All Products
CCS Accolades
-
2016 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS
— 100 JD, 98 WA, 94 WS
100 Pts. “The most structured and backward in the lineup, yet with incredible potential, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is a monumental bottle of wine that ticked all my boxes. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 20 months in 100% new Darnajou barrels, it reveals a deep purple color as well as a myriad of blueberry and cassis fruits, candied violets, spice box, and licorice, with just a hint of background oak and a lead pencil note. With a full-bodied, layered, thrilling texture, masses of ripe tannins, and a more focused and elegant style than usual for this cuvée, forget bottles for 4-5 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 25+ years.”
98 Pts. “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon CCS has exuberant notes of plum preserves, baked blackberries and warm cassis with notions of cedar, pencil lead, Indian spices and Sichuan pepper plus a touch of rose hip tea. Very firm and structured in the full-bodied mouth, the palate is laden with tightly wound black and blue fruit layers, lifted by an exciting line of freshness and finishing on a lingering perfumed note.”
94 Pts. “Features a deep well of dark currant, fig and blackberry paste flavors, shrouded for now in ganache and roasted vanilla notes. Shows tarry grip on the back end, with good latent energy and a finishing kick of fruit. Wait this out with some cellaring. Best from 2021 through 2034. 561 cases made.”
View Wine
T6 Accolades
-
2015 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard T6
— 100 WA, 99 JD, 93 WS
100 Pts. “Coming from the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, block D2 planted to clone 6, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon T6 sports a deep garnet-purple color and fantastically fragrant nose of Sichuan pepper, unsmoked cigars, potpourri, red loam and forest floor over a core of black forest cake, blackberry preserves and baked plums plus touches of dried Mediterranean herbs and smoked meats. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is full-on seductive, with wonderfully perfumed layers emerging through the frame of very finely knit yet firm tannins, finishing with epic length and depth.”
99 Pts. “Flirting with perfection, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard T6 comes all from clone 6 (there are less than 4 acres of clone 6 planted) and is always the last cuvee to be harvested. The 2015 has sensational purity as well as full-bodied, decadent notes of crème de cassis and black berry fruit, loads of mocha, scorched earth, spice and salty nuances, sweet, sweet tannin, not a hard edge to be found, and a blockbuster finish. Like all of Brown’s 2015s, it’s packed with fruit, yet its purity and balance are off the charts.”
93 Pts. “Plush, rich fruit rises to the top of this opulent offering, with layers of blackberry, dusty, loamy earth and spicy, cedary oak flavors, backed by a firm mix of tannins and spice. Best from 2021 through 2032.”
View Wine
Old Sparky Accolades
-
2015 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky 1.5L
— 100 JD, 97 WA, 96 WS, 96 JS
100 Pts. “A wine that got more than one expletive in my notes, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Sparky is a barrel selection and is mostly clone 6 with smaller amounts of clone 4. Pure crème de cassis, blueberries, violets, white chocolate, and white flower notes all soar from this inky 2015 which is full-bodied, powerful, yet weightless and elegant. Its tannins are covered by a wealth of fruit, it has no hard edges, perfect integration of its fruit, tannin, acidity, and alcohol, and a finish that just won’t quit. This is a crazy good wine that couldn’t be any better.”
97 Pts. “A barrel selection coming from the best barrels of Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Sparky has a deep garnet-purple color and savory/meaty nose of yeast extract, chargrill, sautéed herbs and smoked meat over a core of crème de cassis, cigar box, red currant jelly and wild blueberries plus a touch of powdered cinnamon. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with black fruit preserves, savory and baking spice layers, with a very firm backbone and very long, multilayered finish.”
96 Pts. “A masterpiece of complexity and elegance, exhibiting a firm, supple, dense core of loamy earth, licorice, currant, blackberry and jazzy oak notes without being weighty. Most impressive for its elegance and grace. Drink now through 2034.”
96 Pts. “A dense and very layered Sparky with lots of ripe varietal character such as currant bushes and dark fruit. Full-bodied, rich and powerful. Juicy and very flavorful. Attractive to drink now but needs at least two or three years to come together.”
View Wine
CCS Accolades
-
2015 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS
— 100 JD, 99 WA, 98 JS, 94 WS
100 Pts. “The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS is the gem in the lineup and is a perfect wine in every sense. Possessing a deep purple color, awesome minerality in its graphite, blueberry, cassis, and spice-driven aromatics, full-bodied richness and a weightless, elegant yet powerful style that needs to be tasted to be believed, this heavenly 2015 glides over the palate and is as seamless and pure as they come. Ideally it will be given a few years of bottle and it’s capable of developing for 20+ years.”
99 Pts. “Coming from the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, block C1 planted to clone 4, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon CCS has a very pretty nose of ripe plums, black cherries and mulberries with an undercurrent of violets, licorice, marmite toast and cigar box plus a touch of aged beef. Medium to full-bodied, the palate struts great finesse, with very fine, silt-like tannins supporting the nuanced black fruit layers, finishing very long and with great purity.”
98 Pts. “Wonderful blue fruits and stones with ink and blood undertones. Full-bodied, tight and very focused with super refined tannins. A long, flavorful finish. Great wine. Drink in 2021 but already gorgeous.”
94 Pts. “Marked by firm, ripe, dusty, loamy tannins that give this textural distinction, this will benefit from short-term cellaring. Tiers of spicy berry, loamy earth and smoky oak fold in nicely, adding to the experience. Best from 2021 through 2034.”
View Wine
Beckstoffer To Kalon Accolades
-
2015 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
— 100 WA, 98 JD, 95 WS, 95 JS
100 Pts. “Coming from the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, from blocks C2, D2 and B2 planted predominately to clone 4, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Schrader is intensely scented of vibrant blackberries, black plums and cassis, with touches of Indian spices, eucalypt, mocha and tilled black soil plus a waft of oolong tea. Medium to full-bodied, the palate comes through with a compelling chocolate-covered cherries character and tons of subtle layers, structured with very firm, very fine-grained tannins and impressive freshness, finishing with epic persistence.”
98 Pts. “Another wine that flirts with perfection is the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Schrader (aka Schrader Schrader). It's one of the more opulent, massive and sweetly fruited beauties in the lineup, yet it has incredible purity and elegance, as well as full-bodied power and richness. Cassis, toasted spices, licorice, and chocolate all emerge from this long, rich, perfectly balanced beauty. There are just over 200 cases produced and it's going to deliver the goods for two decades, although there's no harm in early gratification either.”
95 Pts. “Beautifully crafted, deep, rich and multifaceted, with tiers of dark berry, cherry, plum and wild berry, this is deftly balanced, making it notably easy to approach now, but a great choice for the cellar as well. Best from 2020 through 2033.”
95 Pts. “Hot stones and blueberries. Oyster shell, too. Full-bodied and tight with ultra-long tannins and crispness. Tight and balanced. Beautiful now. Why wait?”
View Wine
Beckstoffer To Kalon Accolades
-
2013 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
— 100 JS, 95 WA, 95 WS
100 Pts. “This is a red with amazing structure and muscle yet it remains fresh and agile. Full body, chewy and polished tannins. Salty with chili and sweet tobacco. So savory. Marvelous, seamless texture. In synch. Why wait?”
95 Pts. “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon from clone 4, but a different block of the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, shows great fruit, but not nearly the complexity of the CCS. It is one of those micro-examples that is a fabulous wine, but somehow never seems to be up to the quality of the CCS, which is made from the same clone in an adjacent block. Nevertheless, this wine is full-bodied, rich and dense, with classic tobacco leaf, graphite, blackcurrant and licorice, and some toasty, smoky oak in the background. Drink it over the next 30 years.”
95 Pts. “Pure, clean crushed berry and floral aromas are the introduction to this vibrant, robust and deeply flavored effort, with cascading blackberry, wild berry, anise, cedar, tobacco leaf and melted licorice notes, ending with a long, sustained aftertaste that keeps echoing the core themes. Best from 2020 through 2035.”
View Wine
2024 Morisoli Vineyard Accolades
To Kalon Vineyard Accolades
-
2023 Schrader To Kalon Vineyard 750mL
— 99 JD
99 Pts. “From the more northern part of To Kalon, just behind the Mondavi Vineyard and touching Beckstoffer's section, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard offers ripe blackcurrants, hints of cassis, sweet tobacco, chocolate, and spicy nuances that give it a complex, nuanced, incredibly layered profile. It hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a round, lush mouthfeel, velvety tannins, and a great finish. Drink this sexy, voluptuous, hedonistic effort over the coming 20 years. Drink 2025-2045.”
View Wine
CCS Accolades
-
2017 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS
— 98 JD, 96 WS, 95 WA, 95 JS
98 Pts. “Another wine in the running for the wine of the vintage is the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS, which, as always, is all Cabernet aged in new Darnajou barrels. This full-bodied, magical 2017 has incredibly polished, silky tannins as well as a mammoth-sized texture and mouthfeel. Loaded with notions of blueberries, white flowers, graphite, candied violets, and incense, it’s one of those wines that carries incredible richness and depth yet never seems heavy or cumbersome. The 2017 doesn’t get much better, and this beauty can be drunk today or cellared for two decade”
96 Pts. “Shows the juicy, forward fruit of the vintage, featuring engaging plum, blackberry and raspberry notes and a zip of roasted apple wood on the finish. Reveals solid underlying grip, with a bold graphite accent emerging steadily as this airs in the glass. Exhibits great latent vibrancy. Best from 2022 through 2040. 1,182 cases made.”
95 Pts. “Very deep purple-black colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is little youthfully mute to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal boysenberries, wild blueberries and plum preserves scents with a savory undercurrent of bouquet garni, charcuterie and black olives plus wafts of black truffles and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is laden with earth-laced black fruits, finishing with plenty of chew and loads of savory layers.”
95 Pts. “Blueberry, light tar and hot-stone aromas with hints of walnuts and violets. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a chewy, focused finish. Refined and pretty for the vintage. Drink or hold.”
View Wine
LPV Accolades
-
2016 Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard LPV
— 100 WA, 98+ JD, 94 WS
100 Pts. “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard LPV is very deep purple-black in color with an incredibly perfumed nose of potpourri, lavender and red roses with hints of oolong tea, cigar boxes and fragrant earth over a black cherry, blackberry and warm plums core. Full-bodied, firm and with wonderfully ripe, grainy tannins, it delivers mouth-filling black fruits and an epically long, wonderfully fragrant finish.”
98+ Pts. “There are two wines from this rocky site located on the western edge of St. Helena, which was purchased by the Beckstoffer family in 1983. Looking first at the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon LPV Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard, which is 100% clone 337 Cabernet Sauvignon aged in new oak, it has a dense, backward style as well as insane minerality in its full-bodied aromas and flavors of black fruits, dark chocolate, violets, and earth. Locked and loaded on the palate, it has a layered, multi-dimensional texture, yet is certainly one of the more backward releases. Don't think about opening bottles for at least 3-5 years.”
94 Pts. “This features lush, velvety waves of plum sauce, blackberry puree and warmed fig confiture rolling through, laced liberally with melted black licorice and Black Forest cake notes. The toast is equally lavish on the finish. Integrated and balanced, but be prepared for the ostentatious style. Best from 2020 through 2032. 311 cases made.”
View Wine
T6 Accolades
-
2014 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard T6
— 98 WA, 95 JS, 94 WS
98 Pts. “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon T6 was one of my super-favorites of the 2014s. Slightly higher in alcohol at 14.7%, compared to the RBS at 14.4% and the GIII at 14.3%, it is a kick-ass Cabernet Sauvignon, with a sexy display of black fruits, licorice, camphor, graphite and background oak. This is from clone 6 of the To Kalon Vineyard aged in 95% new Darnajou and 5% Taransaud barrels. So, as readers can see, the differences are minor, indeed. However, they are slightly different wines. This is a bold, opulent wine and one of my favorites of the 2014s. Drink it over the next 20 years.”
95 Pts. “Aromas of blackberries, minerals, licorice and dried violets follow through to a full body, big and juicy tannins and loads of fruit. Dense and powerful. Lightly austere finish. Shows power and muscle. Try in 2022.”
94 Pts. “A little ragged and rustic around the edges, with a solid core of rich, dense, extracted dark berry fruit, shaded by black licorice and toasty oak notes. Though the tannins are a challenge now, this wine should round out nicely. Best from 2019 through 2033.”
View Wine
RBS Accolades
-
2014 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS
— 96 WA, 96 JS, 94 WS
96 Pts. “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon RBS is made from the same clone (337) as the Georges III, but comes from the To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville and not the Rutherford Georges III. This was aged in 85% new Darnajou and 15% new Taransaud. It has fabulous concentration, notes of incense, licorice, blackcurrants, blackberries, as well as spring flowers. The wine is juicy, savory and full-bodied, with wonderful underlying energy and freshness. This wine is a more forward style than we saw with the 2013s, and is best drunk over the next 16-20 years.”
96 Pts. “Lots of plum and walnut character in addition to hints of mushrooms and violets. Full-bodied, rich and layered with blueberry and blackberry flavors. Give it a few years to soften. Better in 2019.”
94 Pts. “Masters richness, with finesse and refinement. This is a beauty built of deep dark fruit and toasty, vanilla-scented oak, maintaining weight and focus while showing off flashes of elegance and polish. Most impressive on the finish, where the flavors linger. Drink now through 2032.”
View Wine
RBS Accolades
-
2012 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS
— 98 WA, 92 WS
98 Pts. “The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS, which is also from Clone 337 but from different blocks on the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, saw oak with 90% new Darnajou and 10% new Taransaud. This wine seems slightly more expansive, shares the black ruby/purple color with all of it siblings, and has a boatload of crème de cassis, incense, licorice, graphite and vanilla along with plenty of spice box and forest floor. This is a killer, full-bodied, super-duper, opulent Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the next 20 years.”
92 Pts. “Taut, detailed and tightly wound, with a firm band of cedar, herb, green olive and gravelly earth, accented by dark berry and cedary oak. Tasted twice with consistent notes. Drink now through 2026.”
View Wine
Colesworthy Accolades
-
2014 Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Colesworthy 1.5L
— 100 JS, 94 WA, 94 WS
100 Pts. “This is phenomenal with blackberries and blueberries, not to mention quite incredible stones and black tea. What a nose. Full-bodied and so tight and dense — yet agile and austere with so much going on. Fantastic balance. One of the best Schraders ever made. Better in four or five years, yet wonderful now.”
94 Pts. “Slightly less impressive, but still a brilliant wine, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Colesworthy comes across as more backward and closed with a Graves-like minerality. This also hails from the Las Piedras Vineyard and was aged 20 months in 100% new Darnajou. This was the most reserved of all of the 2014s from Schrader, will probably benefit from several years of bottle age, and keep for 15 or more years.”
94 Pts. “Slow to unfold, but does so in an impressive manner, gradually building intensity and depth around a core of gravel-laced dark berry, herb, licorice and spicy oak notes. Best from 2021 through 2036. 117 cases made.”
View Wine
GIII Accolades
-
2019 Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard GIII
— 97 JD, 94 WS, 95-97+ WA
97 Pts “Lots of classic darker, herbal notes define the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard, a rich, medium to full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon from winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. With air, more chocolate, espresso, and spice notes emerge from the glass, and this medium to full-bodied, textured, ripe, yet also elegant 2019 is going to drink brilliantly for another 20 years or so.”
94 Pts “A rock-solid Cabernet, with cassis and dark plum stitched together with dusty earth and iron notes, all set into an alder and savory frame. Grippy back end, but the fruit keeps pace and there's a buried violet note for purity. Best from 2023 through 2036.”
95-97+ Pts “...expressive notes of red roses, fallen leaves, dusty soil and cinnamon stick over a core of warm cassis, kirsch and baked plums, with a subtle waft of eucalyptus.”
View Wine
Old Sparky Accolades
-
2016 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky 1.5L in Wood Box
— 100 WA, 100 JD, 95 WS
100 Pts. “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Sparky is very deep purple-black in color with a wonderfully pure nose of blackcurrant cordial, blackberry preserves and black cherry pie with nuances of dried bay leaves, dusty soil, garrigue and new leather plus touches of unsmoked cigars and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, concentrated and jam-packed with flavors, the palate is pure hedonism with a solid line of ripe tannins and great freshness, finishing very long.”
100 Pts. “My notes on the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Sparky Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard started with “Wow, what a nose” and finished with a few expletives. Based largely on the T6 Cabernet Sauvignon from To Kolan, with smaller amounts of the RBS, CCS, and Schrader, it’s a massive wine by any measure yet carries everything perfectly, with perfumed notes of crème de cassis, incense, flowers, and exotic spice, full-bodied richness, an expansive, mulit-dimensional texture, sweet tannins, and no sensation of weight or heaviness. It’s a monumental bottle of wine that made me want to downgrade every other wine I tasted for this report. It’s bottled only in magnum, so do your best to hold off for 6-7 years (good luck!) and it will keep for 3-4 decades. Bravo to the whole team at Schrader for a truly magical wine.”
95 Pts. “Features a large core of red and black currant, blackberry and plum compote flavors that are juicy and well-defined, backed by plush tannins that meld nicely through the finish. Light tobacco and violet hints skitter through for added range. Big yet sneakily long. Best from 2021 through 2035. 430 cases made.”
View Wine
Old Sparky Accolades
-
2011 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky 1.5L
— 95 WA
95 Pts. “The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky reveals lots of cassis, spring flower, graphite and spice characteristics along with good minerality. Medium to full-bodied and strikingly rich, it, too, is a great success for the vintage. It should drink well for 15 or more years.”
View Wine
WH Accolades
-
2023 Schrader Wappo Hill 750mL
— 95-97 JD
95-97 Pts. “Rocking levels of red, blue, and black fruits, graphite, crushed stone, and flowery, spicy notes all shine in the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Wappo Hill Vineyard, a rich, medium to full-bodied, concentrated, seamless barrel sample that has the vintage's pure, focused, structured, and incredibly impressive style."
View Wine
Heritage Clone Accolades
-
2023 Schrader To Kalon Vineyard Heritage Clone 750mL
— 98 JD
98 Pts. “From an older Mondavi clone and sporting a dense purple hue, the virtually perfect 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Heritage Clone shows a serious, incredibly impressive style in its ripe black fruits, exotic flowers, spicy wood, iron, and complex aromatics that emerge from the glass. It's a singular, exotic expression of Cabernet Sauvignon that's full-bodied and concentrated, with ripe tannins, remarkable purity and finesse, and that rare mix of power and elegance. Drink 2025-2055.”
View Wine
Colesworthy Accolades
-
2021 Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Colesworthy 1.5L
— 100 JD, 96 WS
100 Pts “The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Colesworthy is a wine that absolutely blew me away, and it's unquestionably one of the legendary wines in the vintage. A barrel selection released only in magnum, this deep purple-hued beauty offers an incredible array of black and blue fruits, smoked tobacco, graphite, and chalky minerality that changes every time you come back to the glass. It's full-bodied, concentrated, and has the vintage s purity and precision, with ripe, ultra-fine tannins and incredible length on the finish. My raw note has more than a few expletives, and this is one of those wines that needs to be tasted to be believed. It might be one of the finest Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons I've ever tasted. While it's an incredible tasting experience today, this needs a decade of bottle age and should evolve for 2-3 decades if well stored. Hats off to the sheer genius of winemaker Thomas Brown.”
96 Pts “This is in a hyperripe and showy vein, with a gush of plum, cassis, boysenberry puree and melted black licorice notes that sparkle with anise and iris hints through the long finish, which offers a pretty sheen of mocha-accented toast. Shows the structure for form, but this is all about the fruit. Drink now through 2040.”
View Wine
LPV Accolades
-
2021 Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard LPV
— 98 JD, 97 WS
98 Pts “Open, expansive aromas of dried plums, blackberries, and dark chocolate lead to concentrated, opulent black cherries, blueberries, and espresso on the palate. This wine, from the St. Helena district, combines sunny red fruit, minerals, and chaparral with firm tannins and good acidity to balance the full body and creamy richness. Best from 2030."
98 Pts “Coming from a site on the west side of St. Helena and 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard sports a dense purple hue to go with an incredible nose of savory red and black fruits, dried flowers, iron, and loamy earth, with the classic minerality that this site always seems to yield. With full-bodied richness and a layered, multi-dimensional style on the palate, as well as incredible tannins, give this beauty just a few years in the cellar and enjoy over the following 20-25+ years.”
97 Pts “Dense, creamy and thoroughly fruit-driven, this lets a range of plum sauce, fresh mulberry and boysenberry, and blackberry reduction notes cruise through alongside melted licorice and ganache accents. The fruit display is almost enough to make you miss its long graphite spine and subtle hints of warm paving stone and alder through the finish. All that, and this drapes beautifully. Drink now through 2045.”
View Wine
T6 Accolades
-
2018 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard T6
— 97 JD, 97 WA, 97 JS, 95 WS
97 Pts. “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.”
97 Pts. “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.”
97 Pts. “Aromas of dark berries, cherry pie, conifer, stone and blueberries follow through to a full body with a dense palate of layers of ripe fruit and creamy tannins. It’s very long and complex at the end with a hot-stone and mineral attribute to the ripe fruit. Drink after 2024.”
95 Pts. “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.”
View Wine
T6 Accolades
-
2017 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard T6
— 98 JD, 96 WS, 95 WA, 95 JS
98 Pts. “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.”
96 Pts. “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.”
95 Pts. “Very deep purple-black colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon T6 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard sashays out of the glass with opulent notes of fruitcake, Chinese five spice and oolong tea over a core of blackcurrant cordial, chocolate box and Morello cherries. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has well played, grainy tannins and lovely freshness, giving a boost to all of the decadently spicy blackberry preserves flavors, finishing on a stewed tea note.”
95 Pts. “Classic To Kalon aromas of plums, berries and terracotta, turning to dust and hot stone. A full-bodied red, yet tight and focused with medium-chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Give it two or three years to come together more. Try after 2022.”
View Wine
GIII Accolades
-
2017 Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard GIII
— 97 JD, 96+ WA, 96 JS, 93 WS
97 Pts. “Yields at Schrader are down a massive 50%, yet what they put in bottle is certainly brilliant. Starting with their 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard, it’s one of the plusher, more rounded, sexy wines in the lineup and is loaded with cassis and assorted blue fruits as well as notes of white flowers, violets, and tobacco. Full-bodied, concentrated, and opulent on the palate, it’s one big mouthful of pleasure bent fruit that’s hard to match in the vintage. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 20 months in 90% new oak, it’s going to put a smile on everyone’s face any time over the coming 20 years or so.”
96+ Pts. “Very deep purple-black colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon GIII Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard comes roaring out of the glass with vivacious black cherry cordial, crème de cassis and blueberry pie scents with hints of menthol, licorice, mocha and spice cake. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is chock-full of spicy black fruit preserves, framed by plush tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long.”
96 Pts. “Extremely clean, fruity aromas of crushed berries and cardamon. Medium to full body, well-integrated tannins and a soft, silky texture. Long and focused. Drink or hold.”
93 Pts. “An extrovert, with bold cassis, plum sauce and boysenberry compote flavors augmented by violet, mint and warm black licorice notes. Offers a flashy, toasty finish that pulls everything together while avoiding the rustic, brambly nore typical of the vintage. Best from 2021 through 2033. 588 cases made.”
View Wine
2023 Double Diamond Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon
OAKVILLE, NAPA VALLEY 100% CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Crafted by Schrader Cellars winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, Double Diamond is a truly captivating Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from exceptional vineyard lots, exclusively in Napa Valley’s renowned Oakville district. Double Diamond Cabernet Sauvignon is ready to enjoy now and will continue to evolve over the next 3-5 years.
