Wine reviews
Vivid, with a coiled energy despite its heft, as cassis, boysenberry and blackberry puree flavors are laced with violet, anise and sassafras hints. There's an underlay of warm earth throughout, but the fruit is the main event, driving through the juicy finish with latent depth for the cellar. Best from 2022 through 2038. 525 cases made. – J.M.
Schrader’s T6 comes from Beckstoffer’s To Kalon vineyard in Oakville, produced from clone 6 grown on the D2 block. It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud French oak barrels for 18 months. Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon T6 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard opens with classic cassis, cedar and pencil lead scents, plus nuances of red roses, charcoal and garrigue. Full-bodied, it has a firm and grainy texture with lovely freshness supporting the tons of juicy black fruits, finishing long and earthy. 517 cases were made. – LPB
Rocking levels of blueberries, creme de cassis, exotic spices, tobacco, cigar wrapper, and candied violets emerge from the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard T6, which is full-bodied, has a ripe, concentrated mouthfeel, and lots of building tannins. There's no shortage of structure here, yet the tannins are sweet and polished, it has nicely integrated acidity and just beautiful overall balance, although it remains relatively tight and doesn't have the same opulent, expansive mouthfeel found in the CCS, RBS, and Schrader releases. Regardless, it's an incredibly impressive bottle of wine. Give bottles 4-5 years, and it's going to cruise for 20 years or more. – JD
Ratcheting up the quality level, 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard T6 boasts a dense purple color as well as a true “wow” bouquet of crème de cassis, liquid violets, white flowers, unsmoked tobacco, and graphite. Dense, concentrated and primordial at this early stage, it has a stacked mid-palate, lots of tannins (which are perfectly ripe), and good acidity. It’s going to come together beautifully over the course of its élevage, demand short-term cellaring, and evolve for 20+ years or more. – JD
Schrader’s T6 comes from Beckstoffer’s To Kalon vineyard in Oakville, produced from clone 6 grown on the D2 block. It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and is aging in 100% new oak. A very deep purple-black colored barrel sample, POW!, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon T6 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard explodes with the most beautiful perfume of candied violets, chocolate-covered cherries, juniper and cardamom with a core of fresh blackcurrants and black raspberries plus a hint of pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has more power and weight than many other 2018s, still possessing bags of elegance and expression, finishing very long and very minerally. 753 cases are due to be made. – LPB