2015 Schrader Cellars, Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Bottle (750ml)

RP100 ~ Interim Issue Mid-December 2017, The Wine Advocate - Coming from the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, from blocks C2, D2 and B2 planted predominately to clone 4, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Schrader is intensely scented of vibrant blackberries, black plums and cassis, with touches of Indian spices, eucalypt, mocha and tilled black soil plus a waft of oolong tea. Medium to full-bodied, the palate comes through with a compelling chocolate-covered cherries character and tons of subtle layers, structured with very firm, very fine-grained tannins and impressive freshness, finishing with epic persistence. 213 cases produced. LPB Dec 2017

Robert Parker writes, "As I have written in the past, the Schrader project with Thomas Rivers Brown as their winemaker started as a look at one of Napa Valley’s historic and first-growth vineyard sites – the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville. It has expanded now to include Beckstoffer’s Las Piedras Vineyard in St. Helena and the Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard in Rutherford. It is basically a study of clonal selections by keeping these wines separate and apart, but enjoying the identical winemaking, upbringing in the cellars and bottling. The bottom line is that these are just hands-down fabulous Cabernet Sauvignons and have been since the project debuted more than ten years ago. The difference between each of them is generally minor and I will probably end up giving sightly different reviews when the wines are in bottle – because they are all at the top of the pyramid of quality. Any one of them is essentially a world-class Cabernet Sauvignon that could compete with the finest made anywhere in the world." Published: Oct 28, 2016