2016 Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Community Tasting Notes (3) Avg Score: 97.3 points

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  2/8/2018 - csimm wrote: 97 Points

  3-Day Napa Cab Taste-Off: Vice Versa, B Cellars, Memento Mori, Alpha Omega, Purlieu, Janzen, Realm, Myriad, MACDONALD, Maybach, and more...; 2/7/2018-2/9/2018 (Napa): My previous notes from 10/3/2017 still apply. Wonderfull black, Oakville soil-driven core fruit; black raspberry, black and red currant, clove, espresso, black soil, and scorched earth. As noted before, this BTK has a sophistication and suaveness that presents itself in a deliberately cosmopolitan way. Cerebral meets decadently pleasurable.
  
  This BTK was served next to a '16 VV LPV BBS and '16 VV M7, which were out-of-this-world extraordinary. Not exactly a fair fight when BBS wines are injected as part of a comparative tasting with the BTK. However, the BTK stood its ground whole-heartedly, reminding me that both the BBS and "standard" offerings (which themselves are utterly compelling) are top-notch examples of what these sites can produce when under the proper oversight and craftsmanship of stellar proprietorship and winemaking. 97+ points this go-around.

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  2/8/2018 - Cristal2000 Likes this wine: 97 Points

  Whirlwind Winter Tasting in the Valley; 2/7/2018-2/10/2018 (Napa Valley, CA): This wine had the misfortune of being consumed next to the VV LPV BBS and VV M7 of the same vintage. Were it not for that relative comparison, it may very well have shown even better in my eyes.
  
  This is a beautiful wine that shows deep purple in the glass. Lots of blackcurrant with some red berries and asian spices on the nose. On the pallet this is deftly balanced and shows more red fruit than the Crane or LPV wines. There is wonderful depth of flavor and nuance showing here, with a bit higher acid feel than the other VV wines I had. Really complex and a great finish that is showing slightly tart at the moment. This is going to be a beautiful wine. Finish is 45 sec+.
  
  As I've mentioned in my other notes on VV wines, these are a must see for Napa cab lovers.

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  10/3/2017 - csimm wrote: 98 Points

  Vice Versa (Saint Helena): Black, earthy core fruit surrounded by black currant, dark spice box, coffee grounds, and some faint truffle and earthy cedar on the tail end. Massive and finessed at the same time; as with the 2014 VV BTK, this has a silky, gracefulness about it that is often not seen among the world of brutish BTKs that can turn up from other labels. Compared to the 2014 VV BTK served before/beside it, this 2016 BTK’s core was much more intense (if not a little unresolved – it is a barrel sample after all). There is a pleasantly dark, haunting quality about this wine that I absolutely love.
  
  Whereas the 2016 Crane and LPV were pumping out massive, intense flavors, this BTK (though extremely concentrated) was more deliberate and suave in its delivery. All of the 2016s from VV are going to be striking. Pure, gorgeous core fruit from 1st growth sites, finessed and sound frames, solid acid/tannin management, and utterly poetic waves of flavor and intensity all add up to some of the best barrel samples I’ve ever had. 96-98+ points for now.

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