Winemaker Notes
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, densely saturated garnet in the glass, has even in its appearance, depth balanced by liveliness. Strikingly focused aromatics of crushed graphite, cedar, sage, and cigar box precede flavors of mountain black cherry, wild blackberry and currant wafting in high wattage power from the glass. The mouthfeel’s full weight and roundness is framed by waves of silky yet pronounced tannins, which crescendo into a long, elegant finish that exhilarates the palate.
Consider complementing the complexity and profound depth of this wine with the simplicity of a pan roasted veal chop, or well-seasoned dry aged beef.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The first-growth 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard flirts again with a potential perfect score when it is finally in bottle. Opaque purple in color, with notes of charcoal, graphite, incense, blueberry and blackberry fruit, and a touch of new oak followed by a full-bodied, massively concentrated mouthfeel. This is an amazing wine for a 2014, and the good news is that there are 800 cases of it, compared to only 638 in 2013. It should drink well for 20 or more years.
Barrel Sample: 96-100 Points -
James Suckling
Amazing aromas of Chinese spices, sweet tobacco, incense, anise and dark fruits. Full-bodied, yet tight and reserved. Great density and polish. An entrancing wine. Lasts for minutes on the palate. Already a dream to drink but will improve magnificently.
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Wine Spectator
Pure and rich, with an intense core of blackberry, boysenberry, black licorice, crushed rock and seductive spicy, mocha-laced oak. This zooms, glides, twists and turns, offering a fascinating array of flavors and textures. Best from 2020 through 2038
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.