Winemaker Notes
It was also the ancient Greeks who first said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If that is true, then To Kalon Vineyard is aptly named, considered by countless people over many decades as the preeminent vineyard of Napa Valley. We’ve been fortunate to work with grapes from Beckstoffer To Kalon since we began making wine in 2002. Comprised of a portion of the historical To Kalon vineyard planted in 1868, the 89-acre parcel was acquired by Andy Beckstoffer in 1993 and replanted to multiple clones of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Sitting on the west side of the Napa Valley’s Oakville appellation, Beckstoffer To Kalon grapes are only made available to a small number of boutique wine producers, who, quite simply, fashion them into some of the highest quality wines Napa Valley has to offer. “The wines from To Kalon are so dense, so opulent,” says Winemaker Benoit Touquette. “When you look at it, it’s hard to put a finger on what makes this vineyard so special. But in the wine, its beauty is unmistakable.” Realm’s Beckstoffer To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from several blocks planted to Clones 4 and 337. The wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"We had half the fruit in at To Kalon when the fires hit in 2017," winemaker Benoit Touquette informed me. "That's all we used." Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard prances out of the glass with classically opulent scents of crème de cassis, baked plums, Morello cherries and mulberries plus nuances of rose oil, spice cake, bouquet garni and dusty soil. Full-bodied, the palate is decadently showy with loads of exotic spice and floral accents lifting the rich, black fruit preserves flavors. It has a well-judged, solid frame of grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing very long and wonderfully earthy. It seems a more structured style of To Kalon than is typical, so give it another 3-4 years in bottle and enjoy it over the next 30+ years. Rating: 97+
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.