Carter Tasting - 2016 Vintage

Envy Wines
Tasted Friday, July 27, 2018 by Cristal2000 with 280 views

Introduction

Tasted through most of Carter's 2016 lineup. These are simply SPECTACULAR wines. They also represent some of the best value in the valley at their price point.

Flight 1 (8 Notes)

  • 2016 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Weitz Vineyard 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Right now this isn't quite on the level of the 2015 edition. It has all the stuffing however, so it very well may come around given it was just recently bottled.

    This is a very powerful edition of Weitz. Ruby red with lots of blackberries, plums currant and spring flowers. It's pretty tight at the moment, with lots of gripping tannins pushing the fruit to the background. Medium to full bodied, with good levels of concentration and structure. Beautiful purity. This should open up and be something special as time goes on. As always, in Napa terms, a deal at $150.

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  • 2016 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Carter 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Really terrific complex nose of blackberries, black licorice and crushed rock. This is a blend of their high end cabernet, and a lot of the LPV site seems to shine through with some of those wonderful scorched earth and gravelly mineral driven qualities. The texture here stood out over the Weitz tasted right before it, and this showed beautifully integrated, firm and refined tannins to go with lovely chewy dark fruit in a medium to full bodied package. I agree with CSIMM that this is a step up over 2015. 95 with lots of upside.

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  • 2016 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon La Bam Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard 96 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    This is definitely a step up over the 2015 edition. Tons of black tar, scorched earth, crushed rock, blueberry, plums and herbs on a complex nose. Very silky and at the same time extremely powerful. Lots of depth and concentration, this really shows off wonderful black and blue fruit with tremendous structure. Very firm and fairly linear in its presentation. While it is much closer to the level of the Verdad this year, I found BAM to be just a tad bit clunkier and sharper without the same level of refinement. Nevertheless, you can't go wrong here. This will likely age very well, and should probably be held for 6-12 months before opening. 96++

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  • 2016 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon La Verdad Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard 98 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    This wine seems to always be a home run (this is the original LPV block for Carter), and this year is no exception. I am not sure if it can match the absolutely epic 2015, but it is definitely going to press up on its heels.

    To me, this LPV is all about refinement and I think that's where it gets the major edge over the La Bam. It starts with beautiful black cherry and blackberry complemented by crushed rock and a hint of spice box. On the pallet this is full bodied, super concentrated and insanely pure, with very fine tannins and serious length. There is a ton of class here, without any real hard edges. Lovely wine if you can get it. 98++

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  • 2016 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 98 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    Wow, do I love this wine. At this stage, it is easily the best 3K's I have ever had. Wonderful nose of creme de cassis, black licorice, blueberry pie and black cherry. There is just a ton gorgeous concentrated fruit, with massive depth of flavor that is backed by nice structure and great complexity. It is forward and overwhelms the senses with waves of pure hedonistic flavor. I also felt this showed a lot more complexity than the GD, which set it apart. Not quite on the level of the OG, but just an outstanding wine. I almost feel like 98 is underselling it.

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  • 2016 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    In relative comparison to the OG and 3K, I feel like this is a bit simpler and more fruit driven. It's the most forward of all the Carter wines I tasted on this trip. That being said, this is pure velvet on the pallet with an exceptionally tasty flavor profile that I would likely plow through in minutes once opened. Tons of ripe blue and red fruit, lots of cassis, black cherries, raspberries and black/red licorice. Totally round with fine tannins and nice depth and concentration. Finishes fairly long.

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  • 2016 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The O.G. Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 99 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    What a great wine. Maybe the best OG yet, and that is saying something given the long line of amazing vintages of this wine. I was thinking this was just about perfect until I had it next to the GTO...those relative comparisons can really get you at times. Nevertheless, this is just fabulous and probably merits a three digit score.

    This is an iron fist in a velvet glove. It comes at you from all angles with full bodied, overwhelmingly pure, concentrated and sexy mostly black/blue fruit; but boy, the huge structure just reigns it in and shows off amazing balance and elegance. Along with the GTO/LPV's this is the most cerebral wine in the Carter lineup, as it shows nuance and complexity while also delivering all of the massive flavor you associate with this vineyard and Mike Smith's wine making. The tannins are refined but very present and it shows over a 1min finish. Amazing. 99+

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  • 2016 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The G.T.O Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 100 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    This is the Belle of the Ball. It's everything perfection in a bottle tastes like for my pallet. Take all of the great parts of the 2016 OG, which itself is likely just about perfect, and then make it more refined, more pure, have it deliver more flavor and show even more length and you get this gift to wine drinkers.

    You can see my notes on OG and 3K's to get my basic impressions on this great vintage for Carter BTK wines, and then ratchet everything up a few notches to produce the GTO. I really wanted to find a fault with it since it is nearly double the price and only sold in Mags, but having a glass right next to the OG cemented its status as the King of Carter wines. This is neck and neck with the 2016 Vice Versa M7 and 2016 Vice Versa Dr Crane BBS for the best of the vintage for me so far. Would be fun to have them side by side!

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Closing

Mark and Sherri Carter are two of the most down to earth, nicest people I've met in Napa. Absolutely adore them and their wines!

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