2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon

The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is terrific. A big, dramatic wine, the 2015 possesses terrific mid-palate depth and intensity. Inky blue/purplish fruit, bittersweet chocolate, licorice, menthol and cloves build in a dramatic, large-scaled Cabernet loaded with personality. The ripe, explosive style offers quite a bit of appeal, although I would prefer to drink the 2015 over the medium term in order to get the most out of the wine's vibrant, youthful phase.

As good as it gets, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon checks in as 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 21 months in new French oak. Possessing an incredible bouquet of cassis, liquid violets, Asian spices, and charred meats, it hits the palate with an elegant, seamless, ultra-fine texture that builds incrementally, with huge tannins that are only noticeable 30 seconds or more after the finish. This heavenly Napa Cabernet has no hard edges, incredible richness, no weight, and will evolve gracefully for two to three decades. These wines are made by Christopher Tynan, who might just be the hottest winemaker on the planet today. As with Tynan’s own wines, these releases from Cliff Lede are mind-blowing wines that I wish every reader could taste.

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and strutting a deep garnet-purple color, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyards offers up a beautiful dried flowers and fragrant earth nose over a crème de cassis and baking spice core with blackberry preserves and black forest cake in the background plus a waft of bay leaves. The palate is a big, rich, full, multilayered extravaganza, piling on the fruit and savory notions with firm, grainy tannins and a lively backbone, finishing with epic persistence.