Winemaker Notes
As in the previous years, 2014 was a very good year for the ‘O.G.’ block of Beckstoffer To Kalon. This dense and ethereal Napa Cabernet Sauvignon reveals gorgeous notes of blackberry liqueur, complex floral undertones all matched with an inky deep purple color. Sweet tannins integrate with a plush, persistent and prodigious palate making this a complex wine which expertly showcases Napa Valley terroir. As with prior vintages of this wine, the structure and power of the clone 337 from the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard lends itself well to an extended decant or several years of bottle age to really spread its wings.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon The O.G. is clearly a 25- to 30-year wine. This is profound wine, opulent with loads of spice, pen ink, blackberry and cassis, forward aromatics with floral notes and forest floor. The wine has stunning concentration and a mouth-filling, savory, unctuosity. This is great stuff and delicious already. About 223 cases were made and it finished at 14.9% natural alcohol – about the same as the other wines.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.