Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
I do not know what the G.T.O. stands for (I doubt it is in reference to a car), but to me, it means “Great Time Offered” as the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon The G.T.O. is one of the truly majestic and singular world-class wines of Napa Valley. It raises the bar on the other To Kalon offerings, which are all stunning in their own right. The G.T.O. is a multidimensional Cabernet Sauvignon of first-growth quality from a great Bordeaux vintage. Its inky/ruby/purple color is followed by an extraordinary nose of crème de cassis, graphite and spring flowers. The new oak component is buried beneath the luxurious fruit, extravagant, multidimensional mouthfeel, and full-bodied texture and length. The incredible sweetness in the finish comes from richness and extract, not residual sugar. It is something to behold! This compelling superstar is pure perfection. From magnum, this beauty should drink well for two decades or more.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Home to some of the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon in America, Napa Valley’s Oakville district stretches across the center of Napa's valley floor and foothills between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. This AVA is home to the legendary To Kalon Vineyard and Martha's Vineyard, as well as many powerhouse wineries including Screaming Eagle, Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Far Niente and Groth.
The climate is generally warm and agreeable, resulting in year after year of favorable vintages. Summer days see a gentle tug of war between warmer inland air and the cool air coming in from the San Pablo Bay, creating an ideal environment to grow red varieties. Oakville's diverse soils, namely ancient sea bedrock, clay and gravel, are well-drained, and perfect for high-caliber viticulture.
Cabernet here is often bottled varietally but is also popular in Bordeaux Blends. Oakville wines are known for their silky, sensual textures, structured tannins, dark and brooding fruit and lovely aromatics. These age-worthy and prestigious wines are favored by collectors throughout the world.