Community Tasting Note

• Mark1npt Likes this wine: 97 points

  January 14, 2024 - So good......I needed to wait but it's been 9-10 months since my last bottle. Decanted 90 min before the HMCs came over for dinner. Could have easily been drunk at the pnp as it was full of energy, packed with fruit and just hedonistic. Those who like hedonism would have easily given it a 98 at that moment in time.
  
  At the pnp, a hint of alc and cassis out the wazoo. 90 min in and it's full of sweet tobacco on the nose. Just beautiful.....enjoyed over 2-3 hours before, during and after dinner. Compared to what one would say the more classically styled '18 Arkenstone NVD tonight, a 94, this one is just a thriller at 97. Easy to see the difference in the two styles of winemaking on display.

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20 Comments

• Decanting Queen commented:

  1/15/24, 4:39 AM - Surprised you opened this rather than giving the F-M ‘21 a try!

• Decanting Queen commented:

  1/15/24, 4:39 AM - But also nice to see this one is drinking well, haven’t touched my ‘19s

• Mark1npt commented:

  1/15/24, 5:30 AM - This one is rolling right now and very good. I have more of these than the FM. I'll do one of those next week.

• Decanting Queen commented:

  1/16/24, 3:36 AM - I had such a bad experience with my last ‘18, I’m afraid to touch this too soon!

• Mark1npt commented:

  1/16/24, 6:24 AM - My last 3 of their '18s......
  
  2018 B Cellars Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon more
  Options12/15/2023 - I LIKE THIS WINE: 96 points (Edit)
  Took every bit of 8-9 hour decant......notes as with previous bottles. This is losing its juicy, big Cali fruit bomb notes but is quite rich and good and deep and deserves some years to flesh itself out......beautiful.
  
  Comments (2) (575 views)
  
  
  Red
  2018 B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard St. Helena
  Options11/22/2023 - I LIKE THIS WINE: 97 points (Edit)
  Time to check back in on one of these with Mr/Mrs Agelvis in town for the Holiday! Decanted 3.5 hours and enjoyed over 2 more. This has all the dark red/black fruit of LPV and all the depth, energy and silkiness of BCellars wrapped up into one. We had this alongside a very nice La Pelle Alluvium and while I liked the quality of both there's just no disputing the regal feeling and taste profile of the Beckstoffer fruit. In a really good place with the proper air right now. My fear is that with time, maybe the fruit backs off a bit or the 'energy' component wanes a bit. I don't plan on aging these great wines for my taste profile more than another 2-3 years, max. They are just too good!
  
  Comments (6) (893 views)
  
  
  Red
  2018 B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard Oakville
  Options11/7/2023 - I LIKE THIS WINE: 95 points (Edit)
  Pretty easy score here......coravined off a glass for Carol a couple of nights ago and she loved it. Four of us split the remaining bottle this evening....classic BCellars rendition of this. Smooth with an hour of air. Pretty typical of this vineyard.
  
  Comments (11) (1,111 views)

• Decanting Queen commented:

  1/16/24, 8:21 AM - That is encouraging but I also think I have less tolerance for that 2018ness than you. I am repeatedly disappointed and preferring ‘19s. I bought SO MANY 18’s too.

• Mark1npt commented:

  1/16/24, 8:24 AM - These have all been very good. Not that crazy '18ness that some others like Lerner had. You are going to love your '18s!

• melsdad commented:

  1/30/24, 2:44 PM - And I did give it a 98. This is the juICE! Cheers!

• Mark1npt commented:

  1/31/24, 6:27 AM - Awesome! Glad you liked it!

• Badmonkey commented:

  2/6/24, 6:21 AM - Nice note. I’ve never had their Missouri Hopper cab and it looks like I probably never will. Just received their offering for the 2021 Beckstoffer cabs. $300 a bottle is silly. I can’t imagine it’s much better than the 2021 Carter Missouri Hopper cab at $175 but maybe I’m wrong. At that price it should come with a happy ending. Tells me where the price for the Carter Missouri Hopper cab is likely going. Take care.

• Mark1npt commented:

  2/6/24, 7:27 AM - Yes, Bad.....it's just getting silly. I used to get these for $160 from them just a few years back. They have priced themselves out of just about everyone's price range, now. Everyone I've turned on to them has said the same thing.

• Badmonkey commented:

  2/6/24, 8:59 AM - I hear you. I hate getting priced out of paradise but I knew it was coming. Thankfully there’s still a handful of quality wines out there for the money.

• melsdad commented:

  2/6/24, 11:32 AM - I agree with you both. I dropped off B Cellars after 2019. I bought 2 1/2 cases of the 19s, didn't buy for 12 1/2 months. When I wanted to order they said I'd have to buy a bunch of stuff I didn't want to get what I wanted. I understand they are small production wines but I didn't care for it. Having said that, they make my favorite MH to date. Bad - if you're ever in the NYC metro area, I'd be happy to pop one with you. That goes for you too Mark. Cheers!

• Mark1npt commented:

  2/6/24, 12:42 PM - mels....same to you and Bad if you ever get down to Florida. I've got 7 bottles of the '18 and '19 MH in the cellar!

• Badmonkey commented:

  2/6/24, 12:57 PM - Nice - I’m jealous. I’ll definitely keep that in mind.

• melsdad commented:

  2/6/24, 2:09 PM - I'm looking for an excuse to open my 2015 MH mag. Any takers?

• Mark1npt commented:

  2/6/24, 3:38 PM - You're always welcome! Just had sastewart and spouse from Nashville in this evening!

• Mark1npt commented:

  2/6/24, 3:42 PM - That would be mucho fun! '15 was the year that turned me on to BCellars!

• Decanting Queen commented:

  2/7/24, 3:32 AM - Mark convinced me to buy a ‘15 MH magnum a few years ago. It was so good nothing has compared since….

• Mark1npt commented:

  2/7/24, 5:38 AM - That was a pretty damn good wine, DQ........

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