Community Tasting Note

• AGELVIS Likes this wine: 96 points

  February 1, 2024 - One hour decant. Deep dark electric magenta color. Caramel, mocha, dark fruit, anise, and subtle bay leaf. Dry, satiny, dusty palate, with nice, pixelated acidity. Very firm, but lower intensity, tannins on the long finish.
  
  The fruit is from the rows right next to VHR. This is really expressive, but the fruit is in the background. Needs time to resolve. Mark Carter was doing the pouring for #1WineLover and I.

  3 people found this helpful 1,242 views

14 Comments

• #1Winelover commented:

  2/3/24, 9:15 AM - Unfortunately, you are correct. I only have 1 bottle and will now need to purchase more. On our tasting, this was the hidden gem in the lineup. Surprisingly.

• AGELVIS commented:

  2/3/24, 9:35 AM - Indeed. I was really surprised by this guy.

• Badmonkey commented:

  2/3/24, 12:45 PM - Nice notes on the Carter cabs. Interesting that the Carter Carter is mostly from the Fortuna Vineyard. I know the 2018 and 2019 vintages were more diverse than that. Looks like a great trip. Take care.

• AGELVIS commented:

  2/3/24, 12:47 PM - It was very fun. I think vineyard proportions in blend are changing for everyone. Lots of contracts shifting around since 2020.

• Badmonkey commented:

  2/3/24, 12:58 PM - I hear you - along with where the Beckstoffer cab prices have gone in recent years.

• Mark1npt commented:

  2/4/24, 10:06 AM - MHopper is always my fav vineyard/fruit in Napa Ag, I'm not the least bit surprised this did so well for you....and VHR used to be part of MHopper once upon a time, just sectioned off later on to become its own parcel.

• Franken Berry commented:

  2/4/24, 10:36 AM - Schrader just announced that they are shifting from Beckstoffer to Mondavi for ToKalon grapes ( for the obvious reason). Will be interesting to see how things change for other producers of ToKalon

• Mark1npt commented:

  2/4/24, 10:46 AM - Yes, Constellation is becoming more of a seller to others now with their To Kalon fruit. I wonder how it (the fruit) compares in price to what Andy is selling it for?

• Franken Berry commented:

  2/4/24, 10:55 AM - Another question is, where are they diverting fruit from, to Schrader? My guess is they can cut back on the Mondavi Reserve and use fruit for the pricier Schrader

• AGELVIS commented:

  2/4/24, 11:17 AM - Mondavi farming is much worse. I’m likely done with Schrader.

• Mark1npt commented:

  2/4/24, 11:23 AM - FB, those are details we'll probably never know......

• Mark1npt commented:

  2/4/24, 11:26 AM - Ag, sorry to say I'm probably done with all bottles above $250......so that encompasses a lot of what we like to drink.
  
  I know we argue on here a lot about how much the end product is dependent on the fruit source or the winemaker, or even the barrel. I wonder if the 'farming' for To Kalon matters all that much when you have the great 'terrior' and grapes across all those blocks? For Schrader to change after all these years speaks volumes.......

• #1Winelover commented:

  2/4/24, 6:35 PM - Constellation acquired Mondavi years ago. Recently, they acquired Schrader. The story goes that Andy learned this after the fact and therefore, cut Schrader from the Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard.

• Mark1npt commented:

  2/4/24, 8:35 PM - How could Andy not know? It was common kknowledge.I guess he just let them finish off their contract and then said adios....

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