Products
Colesworthy Accolades
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2013 Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Colesworthy 1.5L
— 98+ WA, 98 JS, 96 WS
98+ Pts. “Close to perfection is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Colesworthy, which is clone 337. This is aged in 100% new Darnajou and soaks up the new oak beautifully. Notes of lead pencil shavings, forest floor, vanilla, blackberry and cassis jump from the glass of this opaque purple, full-bodied, magnificent Cabernet Sauvignon, which is super-rich, fabulously pure and just a killer wine on the palate.”
98 Pts. “The magnum-only wine shows the best of Las Piedras. So much iodine, blackberry, black currant, licorice, stone and lavender character. Seamless and ultra-fine. A wine with a great future. Better in 2022 but fascinating to tasting.”
96 Pts. “Combines power and concentration with finesse and nuance, showing extracted blackberry, licorice, graphite, crushed rock and savory herb notes. Finishes with a powerful aftertaste that reverberates with flavor. The spicy, toasty oak adds texture and nuance. Best from 2020 through 2035.”
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LPV Accolades
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2013 Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard LPV
— 97 JS, 94 WA, 94 WS
94 Pts. “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Lpv comes from clone 337. This is a rather earthy style for a Schrader wine, with less drama and flamboyance, but great fruit, a more meaty, dusty style with underbrush as well as blackcurrants, with spicy oak. It’s dense, full-bodied and promises to age nicely for 20 more years.”
94 Pts. “Offers a powerful, extracted, high-torque core of zesty blackberry, wild berry, anise, licorice and crushed rock flavors. Sails a steady course once underway, ending where it starts, with a dense mix of complex earth and berry notes. Best from 2020 through 2033.”
97 Pts. “Amazing aromas of hot stone, iodine, black currants and blackberries. Full body, super polished tannins that highlight the dark fruits, plus white pepper, salt and fruit character. Precise and focused. Better in 2020.”
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Beckstoffer To Kalon Accolades
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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.”
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CCS Accolades
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2013 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS
— 100 WA, 99 JS, 94 WS
100 Pts. “There is something ethereal about the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon CCS, a wine that I tend to give more perfect scores to than of the other Schrader offerings. This is clone 4 from a special block of the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville, and it always seems to have these incredible, explosive aromatics ranging from blueberry to blackberry to cassis to spring flowers and lead pencil shavings. It's always one of the more seductive wines early on, with sweet, velvety tannins, a plush, succulent mouthfeel, full-bodied splendor and majestic texture. This is a killer effort of great intensity and presence. Drink it over then next 25-30 years.”
99 Pts. “So aromatic and floral with violet, lilac, and sage character. Full body, very cool. Lots of blue fruit. Hints of sweet tobacco, lemon grass and white pepper. Needs two or three years to open. Muscular. Better in 2023.”
94 Pts. “A robust and rustic youngster, undeniably powerful and deep, yet tightly wound and begging for cellaring and decanting. The dark red and black fruit is zesty, with minerally acidity, fine-grained tannins and a sense of refinement and elegance. Drink now through 2023.”
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Old Sparky Accolades
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2013 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky 1.5L in Wood Box
— 100 WA, 98 JS, 96 WS
100 Pts. “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Sparky, which is essentially made from clone 4 from two separate blocks, clone 6 and clone 337, is another perfect wine from the Schraders. I suppose it’s a little boring to say, and perhaps I can be accused of creating unrealistic expectations on the part of readers, but this is as great as Cabernet can be. Tasting like a first-growth Pauillac, the wine is opaque purple and has a fabulous nose of lead pencil, spring flowers, blueberry and blackberry and the telltale cassis. There is also some licorice and sweet oak, the tannins are ripe, and the wine full-bodied. Built like a skyscraper, with an incredible finish (like most of these wines) going on for 50 seconds to a minute, this amazing wine should still be drinking splendidly well at age 25 or 30.”
98 Pts. “A wine with wonderful definition and length. Very fine-grained tannins. Full-bodied yet compacted. Shows blueberry, rosemary, lavender and stone character. Terra-cotta. Pretty blend of top To Kalon vineyard of Schrader. Shows balance and length.”
96 Pts. “Bold and powerful, with an explosive burst of juicy red and black fruits shaded by licorice, spice and oak details. Shows a wonderful sense of harmony and finesse. This is captivating, ending with firm tannins. Best from 2020 through 2036.”
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RBS Accolades
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2013 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS
— 99 JS, 98 WA, 93 WS
99 Pts. “This is shows complex aromas of chili, red tile and red currant aromas. Full-bodied, dense and powerful. It is so intense and rich yet remains agile and fresh. Austere tannins give this wine form and tension. Lively and captivating. Beautiful now but be patient. Better in 2021.”
98 Pts. “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon RBS, also from clone 337, but in this case from the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, shows an absolutely perfect 100-point nose of red, black and blue fruits, charcoal, graphite and forest floor. It hits the palate with a seamless integration of wood, tannin, acidity and alcohol and has tremendous opulence and palate presence in its full-bodied, long finish. On aromatics alone, it rates a perfect score, but I ended up being somewhat conservative I suppose. It should drink well for three decades as well.”
93 Pts. “A smoky, charry oak overlay adds flavor and aroma, rounding out the tannins in this robust, chunky effort, with extracted licorice, blackberry, anise, loamy earth and tobacco details. Very tight and backward, so patience is required. Best from 2020 through 2033.”
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T6 Accolades
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2013 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard T6
— 98 WA, 96 JS, 94 WS
98 Pts. “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon T6, which is clone 6, offers more barbecue smoke, roasted meats and oodles of creme de cassis and blackberry. It is rich, full-bodied, intense, and stunningly pure and well-balanced. This is another tour de force from the Schraders and Thomas Rivers Brown. It should drink well for 25-30 years as well.”
96 Pts. “Very exotic aromas of tobacco leaf, Thai green chili, black currant and blueberry. Full body, chewy and powerful tannins. Fresh and clean. Muscular and powerful. Better in 2020 when it comes together.”
94 Pts. “A mix of spicy, jazzy mocha, vanilla and espresso notes from oak are evident at the outset, with a core of licorice, dark and red berry, chocolate, savory herb and underbrush flavors. Flexes considerable tannic strength on the finish. Best from 2020 through 2034.”
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GIII Accolades
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2014 Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard GIII
— 97 JS, 95 WA, 92 WS
97 Pts. “Aromas of walnuts and dried fruit as well as violets and forest floor. Full body, velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. This is layered and very rich yet remains vibrant and velvety. A solid and powerful Napa cab. Drink in 2019.”
95 Pts. “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon GIII is a 213-case cuvée aged in the same manner as the other wines, for 20 months, but in this case in 90% new Darnajou and 10% new Taransaud barrels. Readers will note that the percentage of the coopers varies depending on the vineyard selection. This is an inky blue/purple wine with fabulous crème de cassis notes, spring flowers, a medium to full body, supple tannins and a more fruit-forward, luscious and precocious style than usual. This is probably best consumed in its first 16-20 years of life.”
92 Pts. “Dill, cedary oak and light loamy earth notes are present in the aroma and the mix of gravel, dried dark berry, anise and sage at the core. Shows a musclebound structure on the aftertaste, where this gains depth. Drink now through 2032.”
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Colesworthy Accolades
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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.”
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LPV Accolades
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2014 Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard LPV
— 99 WA, 97 JS, 90 WS
99 Pts. “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon LPV is from clone 337 from the Las Piedras Vineyard in St. Helena. This shows Mission Haut-Brion-like characteristics as it has in the past, with crushed rock, wet gravel, scorched earth, blackberry and blueberry fruit. It is clearly one of my favorites of this entire tasting. It has 14.5% natural alcohol and was aged in 90% new Darnajou and 10% new Taransaud barrels. This is a killer effort.”
97 Pts. “A profound nose of crushed blueberries, blackberries and minerals. Licorice, too. Full body, superfine tannins and a long, long finish. Linear and racy. Wonderful balance and structure. Leave it until at least 2020.”
90 Pts. “Sleek and understated, with a mix of loamy earth, licorice, dark berry, cedar and gravelly, rocky soil flavors, ending with fruit and earth themes, oak and dry tannins. Drink now through 2020.”
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Beckstoffer To Kalon Accolades
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2014 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
— 99 JS, 95 WA, 93 WS
99 Pts. “Seductive aromas of crushed berries, wet earth, leaves, mushrooms and violets. Wow. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a super depth of fruit and intensity. Shows power with finesse. This needs three to four years before it will show its true greatness.”
95 Pts. “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, which is clone 4 from the To Kalon vineyard is aged in 75% new Darnajou and 25% new Taransaud. This is a fruit-forward, opaque purple wine, like its siblings, with notes of creosote, licorice, charcoal, blackcurrants and blackberries. It is full-bodied, but round and succulent. It ended up at 14.5% natural alcohol. Drink it over the next 15-20 years.”
93 Pts. “A bold, rich, assertive style that packs in lots of flavor, from spicy oak to mocha and espresso notes, all of which bolster the core of dark berry, licorice, vanilla bean and spice. Ends with full-blown, integrated tannins. Best from 2020 through 2034.”
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CCS Accolades
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2014 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS
— 98 WA, 96 JS, 95 WS
98 Pts. “Another one of my favorites is the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon CCS, which is clone 4 from the To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville. This is aged in 100% new Darnajou and is one of the larger cuvées at 510 cases. Wonderfully sweet, velvety tannins, a big sweet nose of white flowers, blackberry and cassis along with cedar wood, charcoal and graphite are all present in this full-bodied opulent wine that also retains wonderful elegance. It finished at 14.6% alcohol and will drink beautifully now as well as over the next 15-20 years.”
96 Pts. “Complex aromas of crushed blueberries, flowers and cold crushed stones follow through to a full body, soft and silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Shows a fine line of tannins and acidity though the rich yet fresh fruit. Drink in 2021.”
95 Pts. “Jazzy aromas of melted dark chocolate and toasty oak are alluring, supported by deep, rich, extracted dark berry, herb and savory underbrush notes, making for a mouthcoating texture and a long, persistent finish that keeps the flavors lively. Drink now through 2033.”
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Old Sparky Accolades
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2014 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky 1.5L in Wood Box
— 98 WA, 97 JS, 94 WS
98 Pts. “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Sparky, Fred Schrader’s favorite selection, is clone 4 from the To Kalon Vineyard aged in 100% new Darnajou and seems closest in personality and overall style to the CCS. This is a beautiful wine with great intensity and seems to be one of the superstars of this vintage. Smoky barbecue notes intermix with charcoal embers, blackberry, cassis, Christmas fruitcake, licorice and camphor. This is a complex 2014 that is showing beautifully at the moment and will continue to drink well for another 20 years.”
97 Pts. “This is really savory with so much meat, currant, mushroom and walnut-skin character. Full-bodied, layered and very powerful. A touch of heat on the finish, but the acid balances it out. Extreme intensity. Contrasty and fascinating.”
94 Pts. “A potent, open-throttle expression of powerful Cabernet, with tiers of dense, extracted dark berry, mocha, loamy earth, cedar and tobacco leaf flavors, leading to a strong, tannic finish. All the elements are in place for this to become a beauty with time. Best from 2021 through 2038.”
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RBS Accolades
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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.”
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T6 Accolades
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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.”
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GIII Accolades
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2015 Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard GIII
— 97 WA, 97 JD, 92 WS
97 Pts. “Coming from the Beckstoffer Georges III vineyard, the very deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon GIII bursts forth with an outrageously spicy nose of Chinese five spice and aniseed with a core of crème de cassis, blueberry pie, menthol and chocolate box plus a waft of bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, rich, ripe and decadent on the palate, it fills the mouth with exotic spice layers and warm black fruits, framed by velvety tannins and great freshness, finishing with epic persistence.”
97 Pts. “Moving to the 2015s, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard is a thick, unctuous, huge beauty that gives up a deep purple color as well as lots of blueberry, violets, and incense. It’s deep, full-bodied, beautifully concentrated and has silky tannin, which is the hallmark of the 2015s from Schrader. It’s capable of lasting for 20-25 years or more.”
92 Pts. “Plump, rich and juicy, with loads of dark berry flavors centered on black licorice and cigar box notes. Tannins grip the finish, so cellar this. Best from 2021 through 2032.”
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Colesworthy Accolades
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2015 Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Colesworthy 1.5L
— 100 JD, 98 JS, 97 WA, 93 WS
100 Pts. “Lastly, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Colesworthy is a barrel selection from the Las Piedras Vineyard in St. Helena. It takes the classic LPV release and ratchets up the intensity without any additional sense of weight or heaviness. With incredible cassis, liquid violets, white flowers, and a distinct earthy, loamy minerality, this beauty has insane purity of fruit, a huge, layered, full-bodied style on the palate, sweet tannin, and a blockbuster finish. Don't miss it!”
98 Pts. “There is brightness and intensity on the nose and palate with fantastic depth of blue fruits such as blueberries and blackberries. Oyster shell, too. Full-bodied, layered and beautiful. So much intensity and focus. High fidelity character.”
97 Pts. “Coming from the Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard, block C that is planted to clone 337, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Colesworthy has a very deep purple-black color and incredibly primary nose of blackcurrant cordial, blueberry pie and preserved plums with wafts of licorice, charcoal, mulberries and baking spices plus a hint of red roses. Medium to full-bodied, very firm and very finely crafted, the palate features wonderfully ripe tannins and great freshness, harnessing the bold, primary flavors and restraining the very long, very youthful finish. 128 cases produced.”
93 Pts. “Creamy, vanilla-infused oak joins rich dark berry, dark chocolate, spicy cedar and melted licorice flavors before a dash of crushed rock folds in. Long and lingering, young and energetic. Best from 2021 through 2033.”
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LPV Accolades
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2015 Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard LPV
— 98+ WA, 98 JD, 95 WS
98+ Pts. “Coming from the Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard, from blocks C and E that are planted to clones 337 and 4, respectively, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Lpv has a very deep garnet-purple color and nose of crushed black berries, black currant cordial and garrigue with wafts of sage, mocha and cedar chest plus a hint of lavender. Medium to full-bodied, very firm and very tightly knit, the palate reveals great elegance and sophistication, with slowly revealing layers and a lovely minerality coming through on the long finish. 2,017 cases produced.”
98 Pts. “From a site in St. Helena, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard LPV offers a slightly darker, blacker, earthier style to go with tons of blue fruits, black cherries, crushed rock, and chocolate. It picks up a touch of white flowers with time in the glass and is seamless, pure, full-bodied, and structured on the palate. This is another terrific, blockbuster effort from Thomas Brown that's going to benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age and cruise in the cellar for 20+ years.”
95 Pts. “Openly rich and fruity, with a dense core of supple blackberry, plum and cherry fruit shaded by spicy oak notes that add flavor and texture, gliding along gracefully on the aftertaste. Best from 2020 through 2033.”
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Beckstoffer To Kalon Accolades
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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?”
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CCS Accolades
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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.”
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Old Sparky Accolades
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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.”
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RBS Accolades
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2015 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS
— 98+ WA, 98 JD, 93 WS
98+ Pts. “Coming from the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, blocks B1, B2 and E2 planted to clone 337, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon RBS has a very deep purple-black color and is a little reticent to begin, offering glimpses at crushed black berries, black cherries and black currants with touches of cedar chest, pencil lead, dark chocolate and dusty earth with a waft of cinnamon stick. Medium to full-bodied and tautly structured with rock-solid, firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness supporting the muscular fruit, it finishes on a lingering earthy note. Forget this one over the next 4-5 years, and drink it over the next 25+.”
98 Pts. “All from clone 337 and from three different blocks in the To Kolan Vineyard in Oakville, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS is one of the larger production cuvee they make and there’s just over 1,000 cases in 2015. Crème de cassis, iodine, flowers, huge spice, and loads of dried herbs all emerge from this thrilling effort that has the full-bodied opulence of the vintage front and center. Despite it’s massive about of fruit, it stays light and graceful and is an undeniably sexy wine to drink over the coming two decades.”
93 Pts. “Features a plush texture and firm, fine-grained tannins, making for a tasty mix of flavors and structure, with the fruit surging through the core of blackberry and wild berry. Best from 2021 through 2032.”
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T6 Accolades
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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.”
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GIII Accolades
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2016 Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard GIII
— 98 JD, 97+ WA, 94 WS
98 Pts. “From a famous valley floor site that's always one of the first to ripen, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon GIII Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard (100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 90% new French oak) offers incredible purity and finesse as well as a kaleidoscope of crème de cassis, exotic flowers, graphite, and forest floor. It's deep, has building, sweet tannins, no hard edges, and again, this fabulous purity and floral character that develops with time in the glass. It will benefit from short-term cellaring and should evolve for three decades. My money is on it being the finest version of this cuvée ever made.”
97+ Pts. “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon GIII is deep garnet-purple in color with boisterous black fruits notes of crushed blackberries, warm black plums and blackcurrant cordial with touches of cedar chest, roses, tilled black soil and tar plus a waft of cloves. The palate is big, rich, full and packed with black fruit preserves and exotic spice notions with a velvety frame and a very long finish.”
94 Pts. “Densely packed, with red and black currant, açaí berry and plum paste flavors, lined with singed alder, tobacco, leather and warm earth notes. The finish features a deep well of fruit, as the earthy tug lingers. An assertive expression of Cabernet that remains grounded in terroir. Best from 2021 through 2035. 429 cases made.”
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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.
