Carter Cellars Beckstoffer To Kalon - 'The G.T.O' 2017
Tasting Notes
From the very best barrels, out of the very best slices of the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, the Carter Cellar’s GTO is "a true bucket list Cabernet Sauvignon" and the 2017 is no exception. Available only in magnum format, this is a massive, yet heavenly, wine that possesses huge notes of dark blackberry and dense blueberry fruit, matched with tell-tale flavors of Beckstoffer To Kalon spice in both the aromatic and tasting profiles. The sweetness of finely grained tannins combine to create a finish that is endless and elegant in this super-intense, rich wine. Like all of our Beckstoffer To Kalon wines the emerging complexity permits enjoyment at an early stage, but let it age for 10 or more years to see the best of what this wine has to offer.
"The standout, although not by much, is the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon The G.T.O, which comes from a mix of the Three Kinds, The Grand Daddy, and the O.G. There are only 25 cases (it’s released in magnum), but it’s a candidate for the wine of the vintage with its stunning bouquet of crushed violets, white flowers, cassis, and graphite aromatics, full-bodied richness and depth, building tannins, and its layered, multi-dimensional, seamless texture. Competing with what this estate achieved in both 2015 and 2016, give bottles 4-5 years, and it should cruise in cool cellars for 20 years or more. Hats off to Mark Carter for one of the wines of the vintage!"
98 Points ~ Jeb Dunnuck
Map of the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
The History of the To Kalon Vineyard
The Beckstoffer portion of the historic original To Kalon Vineyard in the Oakville AVA was purchased from Beaulieu Vineyard in 1993. Beaulieu had purchased the property from the Crabb estate in 1940 and called it their Beaulieu Vineyard No. 4. Napa Pioneer Hamilton Crabb first planted the vineyard in 1868 and it has produced some of the Napa Valley's best red grapes ever since. Replanted after phylloxera by Beckstoffer from 1994 to 1997 to multiple clones of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc with modern trellising and closer vine spacing, the vineyard produces several luxury award winning vineyard designated wines. These vineyard designated Cabernet Sauvignon wines include Schrader Cellars, Paul Hobbs, Tor, Realm and of course, Carter Cellars.
