Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Pure Napa Valley magic, as well as a perfect wine, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is all varietal and was raised 18 months in 75% new French oak, bottled with no fining. Insanely gorgeous crème de cassis, white flowers, incense, and spicy notes define the bulk of the bouquet, and it hits the palate with a full-bodied, powerful, yet weightless mouthfeel, perfect tannins, and just every single aspect in the right place. This is toe curling stuff that will knock your socks off any time over the coming two decades or more. Hats off to the team at Vice Versa and the Melka consulting team. Best after 2022.
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.