Wine reviews
Deep purple-black in color, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard is youthfully restrained to begin, opening out to notions of black forest cake, blackcurrant cordial, licorice and fertile loam with spice box, iron ore and sautéed herbs hints. Full-bodied and profoundly fruited with tons of earth, black fruit preserves and baking spice layers, it is solidly framed with grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing with great length and expression. – LPB
The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard is a huge, opulent, sweetly fruited effort that’s already drinking beautifully. It offers incredible amounts of crème de cassis, blueberries, white chocolate, roasted herbs, and licorice, as well as a damp earth and a gravelly, riverbed-like minerality. Opulent, hedonistic and beautifully ripe (not over-ripe, or under-ripe), it has sweet, supple tannins that are largely concealed behind a wealth of fruit. This beauty will keep for two decades or more. - JD
Dr. Crane delivers rewarding complexity and contour within a framework of firm, substantial tannins and stark structure. Leather, grilled meat and gunpowder complement tangy layers of acid-driven cassis and red currant, combining effortlessly in a seamless array of evolving flavors and aromas. The minerality takes from in a sensation of crushed rock. Enjoy from 2025-2035. – V.B.
Spicy cedar and sandalwood scents lead to a fresh, fleshy, juicy core of cherry, plum and dark berry flavors. Drink now through 2030. 500 cases made. – J.L