2020 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard
Community Tasting Note
MagicInABottle Likes this wine:
Saturday, February 17, 2024 - Couldn't celebrate moving in with my girlfriend with just any bottle - enter Myriad Dr. Crane. Popped with some hesitancy due to the mixed reviews on this vintage, but Mike Smith personally assured us he would not have put his name or the Myriad label on the line if he wasn't sure of its quality. This was in fact the last '20 Dr. Crane in Mike's possession, which he graciously offered us during a visit we will not soon forget.
An explosion of dark, red fruits greeted us after a 3-hour double decant, with each subsequent hour revealing more: pencil shavings, anise, tobacco, gooseberries and wet earth. This full-bodied cab packs a punch with balanced acidity and chewy tannins giving way to a long, polished finish. They say the cream always rises to the top, and in a year best remembered for the uncertainty and challenges it presented winemakers, this bottle is certainly a cut above its contemporaries.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue (788 views)
12 comments have been posted
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue (788 views)
Comment posted by Badmonkey:
3/22/2024 7:18:00 AM - Nice note. Unfortunately I passed on this wine in light of the vintage concerns but I’ve really enjoyed Mike’s 2020 entry level cabs.
Comment posted by MagicInABottle:
3/22/2024 10:57:00 AM - Thank you, and understandable you passed on it given the vintage as a whole. It was definitely a gamble, but thankfully there was no hint of any smoke taint whatsoever. We've had several subpar bottles from 2020 that we were shocked made it from production to consumption, but none of Mike Smith's wines fall within that category. Still have a GIII and a Bourn from him to try, will be sure to update when they are popped!
Comment posted by Badmonkey:
3/22/2024 11:17:00 AM - I also passed on those wines in consideration of vintage concerns along with the price point. I look forward to your thoughts. The 2020 Quivet Napa cab, 2020 Myriad Napa cab, 2020 Quivet Kenefick Ranch cab, and 2020 Becklyn Napa were all very nice vintage of those wines - also no signs of smoke taint. However, Mike told me that the grapes were picked before the smoke/fires with the 2020 cabs that he released. A couple wines like Round Pound were not released because they weren’t picked early. I had a bottle of the 2021 Myriad Beckstoffer George’s cab a couple months ago - I was thinking about buying more but wanted to get an idea of the vintage first. It needs some time as expected but it’s a great vintage of that wine - no surprise of the great ratings from the professionals. Take care.
Comment posted by MagicInABottle:
3/23/2024 9:24:00 AM - We also enjoyed the Quivet Napa and Quivet Kenefick cabs when we visited last March. I definitely want to look into acquiring some. I have yet to try the Myriad Napa Cab, what are your general thoughts? A local wine distributor has a few bottles of the 2014 vintage that I was considering purchasing.
Comment posted by Badmonkey:
3/23/2024 10:17:00 AM - The 2021 Quivet Napa cab, Quivet Kenefick Ranch cab, and Myriad Napa cab are all really good in my opinion. I’ve purchased cases of the 2021 Quivet Kenefick Ranch cab and just recently bought more - I believe what was the last of that vintage. I can’t speak specifically for the 2014 Myriad Napa cab at this stage - I haven’t had it in a while. However, I laid some bottles down of the 2014 Myriad Beckstoffer George’s and Myriad Beckstoffer Dr Crane cabs and revisited a bottle of each over the past year. They didn’t show real well. I’m still hoping for better days ahead for those wines but I’m afraid those days aren’t coming.
Comment posted by MagicInABottle:
3/23/2024 11:26:00 AM - Thank you very much for your honest/candid thoughts, @BadMonkey. I will hold off for now on the 2014 bottles.
Last question for ya, I have yet to sample an Elysian, is it worth the hype? I've heard very good things/consistent reviews that it's on another level (most notably the '16, '19 and '21 vintages).
Comment posted by Badmonkey:
3/23/2024 2:08:00 PM - I’ve had a number of different vintages of the Elysian cab and it’s one of the best wines that I’ve ever had - especially the 2016 vintage. However, I stopped buying over the past couple years in consideration of the price increase - I have a very hard time paying over $200 for a bottle. Unfortunately most of the high quality Beckstoffer cabs are now over that level.
Comment posted by Badmonkey:
3/23/2024 2:25:00 PM - The 2013 vintage of Elysian was also really good. In light of how good Mike’s other 2021 cabs have been, I’m sure the 2021 Elysian is tremendous. i’m not surprised by the 100 rating from WA.
Comment posted by MagicInABottle:
3/24/2024 12:25:00 PM - Great stuff @BadMonkey, appreciate all the insights. I hear you on the inflated prices, it's tough to justify $200+ per bottle. I was already leaning on quality vs. quantity this year, so it may just be the year to try an Elysian. Might go with a '16 and a '21 and lay down the latter for a few years. I also saw the 100s across the board on it. I think it's time to give it a shot.
Comment posted by Badmonkey:
3/24/2024 1:45:00 PM - I was really tempted to buy a couple bottles but decided to buy more of the 2021 Myriad Beckstoffer George’s cab instead in light of the 98 to 100 rating from WA, price point at $185, and also after tasting it. Although $185 also isn’t cheap. I miss the days when the Myriad Beckstoffer George’s cab was under $100 - I believe the 2014 vintage was the last one at that price then Mike’s long-term contract on that vineyard renewed.
Comment posted by MagicInABottle:
3/24/2024 2:01:00 PM - Oh wow, that's almost half the price of the Elysian! Fair point also with a 98-100 rating. Shame about those pesky contract renewals, lots of competition in the valley these days especially for the best grapes!
Sidebar - have you ever tried FUTO? Thinking of giving that a try in my next order.
Comment posted by Badmonkey:
3/24/2024 2:55:00 PM - I have not had FUTO’s wines but I have noticed the good ratings/reviews on Wine Advocate.