2018 Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard
Community Tasting Note
Cristal2000 Likes this wine:
Friday, May 14, 2021 - Well, well...this wine has been staring at me for a while from the cellar window. I have previously looked the other way, not giving into its sultry stare, but tonight I felt the time was right to indulge.
I popped the cork, decanted and then back in the bottle about 4 hours before dinner. At dinner, I had some and it was still tight. About 30 mins later it started to unfurl in the glass.
Heavenly nose of blackberries, anise, violets and cassis fruit. The palate is hitting all the right notes right now: gorgeous pure mostly blue fruit, seamless pixilated tannins, excellent acidity and significant structure frame a very well integrated young wine. This is firm, not the least bit too forward and comes across in the most lovely fresh way, with the interplay of fruit, crushed stone and mineral driven flavors interchanging from the front to mid to finish. There is very good concentration, but nothing at all heavy about it. A fabulous effort that will continue to get better for a number of years. This will easily compete with the 16.
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5 comments have been posted
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue (4,664 views)
Comment posted by LiteItOnFire:
5/14/2021 11:24:00 PM - Wow- I was too afraid to pop this after the other 2018s being cooked up so tight. Great notes and thanks for diving in early.
The ‘16 is one of my favorites for the vintage and if this wine is anything close it would be a big win. Very excited!
Comment posted by MJP Hou TX:
5/15/2021 6:37:00 AM - Awesome. Thanks for posting Cristal. I was able to score a few so maybe taking down one early is a good idea.
Comment posted by Cristal2000:
5/15/2021 7:47:00 AM - Like with the 18 Realm Crane, there's no reason you "need" to open one early. Both start super tight and then come around with air. But they are not nails where you can't enjoy them. I personally find it fun to drink them young to get a sense of the wine. This is right with the vintage, in that it has got exceptional freshness, a firm backbone and excellent but not overwhelming fruit.
Comment posted by MJP Hou TX:
5/15/2021 12:36:00 PM - Youthful wines have been hit or miss for my palate. Honestly the 17 Kinsman Rhad spoiled me into thinking I should pull some younger bottles but more than likely I'll be let down. I have yet to find an 18 that didn't become a beast with OX. Maybe the Fayard Reserve or Martinez vineyard should be on deck. First world CT'er problems for sure.
Comment posted by vintage1949:
9/27/2021 3:51:00 AM - Hey Cristal,
You are torturing me with your notes. Oh my this wine sounds simply fantastic. It will take all of my willpower to not crack open a bottle. Dave