Wine reviews
Another stellar wine, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Missouri Hopper is endowed with huge fruit and equally imposing tannins. Dark plum, chocolate, crushed rocks, scorched earth, smoke and tobacco are all beautifully delineated in this full-bodied, deeply resonant Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2016 possesses off the charts richness, but it clearly needs time to be at its best. – Antonio Galloni
A barrel sample, the very deep purple-black colored 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Missouri Hopper Vineyard hits the ground running with wonderfully expressive spice cake, black cherries and dark chocolate notes over a preserved plums and cassis core, plus hints of violets and underbrush. Full-bodied and packed with rich, seductive black fruit and savory layers, it has a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins and wonderful vivacity, finishing with epic length. – LPB
Just about perfection in a glass, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard is another straight-up fabulous Cabernet Sauvignon from this great, great vintage. From a valley floor site just south of To Kalon, it offers La Mission Haut Brion-like notes of tobacco, lead pencil, and cold fireplace as well as sensational cassis fruit, full body, building tannins, and a deep, layered, sexy texture that needs to be tasted to be believed. It has the purity and elegance that make 2016 special yet also offers density, depth, and opulence. Don’t miss it! – JD
Even deeper purple in color than the To Kalon, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Missouri Hopper Vineyard shows the broad, rich, expansive style of the 2016 vintage, which is compared to 2007 and 2002 by winemaker Tony Biagi. Full-bodied, opulent, and beautifully textured on the palate, with a broad, expansive style, loads of black blue fruits, and a great finish, it’s another winner from this estate. – JD
Pure Cabernet Sauvignon aged 22 months in 100% new French oak, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard is deep garnet-purple colored and scented of crushed blackcurrants, black cherries, scorched earth and tar with nuances of wild thyme, violets, beef drippings and cigar box. The palate is full-bodied, firm, grainy and fresh with tons of youthful black fruit and earthy layers, finishing with a compelling herbal lift. 146 cases produced. – LPB
Pure Cabernet Sauvignon aged 22 months in 100% new French oak, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard is deep garnet-purple colored and scented of crushed blackcurrants, black cherries, scorched earth and tar with nuances of wild thyme, violets, beef drippings and cigar box. The palate is full-bodied, firm, grainy and fresh with tons of youthful black fruit and earthy layers, finishing with a compelling herbal lift. 146 cases produced. – LPBz
Very deep garnet-black in color, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard charges out of the glass with bold, expressive blueberry compote, black cherries, crème de cassis and hoisin notes with hints of Chinese five spice, dusty soil, licorice and camphor with a waft of smoked meats. Full-bodied with a gorgeous plush texture and seamless freshness, the palate is laden with black fruit and exotic spice layers, finishing very long and very fragrant. – LPB