2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
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Tasting notes
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.
Critic scores
The Wine Advocate
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
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.
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 .
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 aging in 100 new oak. A very deep purple-black colored barrel sample, WOW, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard opens with the most amazing, expressive, well-delineated perfume of warm blackberries, black raspberries and blackcurrants plus wafts of violets, star anise, cigar box and graphite and a touch of Ceylon tea. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is built like a brick house, framed by solid, ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and earthy.
About the producer
Schrader Cellars is one of Napa’s cult names. It focuses on pairing specific clones with the perfect site to produce the ultimate expression of Napa Cabernet. The results regularly receive the very highest scores from critics, with 19 100-point scores from the Wine Advocate to date.