Wine reviews
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon T6 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is brilliant, with rocking levels of blueberries, cherry pie, incense, and blood orange all emerging from the glass. With full-bodied richness, a seamless texture, awesome tannin quality, and a more rounded, sexy profile, it will be more approachable than the RBS release yet should age just as well. It’s a beautiful wine. This cuvée also normally makes up the backbone of the Old Sparky release. – JD
A barrel sample, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard T6 features stewed plums, spice box, crème de cassis and unsmoked cigars with touches of Christmas cake and sandalwood. The palate is medium to full-bodied and super spicy in the mouth with chewy tannins and a very long finish. – LPB
Ripe and succulent, featuring silky-edged plum, açaí and raspberry puree flavors, lined with licorice and fruitcake notes. Offers a gorgeously plush feel through the finish, with the fruit soaking up the toast. A late tug of graphite completes the picture. Drink now through 2039. 378 cases made. – J.M.
In the top handful of wines in the vintage, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard T6 is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon (which was harvested the morning of the fires) that spent 20 months in 92% new French oak. This is a powerhouse of a wine that’s loaded with fruit and richness, yet it still just glides across the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. Dense purple-hued, with lots of chocolaty black and blue fruits, incense, and spice as well as unsmoked tobacco, give bottles 3-4 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following two decades. – JD