzen Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard is from another Oakville site. This wine offers up much more unsmoked cigar tobacco, wet gravel/minerality, crème de cassis, licorice and graphite. It is full-bodied, intense, multilayered, gorgeously pure and long. It can be drunk early on, or cellared for 30+ years.-RP