Wine reviews
As with the Dr. Crane site, Mike does a barrel selection from the Georges III vineyard and releases it under the Empyrean label. Cut largely from the same cloth as the base release, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III Empyrean reveals a similar saturated purple color as well as a more refined, pure bouquet of crème de cassis, blueberry liqueur, lead pencil, tobacco, crushed rocks, and damp earth. With awesome purity, full body, building tannins, and a layered, multi-dimensional texture, this is heaven juice that will stand toe to toe with the best of the vintage. Don’t miss it. – JD
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Empyrean is broody and closed, slowly giving baked black currants, plum preserves, black forest cake and garrigue with fertile loam, new leather and cigar box notions. Medium to full-bodied and firm, it is a little bitter and chewy and lean on the mid palate, finishing long. – LPB
One of the top two or three wines of the vintage, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard Empyrean boasts an inky purple hue as well as extraordinary notes of blue fruits, melted licorice, scorched earth, and subtle oak. With full-bodied richness, beautiful depth of fruit, mid-palate concentration, and both flawlessly integrated tannins and acidity, this layered, opulent 2017 will benefit from short-term cellaring and cruise for 20-25 years or more. – JD