2013 Realm Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
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The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is juicy and immediate, which is pretty surprising for the year. It's a wine that gives everything up right away. There's not a ton in the way of nuance or complexity. I liked this more on release, when it had more energy. The 2013 To Kalon is a gorgeous wine, but in this vintage and for this site, I can't help thinking it might have been more than that. There is a bit of greenness that lingers on the finish, something I had not noticed previously.
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This is extraordinary on the nose with cold stones, minerals, wet earth and fresh spices. Full body, an incredible backbone of tannins, and great length. It really lasts for minutes. When you taste it, it brings you down to the root and soul of the wine. Extraordinary. This is what To Kalon is supposed to taste like. Pure cabernet sauvignon. 450 cases.
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and again aged in 100% new oak. The production is slightly higher than the Dr. Crane at 500 cases. This opaque colored wine offers up blueberry liqueur, crème de cassis, coffee bean, roasted meats, and a floral note. It is rich, powerful, dense and primordial, but wow, is it spectacular! Produced from clones 4 and 337 of Cabernet, this is another 30-year effort and a great classic.
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer to Kalon Vineyard is an example of where ripeness and intensity are pushed too far. There is a good amount of To-Kalon character here, but the bitter tannins suggest overextraction while the alcohol is elevated. This is a rare miss from Realm.
About the producer
Realm Cellars has become one of Napa Valley’s most compelling modern estates, known for site-driven Cabernet Sauvignon. Drawing from some of the valley’s most sought-after vineyards, Realm’s wines consistently earn top critical acclaim while remaining firmly rooted in place.