Wine reviews
Sourced from one of the western blocks at this large vineyard, one that boasts more gravelly, better-drained soils on a slight rise, Carter's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard features faintly herbal (thyme and sage) notes accenting ripe black cherries. It's full-bodied and rich, with a long, velvety finish that hints of mocha and dark chocolate but also includes some brighter, fresher notes. – JC
From a valley floor site that never seems to get the recognition it deserves, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard is all varietal and reveals a dense purple hue to go with awesome aromatics of ripe black and blue fruits, smoke tobacco, graphite, darker chocolate, and damp earth. These carry to a full-bodied, deep, concentrated 2021 delivering remarkable purity, a layered, rich, mouth-filling texture, ample tannins, and a great finish. It shows the structured, powerful style of the vintage and actually reminds me a great vintage of La Mission Haut-Brion. It needs to be forgotten for 4-5 years and is going to push the upper limits of the scale at maturity. – JD
Awesome levels of blue fruits, chocolate, camphor, and tobacco, as well as a Graves-like gravelly earth character, emerge from the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard, a rich, full-bodied, powerful 2021 barrel sample. There's plenty of ripeness and baby fat, yet it holds onto a good sense of freshness, as well as the more serious, tannic style of the vintage. – JD