97pts James Suckling

Blackberries, blackcurrants and black licorice. Very aromatic. Full-bodied with chewy yet polished tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Needs time to open. Polished and refined. One for the cellar. A fantastic cabernet franc with tension and character. Try after 2024.

95pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Cabernet Franc Beckstoffer To Kalon leaps with kirsch, black raspberries and rose oil scents, plus hints of cinnamon stick, dried herbs and tilled soil, with a waft of pencil shavings. Full-bodied, plush and rich, the palate has loads of bright, crunchy red and black fruit flavors and a long, earth-laced finish.

94pts Jeb Dunnuck

The 2019 Cabernet Franc Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard showed beautifully, with a ripe, sweetly fruited, sexy style that might be too much for some. Blueberry pie, chocolate, candied violets, and floral notes all define the nose, and it’s full-bodied, with a wealth of fruit and texture, good balance, and a great finish. If you love impeccably made Napa fruit bombs, you’ll love this one.

94pts Vinous

The 2019 Cabernet Franc Beckstoffer To Kalon is a very beautiful wine. Inky and voluptuous to the core, the 2019 possesses striking richness and tons of character. Inky red/purplish fruit, rose petal, chocolate, copious new oak, lavender and spice all flesh out in this opulent, beautifully balanced Franc from The Debate. Blackberry jam, bittersweet chocolate, espresso, licorice and sweet French oak linger on the huge finish.

93pts Wine Spectator

A lush style, with a gorgeous wave of boysenberry and blackberry compote notes rolling through, lined liberally with violet, anise and apple wood accents before ending with graphite and sweet tobacco. Approachable for its purity, but there's no rush. Drink now through 2034.

Winemaker Notes

The fabled Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is nestled on the valley floor in Oakville. Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard has the darkness of soul with an outburst of brightness, density and of layers complex flavors. It shows deep, dark ink with touches of violet, mulberry and iris. The nose is an explosion of spices, cigar box and tobacco leaf with licorice, tar and minerality with licorice roots, blackberry violet and lavender. The palate has a floral entrance evolving on a dense and ripe mid-palate with amazing dark fruit jam and silky tannins lingering on minerality and really fine typical To Kalon tannins.

Blend: 100% Cabernet Franc