Schrader CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (750 ml)

Tasting Notes For Schrader CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon 2018Continuing the legacy of excellence for this benchmark wine, the 2018 Schrader CCS is a stunning example of essential Cabernet Sauvignon power, polished by clonal finesse and terroir. The senses are enraptured by a seamless cavalcade of black and blue fruit compote, late summer bramble berries, white nectarine and jasmine blossoms, cedar, and smoked spices. One of their most popular wines, it continues to fascinate and mesmerize upon release and reward for decades to come.Critic RatingsJeb Dunnuck Review – Rated 100:Just pure gold, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from one of California’s greatest terroirs, that was brought up in 100% new French oak. This dense purple-colored effort has a magical bouquet of pure creme de cassis, smoke tobacco, white flowers, crushed stone, truffle, and hints of chocolate. Possessing full-bodied richness, this beauty builds incrementally on the palate, showing lots of ripe, polished tannins, no hard edges, and a rare mix of power, structure, and elegance that’s something to behold. Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, or red wine for that matter, just doesn’t get any better. Hats off to winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown for yet another majestic, singular wine that’s as good as it gets.Robert Parker Wine Advocate – Rated 97:Schrader’s CCS comes from Beckstoffer’s To Kalon vineyard in Oakville, produced from clone 4 grown on the C1 block. It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud French oak barrels for 18 months. Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard rolls effortlessly out of the glass with profound notions of baked plums, boysenberries, blackberry pie and cassis, leading to hints of mocha, tapenade and black truffles. Full-bodied, concentrated and with a rock-solid backbone of grainy tannins, it delivers muscular black fruit and savory flavors, leading to a long, earthy finish.Wine Spectator Review – Rated 97:Vivid, with lush cassis, plum and boysenberry compote flavors rolling through, carried by substantial structure that pulls in warm earth, sweet tobacco, licorice root and sweet bay leaf notes. A violet echo weaves through on the finish as the fruit and earth notes meld. This is Oakville.James Suckling Review – Rated 96:Fruity and relatively elegant. Toasted notes, nuts and vanilla, as well as blackberries. The palate is well balanced and velvety with subtle power. Full and flavorful. Finishes a tiny bit short, but should open with time.WinerySchraderCountryUnited StatesRegionOakville, Napa Valley, CaliforniaYear2018Grape VarietalCabernet SauvignonSize750 MLABV14.5%Wine StyleRed Wine