Wine reviews
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Empyrean is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Displaying a deep purple-black color, it comes wafting out of the glass with a bedazzling nose of warm cassis, blueberry pie and Black Forest cake with suggestions of chocolate mint, underbrush, rose oil and lavender plus a hint of cinnamon stick. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers great tension and bags of energetic black fruits, supported by grainy tannins, finishing long and fragrant. – LPB
The tiny, cellar selection 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard Empyrean looks like a perfect wine in the making. Incredibly pure blueberry and cassis fruits, notes of tobacco, wet stone-like minerality, and violets all flow to a full-bodied barrel sample that has no hard edges, great tannins, a big mid-palate, and a great, great finish. This might be the finest vintage to date for this cuvée. – JD
The tiny selection 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard Empyrean is a cellar selection from this large site and tastes like the classic cuvée, just denser and richer. A stunning nose of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, candied violets, orange blossom, and flowery incense gives way to a full-bodied, powerful wine with building tannins, a wonderful sense of freshness and purity, no hard edges, and a great finish. – JD