Wine reviews
Young and unbridled up front, with a vibrant core of acidity and taut dark berry, this quickly opens and spreads, fanning out with floral scents and tiers of blackberry, wild berry, subtle herb and spice. Best from 2018 through 2030. 180 cases made.–JL
As for the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard The Grand Daddy, I’d love to say that we seem to be at that three-digit magical number again. Unbelievable notes of road tar, truffle, blackberry, cassis and charcoal embers soar from the glass of this inky purple-colored wine. Stunningly full-bodied, rich and multi-dimensional, it’s another skyscraper constructed by the genius of Carter Cellars. This is unreal stuff. Drink it over the next 30+ years. Carter Cellars has been on a qualitative tear in tastings I’ve done over the last 4-5 years, so it was with great anticipation and high expectations I sat down to taste the 2013s and barrel samples of the 2014s given what Mark Carter had achieved not only in 2012, but even in more challenging vintages such as 2011. Fasten your seat belts! - RP
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard The Grand Daddy tastes like dry vintage port – it’s that concentrated and rich as well as fresh and well-defined. Pure blackberry and cassis fruit intermixed with licorice and floral notes are found in this full-bodied, opulent, massive yet well-balanced Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink 2016-2033. One of my favorite tiny boutique wineries in Napa Valley is Carter Cellars. They have been on a fabulous qualitative roll lately, and there are high expectations for the 2012s and 2013s. I tasted six barrel samples from the 2013 vintage, which all achieved basically the same alcohol levels as the 2012s, 14.8%-14.9%. By and large, the berries were smaller in 2013, and yields were good, but not as abundant as in 2012. That fact is often seen in the wines which are even more concentrated (as hard as that is to believe) than the 2012s. The 2013 vintage looks like a replay of 2001, and 2012 looks like a repeat of 2002, at least for Bordeaux varietals in Napa Valley. I can’t say enough about these offerings from Carter Cellars. If the rumor around the wine world is true that, because of their name, this estate was being harassed, possibly sued by the huge international French firm of Cartier, shame on Cartier. - RP