Wine reviews
A wine that’s fermented in oak tanks before spending 22 months in 70% new oak, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Lithology Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard comes from another world-class site on the west side of St. Helena. Revealing a deep, saturated purple color, it’s a ripe, sexy wine that carries awesome depth of fruit as well as concentration. Black fruits, licorice, road tar, and tobacco leaf characteristics as well as some cold fireplace notes all emerge from this backward yet incredibly impressive Cabernet Sauvignon. Give bottles another 2-4 years and it will undoubtedly keep for 2+ decades. There’re a tiny 100 cases made. – JD
The 2017 Chardonnay Beckstoffer has a very spicy nose with ginger and allspice with baked apples, almonds and brioche. Medium to full-bodied, it is lively and spicy in the mouth with great tension and depth. . – LPB
Aged 22 months in 75% new French oak, the very deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Lithology Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard is still very youthful and a little closed on the nose, featuring warm blackberries, cherry preserves, cassis and dark chocolate with hints of sautéed herbs, crushed rocks, iron ore and cigar box. Big, rich and full in the mouth, the palate is taut and muscular at this stage yet shows incredible potential with a firm, ripe, grainy frame and a long, mineral-laced finish. 100 cases produced. – LPB