2020 B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Community Tasting Notes (2) Avg Score: 94 points

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  4/9/2023 - DrBad Likes this wine: 96 Points

  Sampling of three 2020 B Cellars Beckstoffers: To Kalon, Missouri Hopper, and Dr Crane. Opened a 2017 Carter La Bam Las Piedras for comparison, a Beckstoffer from the lesser vintage of 2017. The three B Cellars were all drinking surprisingly well, very full bodied, and all outperformed the '17 Carter LPV, other than in aromatics. The Carter nose was explosive, with typical vanilla and cedar, but was somewhat lacking in weight and complexity. The B-C's aromatically were uncharacteristically muted, with the Missouri Hopper being the most aromatic of the three, although I'll admit I've never opened these wines this young, so hard to assess long term. The Hopper was the most fruit forward and having fullest body, very well balanced. The Dr Crane was the favorite of the three, showing some of the typical big Dr C structure, the tannins were big to start but settled out after a couple of hours. The To Kalon had typical blue and black fruits, a lingering, spicy finish, and some dusty tannins.
  
  B Cellars sent three 6 oz bottles for sampling. To our tastes and noses, absolutely no issues of smoke or any other issues with the wines. I've read that it may take some amount of time for smoke issues to be revealed, I can't comment or predict that, but these wines seem top notch and worthy of the excellent B Cellars Beckstoffer line. The comparison with the '17 Carter Las Piedras Vineyard Beckstoffer I felt gave a good comparison as to the quality of the vintage, I scored the Carter LPV at a 93 compared to the 95-96 for the B-C Becks.

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  3/31/2023 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Samples tasted tonight...a good example of the '20 Napa harvest. Of the 3 wines tonight, this was the least impressive at a 92. Little to no nose, basic one dimensional dark red fruit. Astringency on the back end but all the elements are rather balanced. Just not as exciting as other vintages of this vineyard from B Cellars. Of the 3 samples provided I rated this one, 3rd best tonight. Others in the group liked it as #2 of the night. This is the thinnest on the mouth of the 3 wines from tonight. No hint at all, of any smoke taint in any of the wines from tonight, either. That is not a question here.

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