Schrader Cellars, Beckstoffer To-Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon

95
Tasted by: William Kelley
This wine has more than a little historical significance, as it was the first to bear the name ‘To Kalon’, one of Napa’s greatest terroirs but also a trademark of the Robert Mondavi Winery. Schrader’s decision to put those words on the label provoked a lawsuit, but the winery’s right to do so was confirmed in the settlement—important recognition that To Kalon is a place, not merely a brand. So it was a special bottle to try. At its fifteenth birthday the wine is fully mature, with a ruby-black hue and a complex bouquet of black cherry, kirsch, tar and rich spice, introducing a full-bodied, supple palate impression with good balancing acidity and melted tannins. Age has mellowed some of the mid-palate amplitude that the Schrader wines typically display in their youth, but it retains plenty of juicy fruit as it settles into its plateau of maturity.
Producer
Schrader Cellars
Brand
Beckstoffer To-Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage
2001
Wine Type
Still
Colour
Red
Country
USA
Region
California
Appellation
Sweetness
Dry
Closure
Cork
Alcohol
15.00%
Body
Full