Carter Cellars 2021 Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Oakville, Napa 97+ Points

Jeb Dunnuck 97+ Points: “From a valley floor site that never seems to get the recognition it deserves, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard is all varietal and reveals a dense purple hue to go with awesome aromatics of ripe black and blue fruits, smoke tobacco, graphite, darker chocolate, and damp earth. These carry to a full-bodied, deep, concentrated 2021 delivering remarkable purity, a layered, rich, mouth-filling texture, ample tannins, and a great finish. It shows the structured, powerful style of the vintage and actually reminds me of a great vintage of La Mission Haut-Brion. It needs to be forgotten for 4-5 years and is going to push the upper limits of the scale at maturity.”

IWR 97 Points: “The 2021 Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Cabernet Sauvignon from Carter is an absolutely fabulous showing in this vintage. It instantly begins with incredibly seductive aromatics of ripe black currants, fresh blackberries, and blueberries, which are beautifully woven together with graphite, exotic spices, violets, tobacco as well as loam and earthy mineral accents that all come together and burst from the glass. On the palate, this is every bit as stunning, with its full-bodied, concentrated core, that also displays remarkable balance and power. It continues to impress with its wonderful purity and depth, as plush layers of ripe dark fruits, exotic spices, and violets all continue to build and expand seamlessly through the long, opulent finish. While it is extremely impressive and flat-out delicious right now, it should also thrive in the cellar and have a remarkably bright future for decades to come.”

Winemaker Notes: “From a great valley floor site in Oakville that lies just south of Beckstoffer To Kalon, this wine shows a deep and profound purple color—notes of lively blue fruits, allspice, graphite, and toasty oak all leap from the glass. An opulent and full-bodied wine, it shows the ideal balance on the palate – a mixture of great fruit, rounded tannins, and natural acidity that results in a lengthy finish with a savory quality. This wine is pure pleasure and will surely be a favorite in your cellar over time.”