Wine reviews
This rich, pure and polished version offers a deep well of cassis, blackberry puree and fig paste flavors inlaid with flashes of warm earth, walnut husk, alder and dark tobacco. Broad, deep and long, this is very Oakville in feel. Best from 2026 through 2042. 360 cases made. – J.M.
Another wine in the lineup that has a classic vineyard signature, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard (100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 60% new French oak) has rocking red and black fruits as well as lots of spice, flowery incense, sweet tobacco, and a kiss of candied mint on the nose. These all carry over to the palate, where the wine is medium to full-bodied, has a supple, layered, powerful, yet elegant mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's not a blockbuster that's going to blow you away, but it does everything incredibly well and is a beautifully satisfying Cabernet Sauvignon to enjoy over the coming 15-20 years. – JD
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard ratchets up the intensity, and this beauty just about jumps out of the glass with its incredible bouquet of cr me de cassis, flowery incense, exotic spices, smoked tobacco, and loamy earth. It's full-bodied, incredibly concentrated, and opulent, yet still just dances across the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. A lesson in true greatness in wine, this pure, seamless, flawlessly balanced 2021 will blow you away any time over the coming 20-25 years. – JD