97pts Jeb Dunnuck

Another brilliant wine in the lineup, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard comes from one of the Grand Cru vineyards in the Valley and is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Its dense purple color is followed by classic, blockbuster To Kalon notes of blueberries, cassis, raspberries, flowery incense, unsmoked tobacco, and violets. This powerhouse of a Cabernet is full-bodied, has loads of ripe tannins, a layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. This vineyard performed exceptionally well in 2018, and this is a gorgeous, textbook expression of this terroir to enjoy over the coming two decades.

96+pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is deep garnet-purple in color, slowly unfurling to reveal a nose of warm cassis, freshly crushed blackberries, black cherries and mulberries with touches of pencil lead, bay leaves, Indian spices and cast-iron pan. The full-bodied palate is densely laden with exotic spices and black fruit preserves, structured by very firm, ripe, grainy tannins and lovely freshness, finishing on a lingering mineral note.

95pts Vinous

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon is bright and beautifully focused. Readers will find a To Kalon Cabernet built more on persistence and mid-weight structure than on just opulence. There is plenty of richness too, but it is nicely balanced. Iron, graphite, dried flowers and chocolate add aromatic nuance to the inky To Kalon fruit.  A few years in bottle will help the firm tannins and bright acids integrate further. 

Winemaker Notes

The Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard needs no introduction. The 2018 vintage exhibits all the extraordinary purity and sweet, silken fruit this site is renowned for. Dark, black fruit aromas explode into an intense core of sweet blackberry and juicy boysenberry, rimmed with delicate notes of anise. Sleek as a pedigreed Thoroughbred, the fine-grained tannins provide silken structure for the round fruit center and guide the wine through its refined and enduring finish.

Napa Valley’s glorious 2018 vintage will be remembered as that rare confluence of elegance, power and abundance. The vines enjoyed an extremely long growing season, with excellent fruit set and optimal weather conditions. While an early heat wave gave the grapes a powerful start, the lack of subsequent major heat events allowed for even, natural ripening of the generous crop. Wines from this extraordinary vintage are soft and textured, with wonderful depth and elegance.