2021 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard
Community Tasting Note
AGELVIS Likes this wine:
96 Points
Thursday, 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.
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3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue (1,302 views)
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue (1,302 views)
Comment posted by #1Winelover:
2/3/2024 9:15:00 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.
Comment posted by AGELVIS:
2/3/2024 9:35:00 AM - Indeed. I was really surprised by this guy.
Comment posted by Badmonkey:
2/3/2024 12:45:00 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.
Comment posted by AGELVIS:
2/3/2024 12:47:00 PM - It was very fun. I think vineyard proportions in blend are changing for everyone. Lots of contracts shifting around since 2020.
Comment posted by Badmonkey:
2/3/2024 12:58:00 PM - I hear you - along with where the Beckstoffer cab prices have gone in recent years.
Comment posted by Mark1npt:
2/4/2024 10:06:00 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.
Comment posted by Franken Berry:
2/4/2024 10:36:00 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
Comment posted by Mark1npt:
2/4/2024 10:46:00 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?
Comment posted by Franken Berry:
2/4/2024 10:55:00 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
Comment posted by AGELVIS:
2/4/2024 11:17:00 AM - Mondavi farming is much worse. I’m likely done with Schrader.
Comment posted by Mark1npt:
2/4/2024 11:23:00 AM - FB, those are details we'll probably never know......
Comment posted by Mark1npt:
2/4/2024 11:26:00 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.......
Comment posted by #1Winelover:
2/4/2024 6:35:00 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.
Comment posted by Mark1npt:
2/4/2024 8:35:00 PM - How could Andy not know? It was common kknowledge.I guess he just let them finish off their contract and then said adios....