Carter Cellars 2021 Cabernet Beckstoffer To Kalon “The O.G.” Oakville, Napa Valley 99 Points

Jeb Dunnuck 99 Points: “The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard The O.G. comes from older plantings of Clone 337, and it’s easily one of the standouts in the lineup. Pure cassis, blackberries, liquid violets, and crushed stone define the aromatics, and it’s deep and powerful on the palate (which is the vintage) with full-bodied richness, a stacked mid-palate, building tannins, and a more focused, inward style that needs 4-5 years of bottle age. Reminding me slightly of the 2010 Pontet Canet, this incredible 2021 will have three decades of overall longevity.”

TWI (Lisa Perotti-Brown) 99 Points: “The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon The O.G. is deep garnet-purple in color. It gives up evocative notes of crushed black and red currants, black raspberries, and fresh, juicy plums followed by fragrant notes of lilacs, fallen leaves, and tilled soil. The full-bodied palate has a taut backbone of firm, fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing long and minerally.”

Winemaker Notes: “From our original block of Beckstoffer To Kalon grapes planted to clone 337, this dense and ethereal Napa Cabernet Sauvignon strikes the perfect balance between power and elegance. In 2021 there is a rush of dark fruits, cassis, dark coffee and earthly undertones matched with an inky deep dark purple color. Sweet rounded tannins and balanced acidity integrate perfectly, resulting in a concentrated and plush palate that makes this a decadent complex wine with layers of texture and remarkable purity on the finish. As with the prior vintages, the structure and power of the clone 337 from the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard lends itself well to an extended decant.”