Enjoy our latest vintage
Vintage 2021
"If you could pick one attribute of the 21 vintage that marks the year, it is definitely the structure. It's a very broad shouldered year. It was the second consecutive year of drought, so we ended up with was a really small crop with really small berries. Extraction was really easy from a flavor, color and tannin standpoint. The key for winemaking for us was watching these ferments and pressing, I would say on average a couple days earlier than normal. Across all the wines, I think what you're going to see is intensely colored wines, lots of palette impact, very mouth-coating ripe and abundant tannins. These wines will probably need a few years in the cellar."
- Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown
Pair with: CCS
Lamb Chops with Sautéed Snap Peas, Carrots, and Radishes
Pair the 2021 CCS, one of our most elegant wines, with the fresh flavors of tender vegetables. Succulent lamb is the perfect foil for this wine's ripe, polished tannins.
Pair with: Heritage Clone
Wagyu Tenderloin with Creamy Green Peppercorn Sauce
A delicious take on a classic pairing, our Heritage Clone will complement the sumptuous profile of the ribeye while its velvety tannins cleanse the palate after every indulgent bite.
Pair with: Wappo Hill
Duck Breasts with Blackberry Thyme Compote
The intensely flavored fruit and exceptional acidity of our 2021 Wappo Hill mirror the flavors of juicy blackberries paired with duck breast.
Pair with: RBS
Luxe Burger with Wagyu Beef
Upgrade your burger with Wagyu beef and sweet-tart balsamic-glazed onions, paired with 2021 RBS, the most generous wine in our portfolio.
Pair with: Monastery Block
Pork Loin with Fennel Seed, Garlic, and Thyme Rub
Our 2021 Monastery Block, full of rich black fruit and florals, enhances the complex flavors of garlic, fennel, and thyme on this pork loin.
Pair with: Old Sparky
Holiday Rack of Lamb
A juicy rack of lamb, cooked to perfection, serves as a beautiful centerpiece on your holiday table, especially when paired with a magnum of our show-stopping Old Sparky.
Pair with: Monastery Block
Potatoes Au Gratin with Crème Fraiche and Chanterelles
Herbaceous bay leaves and earthy mushrooms on top of creamy potatoes beautifully complement the ripe black fruit and fresh floral notes in our Monastery Block.
Explore Vintage 2021
Beckstoffer To Kalon Accolades
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2021 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard — 96-98 JD
96-98 Pts “The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Schrader (aka Schrader Schrader) is another full-bodied, opulent, incredibly sexy wine in the lineup. Blue fruits, cassis, flowery incense, and spice define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with a lush, hedonistic mouthfeel, velvety tannins, and a great finish.”
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2019 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard — 99 JS, 98 D, 98 JD, 97 WS, 97-99 WA
99 Pts “Lots of blackberry, white pepper and other spices. Ink, too. Medium to full body with firm, silky tannins that run the length of the wine. Very al-dente fruit character. Flavorful and vivid. Extremely long. So drinkable. Gorgeous. Crazy. Drink or hold.”
98 Pts “Explosive dark black fruit aromas mingle with black olive, ground coffee and walnut husks. A mix of Darnajou and Taransaud barrels deliver toasty cedar and espresso accents, while fine-grained, firm tannins support lacy dark fruit and tangy blood orange acidity on a long, satisfying finish.”
98 Pts “Another spicy, complex, gorgeous wine in every sense, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Schrader reminds me of the CCS with its pure, seamless, perfectly balanced style. Lots of cassis fruits, notes of flowery incense, baking spices, leather, and unsmoked tobacco, silky tannins, remarkable purity, and a great finish all define this beauty, and it's certainly up with the crème de la crème of this great vintage.”
97 Pts “This has all the dense cassis, butter plum and blackberry fruit you'd expect from an Oakville Cabernet, but these elements are married to a more overt energy than most of its peers, as bramble, anise and licorice root provide a bristling accent. Offers a great graphite underpinning through the finish, and has fruit to burn. One for the cellar. Best from 2024 through 2040.”
97-99 Pts “The full-bodied palate explodes with massive black fruit and earthy layers, supported by firm, grainy tannins and loads of freshness, finishing on a persistent mineral note.”
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2018 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard — 99 WA, 98+ JD, 98 JS, 97 WS
99 Pts. “This “Schrader” label comes from Beckstoffer’s To Kalon vineyard in Oakville, produced from clone 4 grown on the C2 block. It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and was aged in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud French oak barrels for 18 months. Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard has a wonderfully perfumed nose of potpourri, baking spices and dusty soil over a core of crème de cassis, blueberry pie and flamboyant Indian spices. Full-bodied, super firm with super ripe tannins and lovely freshness, it delivers layer upon layer of black fruit preserves and exotic spices, finishing long and beautifully poised. Give it a good 3-5 years in bottle to really strut its stuff and drink it over the next 30+ years. 219 cases were made.”
98+ Pts. “A powerful, backward, and concentrated wine, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Schrader exhibits a dense purple/plum color as well as an extraordinary bouquet of blackcurrants, dark chocolate, graphite, gravelly earth, and tobacco leaf. It takes plenty of air to show at its best, and I suspect 3-4 years of bottle age are warranted, but this full-bodied, multi-dimensional 2018 has flawless balance, building tannins, and is just loaded with potential.”
98 Pts. “An expressive, seductive nose, showing notes of plums, dark fruit, flowers and some vanilla. Full-bodied and well structured with firm tannins. Powerful. A great cabernet sauvignon that will benefit from aging. Better after 2025.”
97 Pts. “A stunner from the start, as gorgeous waves of cassis, warmed plum sauce and blackberry pâte de fruit flavors cruise through with authority, inlaid with a graphite spine and backed with notes of violet, black licorice snap and roasted apple wood. This doesn’t quit either, echoing with fruit and earth through the extremely long finish. Very impressive. Best from 2022 through 2040.”
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2017 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard — 96+ JD, 96 WA, 96 WS, (95-96) JS
96 + “Also known as the Schrader Schrader, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Schrader offers a more black-fruited, chocolate, and mineral-laced profile as well as full-bodied richness, a dense, powerful mid-palate, and building tannins. As I wrote last year, it’s one of the biggest, baddest wines in the lineup. I wouldn’t open bottles for a good 4-5 years, yet it should be long-lived.”
96 Pts. “Very deep purple-black colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard sails out of the glass with pretty scents of kirsch, blackcurrant cordial, dark chocolate and candied violets with a core of warm plums and blackberry pie plus a touch of garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers loads of mineral and earthy sparks among the black fruit layers, supported with firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long.”
96 Pts. “Beautifully pure plum and blackberry notes gush forth, with melted licorice and sweet toast elements cascading in on the finish. Shows serious depth for a 2017, getting denser and more focused as this moves through the finish, a great sign for cellaring. Extra violet, graphite and sweet spice accents create a gorgeous backdrop. Tempting now, but best to wait. Best from 2021 through 2040. 310 cases made.”
(95-96 Pts.) “This is showing depth and length for the vintage with full body, bright and vivid impact and a long, intense finish. Super fine and intense tannins at the end. First bottling of this vineyard site from the Robert Mondavi site of To Kolan.”
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2016 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard — 99 JD, 98 WA, 96 WS
99 Pts. “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Schrader (aka Schrader Schrader) is another just about perfect wine from this unstoppable team at Schrader, which is lead by Thomas Rivers Brown. As with all these releases, it's 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and spent 20 months in 75% new Darnajou barrels and 25% new Taransaud barrels. Deep purple-colored, with a mammoth bouquet of blue fruits, liquid violets, camphor, and incense along with hints of oak and graphite, it's full-bodied, uber-rich and concentrated, yet also elegant and seamless. It's a rock star bottle of wine.”
98 Pts. “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is very deep purple-black in color, with opulent scents of exotic spices, sandalwood and cloves over a core of chocolate box, crushed black cherries, mulberries and black pepper with a waft of cedar. The full-bodied palate has a rock-solid line of ripe, grainy tannins, oodles of freshness and layer upon layer of spice and incense-laced black fruits, finishing on a compelling aniseed note.”
96 Pts. “A big, broad-shouldered wine, brimming with cassis, crushed plum and steeped blackberry fruit flavors, all pushed by a dense, loamy spine that courses through the middle. The sides are polished and the fruit powers through, imparting drive and providing contrast to the loamy character. Best from 2021 through 2040. 172 cases made.”
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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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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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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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2012 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard — 98 WA, 95 WS
98 Pts. “Nearly as prodigious is the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer to Kalon Vineyard, which is Clone 4 and Clone 6 blended together from the Beckstoffer to Kalon Vineyard, this is the highest in alcohol of the 2012s at 14.6%. It was aged in a combination of 50% new Darnajou and 50% new Taransaud barrels. This wine is one of the tighter, more backward of the 2012s, with more structure, tannin, muscle, a masculine personality, oodles of black and blue fruits and a massive mouthfeel, but is somehow much more primary and younger tasting than the other wines. Forget it for a few years and drink it over the following 20-25 years.”
95 Pts. “Sleek, refined and elegant, showing rich layers of spicy oak, black- berry and wild berry, with cedar and herb nuances. Ends with a long, full finish that gains depth and detail, firming nicely on the finish.”
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2011 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard — 96 WA
96 Pts. “The impressive 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is one of the richest of Schrader’s 2011s. Thomas Brown told me that this particular block was picked before the heavy rainfalls arrived and production was a minuscule three-quarters of a ton per acre. Hence, only 52 cases were made. It is a big, rich, atypical wine for a 2011.”
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2010 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard — 96 WS, 94+ WA
96 Pts. “Delivers a rich, potent mix of layered flavors that are deep and pure, brimming with black licorice, dark berry, mocha, tea and floral notes that are tight, focused and persistent, with gutsy tannins.”
94+ Pts. “The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is the most tannic of these cuvees. It exhibits an opaque purple color along with a big, intense perfume, but the wine is closed, structured, muscular and masculine in the mouth. There are only 52 cases, compared to 370 cases in 2012, so good luck finding any. This offering was made from clone 4, 6 and 337, making it one of the few multiple clone wines in the Schrader portfolio.”
View Wine - 2008 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard —
CCS Accolades
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2021 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS — 97-99 JD, 97+ WA
97-99 Pts “The last vintage for this legendary cuvée to be made with Beckstoffer fruit (the name will persist), the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS is another incredibly classic, layered, unbelievably pure Cabernet Sauvignon that hits it out of the park. Crème de cassis, spring flowers, crushed stone, and tobacco notes flow to a full-bodied, pure, flawlessly balanced 2021 that has ample tannins but the mid-palate, concentration, and fruit to handle it. I love it.”
97+ Pts “The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard comes from block C1, planted to clone 4. Huge aromas of ripe black cherries are joined by hints of star anise, mocha and rich loam on the nose, while the palate is full-bodied, concentrated and velvety in feel, with a long, richly textured finish.”
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2019 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS — 99 D, 98 WS, 98 WA, 98 JS, 98 JD
99 Pts. “From the C1 Block of Beckstoffer To Kalon, winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown has worked with these Clone 4 Cabernet vines since 2005. This is a block bottling like many of the Schrader wines. Lush, generous fruit but with structure – all the elements amplified but on equal proportions. Explosive nose of rich black fruits, black olive, dried wild herbs and baking spices. Incredibly textural with pixelated three-dimensional tannins finishing with pops of dried tobacco and purple-red florals. A joy to drink but among the most collectable and cellar worthy wines of the vintage. The 'CCS' on the label refers to the initials of proprietor Carol Colesworthy Schrader.”
98 Pts. “Throws off a range of sassafras, chaparral and anise aromas before yielding up a prodigious core of açaí berry, plum and blackberry compote. Offers a great power/purity interplay throughout, with tarry violet and loamy incense accents. While tannic through the finish, this also reveals a subtle ripple of acidity and a hint of iron. Terrific. Best from 2024 through 2040.”
98 Pts. “Sourced from Block C1 (planted to Clone 4), the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, like all the other Schrader wines, matured in 100% new French oak from Darnajou and Taransaud. Hugely concentrated black cherries are joined by dried spices, slightly peppery notes and cedar on the nose, while the palate is full-bodied and plush yet firm at its core. It's a well-rounded, elegant example of Oakville Cabernet, nicely balanced, with attractive notions of blueberry and mint on the lengthy finish.”
98 Pts. “Aromas of mint, eucalyptus, crushed blackcurrants and lead pencil follow through to a full body with dark fruit and mint on the palate. Velvety tannins and a long finish. Fantastic structure. Savory. Minerally. Drinkable now, but this will age really beautifully. Try after 2026.”
98 Pts. “The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS from the To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville is another heavenly wine in the lineup. I always find another level of purity in this cuvée, and the 2019 offers remarkably pure crème de cassis-like fruits as well as notes of white flowers, incense, toasted spice, and unsmoked tobacco. Full-bodied, deep, round, and plush on the palate, I love its tannins, it brings incredible richness while staying perfectly balanced and fresh, and it’s just already a joy to drink.”
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2018 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS — 100 JD, 97 WA, 97 WS, 96 JS
100 Pts. “Just pure gold, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from one of California’s greatest terroirs that was brought up in 100% new French oak. This dense purple-colored effort has a magical bouquet of pure creme de cassis, smoke tobacco, white flowers, crushed stone, truffle, and hints of chocolate. Possessing full-bodied richness, this beauty builds incrementally on the palate, showing lots of ripe, polished tannins, no hard edges, and a rare mix of power, structure, and elegance that’s something to behold. Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, or red wine for that matter, just doesn’t get any better. Hats off to winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown for yet another majestic, singular wine that’s as good as it gets.”
97 Pts. “Schrader’s CCS comes from Beckstoffer’s To Kalon vineyard in Oakville, produced from clone 4 grown on the C1 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 CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard rolls effortlessly out of the glass with profound notions of baked plums, boysenberries, blackberry pie and cassis, leading to hints of mocha, tapenade and black truffles. Full-bodied, concentrated and with a rock-solid backbone of grainy tannins, it delivers muscular black fruit and savory flavors, leading to a long, earthy finish. 821 cases were made.”
97 Pts. “Vivid, with lush cassis, plum and boysenberry compote flavors rolling through, carried by substantial structure that pulls in warm earth, sweet tobacco, licorice root and sweet bay leaf notes. A violet echo weaves through on the finish as the fruit and earth notes meld. This is Oakville. Best from 2023 through 2040.”
96 Pts. “Fruity and relatively elegant. Toasted notes, nuts and vanilla, as well as blackberries. The palate is well balanced and velvety with subtle power. Full and flavorful. Finishes a tiny bit short, but should open with time. Drink after 2022.”
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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.”
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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.”
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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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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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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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2012 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS — 100 WA, 94 WS
100 Pts. “The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer to Kalon Vineyard CCS is Clone 4 from another block, and always seems to hit all the sweet spots on my palate. It’s aged 20 months in 100% new Darnajou barrels. The good news is there are 520 cases of it. Just a prodigious wine, this spectacular Cabernet Sauvignon is inky bluish/purple with a gorgeous nose of spring flowers, blueberry, blackberry and cassis fruit, a touch of background toast and graphite. It has a very full-bodied, multidimensional mouthfeel and a skyscraper-like finish. It is fabulously open, sexy and a total thrill to smell and taste. This should continue to drink well for two decades.”
94 Pts. “While big and chewy, this offers an intriguing mix of dark berry, plum and black cherry, shaded by black licorice, cedar and berry jam on the finish. The flavors push through gracefully on the finish.”
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2011 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS — 95 WA
95 Pts. “Usually my favorite cuvée, the Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS is a beauty in 2011. Made in a showy, flamboyant style, it boasts a dense ruby/purple color as well as sweet notes of crème de cassis, violets, licorice, forest floor and new oak. This supple, round effort is one of the superstars of this challenging vintage. It should drink well for 10-15 years or longer.”
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2010 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS — 98 WA, 95 WS
98 Pts. “A wine that seems to hit all of the sweet spots on my palate is the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS made from clone 4. It possesses about the same amount of alcohol as the other wines (14.5%), and is aged 20 months in 100% new oak, but it reveals an opulence, voluptuousness and a seamless haute couture fashion. There is something Pomerol-like in the 2010 CCS that I have not noticed in previous vintages. That may be due to the upfront, appealing, stunningly rich, voluptuous style. This is a Cabernet Sauvignon of great nobility and character that, despite its precociousness, should age for 25+ years.”
95 Pts. “Red and black, black and red, a wonderful mix of flavors cloaked in a shawl of chewy, loamy earth and spicy tannins. Backward, this begs for cellaring and is sure to offer a pleasant surprise sometime soon.”
View Wine - 2006 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS —
Colesworthy Accolades
- 2021 Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Colesworthy 1.5L —
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2019 Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Colesworthy 1.5L — 99 JD, 98, WA, 98 JS, 95 WS
99 Pts. “Almost pure perfection in a glass, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard comes from a more rocky vineyard located on the west side of St. Helena. Black fruits, savory herbs, flowers, and crushed rock notes give way to a full-bodied, flawlessly balanced, seamless 2019. It has the ripe yet elegant style of the vintage (as well as the vineyard), ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and a gorgeous finish.”
98 Pts. “The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Colesworthy is a barrel selection. All Clone 337, all new French oak, all Thomas Rivers Brown, it's a full-bodied, concentrated effort, loaded with intense black cherries and cassis and with a subtle touch of cigar wrapper for savory complexity. It's tannic, but those tannins are ripe and silky-dusty in texture, lingering for what seems like minutes on the long, mouthwatering finish.”
98 Pts. “Deep, yet perfumed on the nose, with a fine touch of lard, graphite and lavender that follows through to a full-bodied palate with a tart black-cherry quality to the mid-palate. Immaculate tannins here and extremely long. Drink after 2025.”
95 Pts. “Delivers inviting warm cassis and crushed plum notes, while subtle lilac and violet accents flitter in the background. Shows subtle alder smoke, savory and mineral accents that enhance the fruit through the lengthy finish. A confidently suave Cabernet. Best from 2023 through 2037.”
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2018 Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Colesworthy 1.5L — 98 JD, 98 JS, 97 WA, 95 WS
98 Pts. “A tour de force from this team, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Colesworthy is a barrel selection from this site and I believe it’s brought up all in new Darnajou barrels. It’s a quintessential 2018 with its more reserved, elegant, yet incredibly concentrated style, and like its sibling, it has a beautiful, savory style that includes a wealth of red and black fruits as well as espresso, tobacco leaf, cedar pencil, and dried flowers. It’s actually more reserved and backward than the straight single vineyard release and is full-bodied and flawlessly balanced, with massive tannins, integrated acidity, and a great, great finish. Like a lot of top 2018s from Napa, there’s a more Bordeaux’esque quality to this wine. The tannins are firm and present, there’s plenty of edge and cut, and it delivers a beautiful sense of weightlessness on the palate. Forget bottles for 5-7 years and enjoy over the following 25-30 years.”
98 Pts. “This is fabulous on the nose with raspberries, blackberries, flowers and crushed stones. Violets, too. Full-bodied with fine, creamy tannins that are so polished and beautiful. It goes on for minutes with a tile, berry and floral aftertaste. Drink after 2022.”
97 Pts. “Schrader’s “Colesworthy” comes from Beckstoffer’s Las Piedras vineyard, produced from 337 clone grown on the C block. The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Colesworthy is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and was aged in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud French oak barrels for 18 months. Deep garnet-purple in color, it is youthfully mute to begin, needing some swirling before it explodes with exuberant black cherries, cassis, blackberry pie with sautéed herbs scents, plus a hint of fragrant earth. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is chock-full of freshly crushed red and black fruit flavors, delivering wonderful vibrancy and finishing long and lively. Bottled in magnums, 118 nine-liter cases were made.”
95 Pts. “A rich and showy version, with really seductive plum sauce, steeped blackberry and warmed cassis notes all working in unison, draping wonderfully over a buried loamy spine. Echoes of smoldering tobacco and melted licorice linger at the very end. Accessible now, as this is primarily fruit-driven. Drink now through 2035.”
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2017 Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Colesworthy 1.5L — 99 JS, 98 JD, 96 WA
99 Pts. “This is a phenomenal red with blue fruit that turns to plums, raw meat, dust and rust. Some dried flowers. Full-bodied, yet very tight and racy with dark-berry, plum and dark-chocolate character. Dried chili pepper, too. Complex and satisfying. Drink after 2022.”
98 Pts. “A barrel selection from this great vineyard outside of St. Helena, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Colesworthy is cut from the same cloth as the straight LPV cuvée yet has just a touch more finesse, mid-palate, depth, and length. All Cabernet Sauvignon aged 20 months in 100% new Darnajou barrels, its dense purple color is followed by pure cassis and blueberry fruits, and it shows more spring flowers, violets, and sappy herbs with time in the glass. There’s plenty of background oak as well as tannins, so hide bottles for a solid 4-5 years if you can. It’s another incredibly ageworthy 2017 that will keep for 20-25 years or more.”
96 Pts. “Very deep purple-black colored, the 2017 struts confidently out of the glass with classic blackcurrants, cedar chest and pencil lead notes, giving way to suggestions of rose hip tea, fragrant earth and toasted nuts plus a waft of redcurrant jelly. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has impressive freshness and ripe, finegrained tannins supporting the bright, crunchy red and black fruit layers, finishing long with bags of energy.”
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2016 Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Colesworthy 1.5L — 100 JD, 97 WA, 94 WS
100 Pts. “A barrel selection released only in magnum, similar to the Old Sparky release, yet only from the Las Piedras Vineyard, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Colesworthy Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard is another perfect wine from this team, and it's one of those wine where I wish I could pour ever reader a taste. Offering up thrillingly pure notes of crème de cassis, perfectly ripe blueberries, chocolate, and a crazy, liquid rock-like minerality, it hits the palate with a full-bodied, powerful style that carries tons of richness and depth, yet still just glides over the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. It’s certainly one of the greatest Napa Cabernet Sauvignons I’ve ever tasted. As with the base Las Piedras Vineyard, do your best to hold off for a few years.”
97 Pts. “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Colesworthy opens with ripe, rich, bold crème de cassis, preserved plums and baked blueberries scents with hints of cumin seeds, star anise, mincemeat pie, mocha and new leather with wafts of tobacco, cedar and black tea. The full-bodied palate is very firm and muscular with bags of black fruits and spices, finishing very long.”
94 Pts. “A ripe, showy style, with warm waves of cassis, plum sauce and raspberry pâte de fruit taking center stage, laced with singed apple wood, sweet tobacco and anise notes. The finish delivers a bold kick of energetic fruit and a creamy dollop of toast. Best from 2020 through 2034. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 129 cases made.”
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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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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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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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2012 Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Colesworthy 1.5L — 95 WA, 94+ WS
95 Pts. “A selection of the best barrels of this wine, representing only 110 cases or basically 41/2 barrels, is the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Colesworthy. This is largely Clone 337, aged 20 months in 100% new Darnajou. This is deep, rich, full, backward and not quite as easy to access as its sibling, although at some point the Schraders and Thomas Brown thought these were the best barrels from Las Piedras. It seems to share much of its siblings opaque purple color, lots of coffee, blackberry and cassis fruit, charcoal and graphite, but seems to also require more bottle age to round into shape. Forget it for 3-4 years and drink it over the following 20-25 years.”
94 Pts. “Notably elegant, with complex aromas of rich dark berry, shaded by dusty dried herb and cedar notes, all supported by firm, finegrained tannins. Gains depth and persistence, gliding along on the finish.”
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GIII Accolades
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2021 Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard GIII — 96-98 JD
96-98 Pts “While the 2021s are still pulled primarily from Beckstoffer fruit, Schrader will be moving to all Mondavi farmed fruit starting in 2022. The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard is up with the crème de la crème from this historic site and has that classic, almost Bordeaux-like style in its darker currant fruits, smoked tobacco, lead pencil, and chocolaty oak-driven aromatics. With full-bodied richness, ripe yet building tannins, and a great finish, it's going to warrant 4-5 years (or more) of bottle age and keep for 25+.”
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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.”
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2018 Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard GIII — 98 JD, 97 JS, 96 WA
98 Pts. “Coming from a larger, famous site in Rutherford, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer GIII Vineyard is another superstar in the lineup. Possessing a dense purple color, it delivers a monster bouquet of ripe blackcurrants, chocolate, tobacco, sweet mulch, and a Graves-like sense of gravelly earth and minerality. While I suspect the acidity is quite low, it stays lively on the palate, possessing full-bodied richness, soft tannins, remarkable purity, and a great finish. This super-rich, opulent, incredibly sexy Cabernet Sauvignon should evolve for 20 years or more.”
97 Pts. “A seductive ripe-fruit and floral nose. Medium-to full-bodied with notes of blackberries, blackcurrants, violets and spice. Light, fresh jam, too. It’s full and compact with a dense, deep palate and beautiful fruit. Firm and bright. Try after 2024.”
96 Pts. “Schrader’s GIII comes from Beckstoffer’s Georges III vineyard in Rutherford, produced from 337 clone grown on the F block. One hundred percent Cabernet Sauvignon, it was aged in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud French oak barrels for 18 months. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon GIII Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard springs from the glass with a glorious perfume of violets and lavender, giving way to notes of crushed black currants, black raspberries and red currant jelly, plus an undercurrent of cedar chest and fragrant soil. Full-bodied, firm and grainy, the palate is popping with taut, muscular, vibrant black fruits, supported by wonderfully ripe tannins, finishing long and full of energy. 151 cases were made.”
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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.”
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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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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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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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2013 Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard GIII — 97 WA, 97 JS, 9S WS
97 Pts. “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer George III Vineyard, which comes from the Beckstoffer-owned vineyard in Rutherford and clone 337, exhibits an opaque purple color and a beautiful nose of creosote, graphite, charcoal, blackberry and blueberry. It’s dense, full-bodied and opulent, with great acidity and sweet, well-integrated tannins. It is approachable now, but promises to be at its best with another 7-8 years of bottle age and last 25-30 years.”
97 Pts. “This is a chewy and powerful red with lots of tannins. Aromas of dried flowers, grape skin and currants. Full body, chewy texture. Refreshing with coolness. Needs so much time in the bottle. Try in 2022.”
94 Pts. “Immense, featuring a dense, dark, extracted core of graphite, crushed rock, licorice and dark berry flavors, with gritty tannins. Shows no slack, yet this smoothes out on the finish, revealing polish and finesse. Best from 2020 through 2030.”
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2012 Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard GIII — 96 WA, 95 WS
96 Pts. “The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard, from this famous vineyard in Rutherford, is made from Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 337, and 90% new Darnajou and 10% new Taransaud was used. One of the smaller cuveés, the wine has great intensity, with chocolaty cassis notes, fruitcake and forest floor along with licorice and spice. This is a big full-bodied, powerful, rich, yet accessible style of wine, as most 2012s tend to be. Drink it over the next 15-20 years.”
95 Pts. “Bold, rich and focused on a core of blackberry, currant, plum and spicy, cedary oak. Gains a dusty, loamy textural nuance and ends a bit trim, without losing its potent personality.”
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2010 Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard GIII — 96 WA, 95 WS
96 Pts. “The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer George III Vineyard, made from clone 337, had a total production of 110 cases (compared to 260+ for the 2012). Its gorgeous nose reveals aromas of créme de cassis, blueberries, raspberries, vanillin and notions of cedarwood as well as incense. Deep and full-bodied with fabulous purity, a hallmark of all these wines, this spectacular 2010 has plenty of structure, but the fruit intensity and richness largely obscure the wine’s tannic profile. This beauty will be drinkable in several years and keep for 30 years.”
95 Pts. “A powerful yet graceful Cabernet that’s big, rich, chewy and chunky, with tiers of mocha, dark berry, spice and cedar flavors. This packs a wallop and isn’t shy about tannins, so best to be patient.”
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Heritage Clone Accolades
- 2022 To Kalon Vineyard Heritage Clone —
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2021 To Kalon Vineyard Heritage Clone — 96-98 JD, 97 WA
96-98 Pts “The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Heritage Clone comes from a clone of Cabernet Sauvignon that yields incredibly tiny clusters and minuscule yields. This inky hued beauty boasts a great perfume of cassis, crushed stone, graphite, and chocolate, and like the Monastery Block, is concentrated, full-bodied, and structured. It’s another 2021 that will demand cellaring.”
97 Pts “The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Mondavi Heritage Clone To Kalon Vineyard comes from a single block of vines planted to what has become known as clone 31. If there is any complaint here, it's that the vibrant raspberry and mixed cherries are just too pure. Yes, the fruit is awesome (hence my enthusiastic rating), but the non-fruit complexities seem limited to modest dried-spice nuances. Perhaps more will emerge over time. Medium to full-bodied, this is exceptionally silky and elegant in the context of the 2021 vintage, finishing fresh and lively on the finish.”
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2019 To Kalon Vineyard Heritage Clone — 100 JS, 98+ WA, 98+ JD, 97 WS
100 Pts “This is so exotic and exciting, with crushed blackcurrant, cassis, raspberry and tangerine aromas that follow through to very rough, silky tannins that fill your mouth. It goes on for minutes. Intense flavors at the finish, yet it's linear and so long and seamless. Crunchy. Amazing wine. Drinkable now, but better after 2025.”
98+ Pts “Another relatively new addition to the Schrader lineup, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Mondavi Heritage Clone To Kalon Vineyard is all Clone 31 (not Clone 39, as previously reported by RPWA). It's expressive and aromatic on the nose, offering up hints of tobacco, mint and sage, plus floral, spicy notes but also plenty of red berries and vanilla (it's aged 18 months in new French oak). Full-bodied, tannic and firmly built, it's another Schrader wine that should really benefit from cellaring.”
98+ Pts “My notes on the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Heritage Clone started with a big "Wow," and it's clearly a structured, serious, incredibly impressive 2019. Giving up plenty of cassis and assorted black and blue fruits, it has a distinct sense of minerality as well as classic Cabernet tobacco, lead pencil, and tobacco leaf nuances. With bright acidity, building tannins, and a concentrated, massive, backward mouthfeel, it needs to be forgotten for 4-5 years and should have decades of prime drinking.”
97 Pts “Delivers seriously gorgeous fruit, with plum puree, cassis and black cherry páte de fruit notes that are compressed together without losing their clarity and definition, while licorice snap, violet and apple wood notes form the frame. Reveals an iron note that drives underneath on the finish, imbuing everything with latent energy and drive. Big, but in an elephant-balancing-on-a-ball manner; gotta tip the cap. Best from 2023 through 2038.”
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2018 To Kalon Vineyard Heritage Clone — 97+ WA, 96 WS
97+ Pts. “This is the very first vintage of this new label for Schrader. True to Schrader form, the wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from a single block in the southern part of Mondavi’s section of To Kalon vineyard. The “Heritage Clone,” a.k.a. clone 39, is pretty much exclusive to Mondavi To Kalon, with the exception of some cuttings Robert Mondavi may have given out. Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown noted that this clone produces very small bunches and tiny berries, equating to super intense fruit. The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Mondavi Heritage Clone To Kalon Vineyard was aged in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud French oak barrels for 18 months. Deep garnet-purple in color, it sings of stewed blueberries, plum preserves, Chinese five spice and fragrant earth, giving way to hints of beef drippings, iron ore, espresso, tobacco leaf and dried roses. Medium-bodied, it has a firm, chewy texture and loads of bright, lively freshness lifting the densely packed berry preserves layers, finishing very long and very spicy. This is certainly a singular style—somewhat atypical for the 2018 vintage, but nonetheless compelling.”
96 Pts. “There’s a distinct sassafras note buried in this version, wrapped in waves of cassis, warmed plum reduction and boysenberry compote flavors. Melted licorice and roasted apple wood provide a frame for it all, with the sassafras hint adding lift and energy through the finish. A big wine. Best from 2022 through 2038.”
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LPV Accolades
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2021 Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard LPV — 97-100 JD
97-100 Pts “This vineyard continues to rise in stature, and the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard LPV might be another perfect wine in this stacked lineup. Red and black fruits, iron, dried herbs, and spice notes are just some of its nuances, and it's full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, with a remarkable sense of purity and elegance paired with gorgeous fruit.”
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2019 Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard LPV — 99 WA, 99 JD, 96 WS
99 Pts “From the vineyard's rocky C Block, planted to Clone 337, Schrader's 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard LPV boasts soaring perfumes of roses and violets alongside red and yellow cherries. The 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud oak has been completely absorbed into the wine. Full-bodied but firm, silky yet structured, this wine reveals incredible poise and balance, showing admirable power yet lingering elegantly on the long finish.”
99 Pts “Almost pure perfection in a glass, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard comes from a more rocky vineyard located on the west side of St. Helena. Black fruits, savory herbs, flowers, and crushed rock notes give way to a full-bodied, flawlessly balanced, seamless 2019. It has the ripe yet elegant style of the vintage (as well as the vineyard), ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and a gorgeous finish.”
96 Pts “Delivers warm steeped black currant and blackberry compote flavors that are broad and deep as they roll through, laced with licorice root, singed alder and warm paving stone notes. A subtle cast iron accent peeks in at the very end, adding a lingering echo of terroir without obstructing the fruit. Gorgeous. Best from 2023 through 2040.”
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2018 Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard LPV — 98 JD, 98 JS, 97 WS, 96 WA
98 Pts. “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard LPV comes from a rocky site just outside of St. Helena, next to the Dr. Crane vineyard. Despite its close proximity, this vineyard always seems to yield a more red-fruited, elegant wine compared to the more powerful style from Dr. Crane. Deep ruby/purple colored, with a killer bouquet of savory red and black fruits. tobacco, chocolate, dried flowers. and bay leaves, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless, multi-dimensional texture, perfect balance, and a great, great finish. This is a gorgeous, utterly thrilling 2018. It should probably merit a triple-digit rating in 4-5 years and evolve for 30+ years or more.”
98 Pts. “Wonderful aromas of currants, crushed berries and flowers. Very deep and complex. Full-bodied and layered with loads of ripe tannins, yet they are polished and very fine. Extremely long finish. Give it at least five years to come together and refine. Try after 2025.”
97 Pts. “Packed for sure, but there's a lot of freshness and inner brightness too, with a core of cassis, plum puree and linzer flavors gliding through atop polished structure, while violet, anise and roasted apple wood notes fill in liberally through the finish, which sports a buried but discernibly racy graphite edge. Gorgeous. Best from 2022 through 2040.”
96 Pts. “Schrader’s “LPV” comes from Beckstoffer’s Las Piedras vineyard, produced from 337 clone grown on the C block. One hundred percent Cabernet Sauvignon, it was aged for 18 months in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Lpv slowly unfurls to reveal fragrant notes of red roses, cherry pie, mulberries and warm cassis with hints of fallen leaves, potpourri and Indian spices. The medium-bodied palate delivers fantastic intensity with loads of exotic spice accents complementing the crunchy red and black fruits, framed by firm, grainy tannins and a lively backbone. It finishes with a beautiful fragrant-earth signature. 443 cases were made.”
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2017 Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard LPV — 97+ JD, 97 JS, 95 WS, 94+ WA
97+ Pts. “There are two releases from the Las Piedras Vineyard just outside of St. Helena, the LPV and the Colesworthy. The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard LPV is a slightly larger production cuvée and has terrific, complex notes of blueberries, bay leaf, blood orange, and liquid violets. I always find a floral note from this vineyard, and it’s certainly present here. Deep, powerful, and opulent on the palate, it has terrific tannins, no hard edges, and a beautiful finish. I love it even today, yet I suspect it will develop even more complexity with 3-4 years of bottle age and keep for two decades.”
97 Pts. “Such beautiful blue fruit with crushed stones and violets on the nose. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and refined, polished tannins. Yet, it’s always muscular. True to form with balance. Better after 2022.”
95 Pts. “Saturated plum and blackberry sauce flavors unfurl slowly, with gorgeous mesquite, espresso and licorice accents keeping pace. Shows a smoldering edge on the finish, while well-embedded acidity gives this weighty wine a fresh edge. Best from 2022 through 2038. 383 cases made.”
94+ Pts. “Very deep purple-black colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard LPV opens with a profound nose of pure cassis, kirsch, blackberry pie and bay leaves with emerging scents of beef drippings, unsmoked cigars, black tea and forest f loor plus an undercurrent of molten chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is charged with red berry accents, framed by a refreshing line of acidity and firm, grainy tannins, finishing with a lively lift.”
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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.”
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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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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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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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2012 Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard LPV — 95 WS, 94 WA
95 Pts. “Starts out bold and assertive, with rich dark berry, cedar and nutmeg flavors, revealing touches of espresso, mocha and melted black licorice. Well-built, tight and persistent, this will benefit from short-term cellaring.”
94 Pts. “The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard LPV is black/ruby, shows lots of charcoal, scorched earth and an almost Graves-on-steroids personality. Deep blueberry and blackberry fruit, a hint of coffee and chocolate are all present in this impressive, very different style of Cabernet Sauvignon from Schrader. This is Clone 337, planted in a St. Helena vineyard.”
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2011 Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard LPV — 93 WA
93 Pts. “Schrader’s newest offering is the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard LPV, which comes from clone 337 of the Las Piedras site. This is a west side valley floor vineyard with a foundation of alluvial river pebbles and rocks as well as gravelly loam. The Schraders have a long-term lease on 5 acres, which, added to their 16 acres of Beckstoffer To Kalon and 5 acres of Beckstoffer George III, gives them some pretty serious leases on some of the finest terroirs in Napa Valley. The softest wine of this portfolio, there are 350 cases of the 2011 LPV, far less than the 600 cases produced in 2012. Given its warm micro-climated, these grapes were picked before the rains descended. The wine exhibits a dark ruby/purple color, supple tannins, and sweet red and black currants, licorice, Christmas fruitcake, incense and forest floor. This beautiful, medium-bodied 2011 is already complex and evolved. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.”
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MB Accolades
- 2022 To Kalon Vineyard MB —
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2021 To Kalon Vineyard MB — 96-98 JD, 93 WA
96-98 Pts “A beast of a wine, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Monastery Block comes from a single block and is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Ripe black fruits, graphite, chalky minerality, and scorched earth define the aromatics, and it's full-bodied, concentrated, and structured. It's seriously good but is going to demand bottle age.”
93 Pts “All clone 169 from a block on the western edge of the vineyard, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Monastery Block To Kalon Vineyard delivers waves of black cherries and loamy earth, plus intriguing accents reminiscent of black tea. It's medium to full-bodied, firm and tannic, showing solid depth and ripeness, without the seamlessness shown by some of the other Schrader bottlings.”
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2019 To Kalon Vineyard Monastery Block MB — 98 JS, 97 JD, 96 WS, 97-100 WA
98 Pts “A fine, effusive quality from the sandalwood, violets, black pepper and blackberry concentrate. Quite a denser and more muscular expression, yet you won't feel any chew from the tannins, as they melt into the dark fruit. Long and focused. Much better if you can wait for a few years. Try from 2026.”
97 Pts “Revealing a vivid purple hue as well as a powerful, more black-fruited, iron, tobacco, and scorched earth-like aromatic profile, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Monastery Block is full-bodied, has a rich, powerful attack, great mid-palate density, and brilliant tannins. Coming from a famous block located on the western side of this great vineyard, brought up in new barrels, it's another 2019 that has a rounded, supple, approachable style while also bringing impressive density, depth, and structure.”
96 Pts “A dark and winey style, with loads of plum, blackberry and black currant preserves tumbling through, enlivened with apple wood, anise and bramble along the way. The finish is underscored by a swath of loam and tar but the fruit keeps the upper hand, ending with a flourish of additional spice, incense and iron. A wine that flaunts it—because it can. Best from 2024 through 2038.”
97-100 Pts “The full-bodied palate reveals wonderfully impactful black and blue fruit layers with a to-die-for backbone of very finely grained tannins and fantastic freshness.... Very impressive!”
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2018 To Kalon Vineyard MB — 98+ WA, 98 JS, 97+ JD, 96 WS
98+ Pts. “Only the second vintage of this new Schrader label, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Monastery Block To Kalon Vineyard comes from clone 169 planted on the Monastery Block of the Robert Mondavi section of To Kalon vineyard in Oakville. One hundred percent Cabernet Sauvignon, it is was aged in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud French oak barrels for 18 months. Deep garnet-purple in color, the nose is shut down, requiring a fair amount of swirling to unveil pronounced black currant cordial, stewed plums and blackberry preserves scents with hints of crushed rocks, tar, licorice and camphor. Medium-bodied, the palate reveals a lot of energy and tension, offering glimpses of mineral and spice accents among the tightly knit, muscular black fruit layers, supported by a solid wall of firm, grainy tannins. It finishes with great length and a lively burst of freshness. 302 cases were made.”
98 Pts. “An expressive and complex cabernet sauvignon with notes of plum, blackberry, toasted oak and earthy undertones. Lots of blue fruit. The palate is full and tannic with firm tannins and a long, powerful finish, showing so much black currant, blue fruit and dark chocolate. Solid. Better after 2024.”
97+ Pts. “Coming from the historic Monastery Block in this Grand Cru vineyard, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard MB offers a beautifully layered, full-bodied, yet structured profile that's going to benefit from bottle age. Lots of blackcurrants, gravelly earth, dark chocolate, and liquid violet-like nuances give way to a concentrated 2018 with a wonderful mid-palate, building tannins, and a great finish. Do your best to hide bottles for 4-5 years, and this puppy should be long-lived!”
96 Pts. “This is laden with vibrant fruit, showing flavors of cassis, kirsch, linzer and acai berry, while violet, apple wood and melted licorice notes fill in where they can. Shows a bramby hint through the back end, adding good energy to the massively endowed fruit core. The finish echoes and echoes with fruit. Best from 2022 through 2038.”
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2017 To Kalon Vineyard MB — 97+ WA, 95 JS, 94 WS, 94 JD
97+ Pts. “Very deep purple-black colored, it bursts from the glass with a fruit explosion of blueberry compote, freshly crushed black plums, black cherry preserves and cassis, giving way to touches of red roses, cigar boxes, yeast extract and fallen leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a fantastic frame of bold freshness and very finely grained, firm tannins, impressively supporting the mouth-coating blue and black fruits, finishing very long and very perfumed.”
95 Pts. “Fabulous aromas of crushed black currants, licorice, tar and violet. Inkwell, too. Medium body and tight, linear tannins that are polished and chewy. Driven finish. Needs time to open. First vintage of this wine and from Constellation's To Kalon holdings. Drink after 2022.”
94 Pts. “Shows a beautiful range of warmed sassafras, sage and bay leaf aromas, with black tea and juniper hints, all of which impart a sense of lift and volume to the steeped plum and açaí berry core. Reveals a smoldering loam note through the finish. Best from 2021 through 2036. 646 cases made.”
94 Pts. “The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Monastery Block is always terrific, yet I always find it more linear and foursquare compared to some of the other releases in the lineup. Nevertheless, it offers a terrific bouquet of gravelly earth, ground herbs, chocolaty dark fruits, and some obvious minerality. This full-bodied Cabernet is going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 15-20 plus.”
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Old Sparky Accolades
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2021 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky 1.5L — 98 WA
98 Pts “A best-barrel selection and blend chosen and made by Thomas Rivers Brown, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Sparky Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard essentially takes the characters of the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard bottling and ratchets up the intensity. Raspberries, blackberries and black cherries cascade over a base of deep Oakville loam and dried spices. It's full-bodied, rich, concentrated and almost creamy in texture, finishing lush and long. Bottled in magnum.”
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2019 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky 1.5L — 100 WA, 100 JD, 99 JS, 98 D, 97 WS
100 Pts. “A best-barrel selection made by Thomas Rivers Brown and bottled in magnums, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Sparky Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is truly great stuff. Full-bodied, rich, velvety and all-enveloping, it delivers near-endless waves of black cherries, red raspberries and complex but gentle spice notes. Long and mouthwatering on the finish, it seamlessly eliminates any gap between power and elegance, leaving scant possible reaction except Wow!”
100 Pts. “A selection put together by winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky is one of the true gems in the vintage, as well as a perfect wine. Thrilling black fruits, crème de cassis, tobacco, tapenade, and iron notes all emerge from the glass, and it's full-bodied and has a similar purity to the CCS release, with ultra-fine tannins and one hell of an incredible finish. Napa Valley Cabernet, or red wine for that matter, doesn't get any better. Give bottles 2-4 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following two decades or more.”
99 Pts. “Really deep, yet scented, with dark spices, minerals, flower extract, black tea, graphite, pine needle, sandalwood, incense and purple fruit. There is a linear quality to the immaculate tannins, which are dense, but delivered in a melted, chocolatey way, cutting through from the entry to the finish. So svelte and cocoa-powdery in the finish, giving it attractive savoriness. Very ripe and extremely long and precise. Drinkable now, but better after 2025. ”
98 Pts. “A barrel selection of the best lots from this Oakville vineyard, only offered in magnum and larger formats. Inspired by Fred Schrader's love of cigars, his wife Carol named the cuveé and also designed the label. A complete wine with loads of saturated black fruits, wild crushed herbs, three-dimensional pixelated tannins, tobacco spices, and a finish that goes for miles. Big, bold, and delicious; a real collector's item.”
97 Pts. “Pure, unadulterated cassis and plum puree notes pour through this large-scale but beautifully focused wine, with a twinge of singed apple wood and light anise, loam and sweet bay leaf flirtations through the very lengthy finish. Gorgeous. Best from 2024 through 2040.”
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2018 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky 1.5L — 100 WA, 100 JD, 99 JS, 96 WS
100 Pts. “Produced predominately from clone 4, as always, the “Old Sparky” label is a best barrel selection from Beckstoffer’s To Kalon vineyard in Oakville. The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Sparky Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard was aged in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud French oak barrels for 18 months. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a little coaxing to begin to reveal fragrant notions of crushed black currants, mulberries, juicy red and black plums and lilacs with hints of dark chocolate, rose oil and tilled soil plus a waft of unsmoked cigars. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is rich yet not at all heavy, featuring loads of bright red fruit accents among the profound black berry and savory elements. Multilayered, shimmering with energy and beautifully perfumed, it has gorgeous, ripe, plush tannins and a lively backbone, finishing very long and mineral laced. Bottled in magnums, 418 nine-liter cases were made.”
100 Pts. “There are few vintages of Old Sparky that don’t merit a perfect rating, and the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky isn’t one of them. This flawless wine offers up a wild smorgasbord of aromas and flavors, with loads of creme de cassis, blueberries, scorched earth, lead pencil, violets, blood orange, tobacco. and flowery incense all developing with time in the glass. Deep purple-hued and incredibly full-bodied, it has ripe, silky tannins, perfect balance, and a finish that won’t 9uit. This magical wine stays weightless and elegant on the palate, never seeming heavy, cumbersome, or over the top, and it’s a wine that just begs to be drunk yet will evolve for decades. Hats off to winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown for yet another heavenly Napa Cabernet Sauvignon that could come from nowhere else in the world. Life is too short not to have experienced this cuvee!”
99 Pts. “A great expression of cabernet sauvignon. Full-bodied with notes of crushed berries and nuts. Well balanced, with great quality to the tannins and pleasant acidity. The structure and texture are in harmony, leading to a long, flavorful finish. Shows wonderful length and beauty. Goes on and on. Needs at least five years to mellow. Try after 2025.”
96 Pts. “Completely jam-packed, this is a well-endowed, muscular wine that brims with steeped black currant, fig and boysenberry flavors, supported in turn by beams of cocoa, warm earth, anise and smoldering tobacco. The dense, grippy, tar-edged finish has the energy for balance, with the fruit showing ample cut all the way through. For those who like them big. Best from 2023 through 2040.”
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2017 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky 1.5L — 100 JS, 98 JD, 96 WA, 95 WS
100 Pts. “Blueberries, dried violet petals and lavender with some rosemary on the nose. Full body and chewy, juicy character. Muscular and linear, yet formed and refined. Savory and salty undertone. Better after 2022.”
98 Pts. “If I had to pick a wine of the vintage at this point, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Sparky Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard would certainly be one of the top choices. Always a barrel selection (mostly clone 6 and clone 4), it offers extraordinary notes of exotic blue fruits, white flowers, graphite, wet stone-like minerality, and loads of violets. Possessing full-bodied richness and depth, it hits the palate with loads of fruit and texture as well as seamless tannins and integrated acidity. As with the other top wines here, it has that magical mix of richness and elegance that’s the hallmark of all great wines. Aged 20 months in 100% new oak, it’s worth hiding bottles for 4-5 years and it’s going to evolve for 20-25 years or more. Hats off to winemaker Thomas Brown for the talent to produce a wine of this quality in such a challenging vintage.”
96 Pts. “Very deep purple-black colored, the 2017 is redolent of raisin cake, hoisin, preserved plums and crème de cassis with a very provocative perfume of lilacs, cinnamon toast and camphor plus a touch of tilled soil. Full-bodied, the palate is pure seduction, with firm yet velvety tannins and the invigorating freshness lifting the background of all that rich, spicy black fruit, finishing very long.”
95 Pts. “Vibrant and intense, with raspberry, blackberry and plum reduction flavors that show excellent energy, laced with a graphite note that drives this to a long anise- and black-tea infused finish. Gorgeous fruit. Best from 2022 through 2038. 418 cases made.”
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2016 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky 1.5L — 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.”
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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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2014 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky 1.5L — 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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2013 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky 1.5L — 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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2012 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky 1.5L — 100 WA, 96 WS
100 Pts. “Another compelling, nearly perfect wine is the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer to Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky. This is Clone 4 and Clone 6, as well as Clone 337, blended together from the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, aged in 100% new Darnajou barrels. For whatever reason, this wine seems to show more chocolate, espresso roast, barbecue smoke, dense blackberry and blueberry fruit and enormous body with not a touch of heaviness or astringency. This is a fabulous offering. It should drink well for 20-25 years.”
96 Pts. “Very tight, featuring a beam of spice-laced blackberry, currant, dried herb and jazzy oak. The laser focus is most evident on the finish, which slowly unravels to highlight this wine’s density, elegance and grace. The flavors reverberate in the end.”
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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.”
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2010 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky 1.5L — 98 WA, 97 WS
98 Pts. “The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky, made from clone 4, 6 and 337, displays a dense opaque purple color as well as an incredible nose of graphite, cedarwood, incense, licorice, Christmas fruitcake, vanillin and abundant blackberry and black currant liqueur. Gorgeously rich and textured with a nearly endless finish, this super intense, full throttle wine needs 5-7 years of bottle age and should drink well over the following 25-30 years. It was aged 20 months in 100% new oak barrels.”
97 Pts. “Impeccably balanced, with powerful currant, dark berry, mocha, floral and understated cedar notes, this wine begs for cellaring as it is just beginning to reveal its depth and dimensions. Ends with chewy, gripping, ripe, flavorful tannins. Best from 2015 through 2032.”
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RBS Accolades
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2021 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS — 96-98 JD, 94+ WA
96-98 Pts “The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS is all To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon. Its inky hue is followed by a powerful, ripe, concentrated, full-bodied effort delivering tons of ripe black fruits, smoked tobacco, loamy earth, and chocolate. It's a ripe, sexy, powerful barrel sample.”
94+ Pts “All clone 337, selected from a few vineyard blocks and aged in 100% new Taransaud and Darnajou barrels, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard shows a bit more structure than previous vintages, framed by ripe, fine-grained tannins. Cherries, mint and gentle sage notes show up on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is a bit stern but balanced, with a long, cooling finish.”
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2019 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS — 97+ WA, 97 JD, 97 JS, 96 WS
97+ Pts “The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is Clone 337, matured 18 months in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud barrels. Marked on the nose by red berries, cherries and cedar, plus delicate cinnamon and clove shadings, this is a plush, concentrated full-bodied wine with a core of firmness to it and a long, lingering finish, both positive signs for aging. It's one of the more approachable Schrader wines this vintage, but it should easily go another two decades. ”
97 Pts “Lots of violets, flowery incense, cassis, and spice notes emerge from the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS, a full-bodied, silky, elegant 2019 that shines just as much for its purity and balance as its richness and depth. Possessing good acidity, a lively, vibrant mouthfeel, supple tannins, and a great finish, it has plenty of up-front appeal yet should easily evolve for a solid 20 years if properly stored.”
97 Pts “Racy, dark nose with pulpy character. Dried lychee, lavender and sandalwood. This is quite juicy, ample and almost a bit ethereal, despite the color and high alcohol. There is a fine twist of salinity on the palate that runs smoothly with lots of purple flowers. Really immaculate. Almost soft texture. Drink or hold.”
96 Pts “Gushes with pure violet, plum and cassis notes, all flecked with hints of black tea, anise and sassafras. Driven, with a graphite underpinning providing a spine that stays in the background as the fruit stretches out. Approachable already but no rush at all. Drink now through 2038.”
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2018 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS — 99 JD, 97 WA, 97 JS, 96 WS
99 Pts. “Another heavenly wine in the lineup is the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS, which comes from Clone 337 and a handful of different blocks in the vineyard. This deep purple-hued beauty has an incredibly seamless, elegant, yet full-bodied style as well as killer notes of creme de cassis, blueberries, wildflowers, violets, white chocolate, and new saddle leather. Flirting with perfection, the tannin quality, purity of fruit, alance, and overall harmony here is just about off the charts. It makes you want to drink the whole bottle, but it should age effortlessly for 25+ years.”
97 Pts. “Schrader’s RBS comes from Beckstoffer’s To Kalon vineyard in Oakville, produced from 337 clone grown on blocks B1, B2 and E2. The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud French oak barrels for 18 months. Deep garnet-purple in color, it leaps from the glass with gregarious exotic spice scents—cumin seed, cloves and star anise—over a core of Black Forest cake, blueberry compote and black currant pastilles plus a waft of underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is completely coated with spicy, open-knit black fruit preserves flavors, marked by bright red-fruit accents. Supported by great tension and velvety tannins, it finishes on a lingering cinnamon toast note. 1,715 cases were made.”
97 Pts. “Aromas of red fruit, plums, herbs and dark chocolate with some bark and forest-floor notes. Full-bodied, yet very finely crafted and poised. Lots of fresh and dry herbs to the dark fruit at the finish. Lasts a long time. Try after 2024.”
96 Pts. “This is packed with steeped plum, blackberry and boysenberry fruit flavors, yet cuts a very focused line nonetheless, with a graphite underpinning keeping the fruit harnessed while licorice, alder and tar notes fill in on the back end. A muscular version that demands cellar time. Best from 2024 through 2038.”
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2017 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS — 96 JS, 96 JD, 95+ WA, 95 WS
96 Pts. “Lots of flowers, such as violets and lilacs on the nose, as well as blue fruit. Medium to full body and firm, silky tannins that are polished and refined. Tight and focused. Lovely finish. Drink now or hold.”
96 Pts. “More black fruits, tobacco, chocolate, and earthy notes emerge from the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS, but it’s a similarly textured, sexy, opulent wine on the palate. All Cabernet aged 20 months in 95% new French oak, this full-bodied, concentrated 2017 has terrific tannins, a balanced, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. It too is destined for 15-20 years of prime drinking.”
95+ Pts. “Very deep purple-black in color, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is a little closed to begin, giving way to fragrant earth, tobacco leaf and charcoal scents opening out to notions of potpourri, baked plums and Black Forest cake with the cassis coming through after much coaxing. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a rock-solid backbone of firm, grainy tannins and fantastic freshness, lifting the fruit to a very long and mineral-laced finish.”
95 Pts. “Features a beautifully ripe, intense beam of creamed plum and cassis fruit, laced with licorice, violet and sassafras notes. A racy edge on the finish brings you back for another sip. Approachable now for the copious fruit, but this is sufficiently packed to merit cellaring. Best from 2021 through 2038. 2,289 cases made.”
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2016 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS — 97+ WA, 97 JD 95 WS
97+ Pts. “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon RBS gives beautiful scents of lilacs and dried lavender over wild blueberries, chocolate-covered cherries, blackberry pie and eucalyptus with a touch of pencil shavings. Full-bodied and built like a brick house, it has a solid frame of grainy tannins and plenty of freshness to lift the densely packed, muscular fruit, finishing very long.”
97 Pts. “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard comes from another Beckstoffer-owned vineyard, purchased from Beaulieu in 1993. This larger site is located on the western side of Oakville, with the Beckstoffers owning a key tenderloin section encompassing just over 80 acres. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon offers a sweet bouquet of black cherry cake, incense, crème de cassis, and chocolate. Beautifully concentrated, with terrific tannins and full-bodied richness and depth, it's another 2016 that will benefit from short-term cellaring.”
95 Pts. “Bold açaí berry, boysenberry and blueberry compote notes give this a showy profile, with freshness and definition to match, as anise, violet and black tea details chime in. Graphite hints gird the finish, achieving balance in the end. Best from 2021 through 2035. 1,112 cases made.”
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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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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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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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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.”
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2011 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS — 91 WA, 91 WS
91 Pts. “The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS is lighter than usual, but still very attractive, forward and endearing ... one of the positives in 2011. The color is a healthy dark ruby/purple and the wine is clean, with no herbaceous or mean green characteristics. This elegant, medium-bodied 2011 is ideal for drinking over the next 10-12 years.”
91 Pts. “Dense and powerful, with potent fresh earth and rocky, gravel pit touches, overshadowing the dried dark berry, licorice and spice notes. Ends with depth and length even as the tannins apply the brakes. Drink now through 2023.”
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2010 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS — 99 WA, 96 WS
99 Pts. “Flirting with perfection, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS from clone 337 was aged in new Darnajou barrels (80%) and the rest in new Taransaud barrels. There were 410 cases produced, which is several hundred cases less than the production in 2012. An unbelievable red wine, it boasts an inky/purple color as well as abundant notes of charcoal, white chocolate, toast, new saddle leather, blueberries, blackberries, creme de cassis and licorice. As the wine sits in the glass, some chocolaty, smoky elements also emerge. This virtually perfect Cabernet Sauvignon has been flawlessly made and should age effortlessly for 25-30+ years.”
96 Pts. “Combines power with finesse, though at this point the torque wins out, pushing this into overdrive. Tiers of spice, flowers and dark and red berry, with notes of licorice, flow before the tannins clamp down, giving the wine a chewy aftertaste. Ends with a teasing lift. Best from 2016 through 2030.”
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WH Accolades
- 2022 Wappo Hill Vineyard —
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2021 Wappo Hill Vineyard — 95-97 JD, 95 WA
95-97 Pts “First made in 2019, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Wappo Hill is all Cabernet Sauvignon and has an exotic nose of wildflowers, blueberries, graphite, and bouquet garni to go with a juicy, full-bodied, incredibly lively style on the palate.”
95 Pts “Just Schrader's second vintage of this wine (there was no 2020 produced), the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Wappo Hill comes across as a bit tarry, backed by black olives and black cherries. It's full-bodied, silky and almost plush yet retains a savory edge on the vibrant, lingering finish. All clone 685 and matured in a mix of new Taransaud and Darnajou barrels.”
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2019 Wappo Hill Cabernet Sauvignon — 97 JS, 96 JD, 95 WS, 95-97 WA
97 Pts “This is a fantastic new wine, with crushed berries, stones, and oyster shell with moss and pine needles. Full and linear, with agile acidity that gives the wine energy. It's salty and lively. So focused and mouthwatering. So attractive now, but will age beautifully. ”
96 Pts “A new wine from this team, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Wappo Hill comes from a famous site in the Stags Leap District and is all Cabernet Sauvignon. At a high level, Stags Leap is a slightly cooler region, and the wines shine for their complexity, and that's certainly the case here. Lots of cassis, violets, graphite, dried flowers, and spicy oak define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, has good acidity, some chalky tannins, and notable freshness and purity. The acidity is higher here, but this still brings plenty of classic Schrader opulence and texture.”
95 Pts “Showy, with waves of cassis, plum pâte de fruit and blackberry preserves backed by licorice snap, roasted apple wood and cocoa. A nice, racy graphite spine provides necessary support. A hedonist's delight. Drink now through 2035.”
95-97 Pts “...gregarious scents of mulberries, redcurrant jelly, blackberry pie and cassis, plus hints of fragrant earth, bouquet garni, cumin seed, and pencil lead.”
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