2019 Becklyn Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
Community Tasting Note
Badmonkey wrote:
93 Points
Tuesday, April 25, 2023 - Decided to revisit after a recent positive review for the 2019 Scarlett cab - I believe the Scarlet/McGah fruit is likely holding back this wine. Similar thoughts as last Fall - this wine still isn’t ready on day one. A really nice mineral/graphite component with this vintage but still fairly tart and a little light even after a couple hour decant. However, quite an improvement on day three. I plan on laying the remaining bottles down for a year. 93 points on day three. 100% cab.
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3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue (2,381 views)
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Comment posted by Franken Berry:
4/25/2023 6:35:00 PM - there seems to be a recurring pattern to many of these Mike Smith cabs - they drink great in the first two years, and then either go into hibernation or become a bit disjointed for a bit. you certainly have a bit more patience (and experience) than I with these. I just wonder at what age to you find they consistently "re-emerge", and do they ever evolve to a better space than they drink in their youth?
My concern is that such wines never develop much complexity as they age and can lose their 'sense of place'.
Comment posted by Yack Man:
4/25/2023 9:15:00 PM - Nice note. The last 3 Becklyn vintages have started out well only to transition to an awkward stage, as I see it. I believe you've mention that the Mike made some changes in where he sources the fruit? They've start out strong out of the gate, but only for a short window of time. Many touted the 2018 vintage a special one, but it has been a disappointment up to now, in my opinion. Regarding the 2018's that I've tasted, started out well and continue on a nice path have been Lewis NV and their Mason label, and the Tor Vine Hill Cab. Time will hopefully take these Becklyn wines to a better place.
Comment posted by Badmonkey:
4/26/2023 4:30:00 AM - I agree that his wines tend to come out of the gate drinking well for a little while when they are still in that very primary barrel tasting phase but then go into an awkward/transition phase. With the 2015 to 2017 vintages that transition or awkward phase didn’t last last long and then they drank well for a couple years. The 2018 and 2019 vintages are very different and clearly appear to still be in that awkward or transition phase but I like how they are drinking on day three. We’ll see where the 2020 vintage goes. In my opinion, they are transitioning somewhat now but are drinking quite well on day two. As a couple of us have gone back and forth with over the years, I don’t believe his cabs age that well. I still haven’t seen where a cab shows really well young but then ages well as many wineries claim they do. I personally believe his cabs show their best in the first four years or so but hopefully the 2018 and 2019 are an exception and take a little longer than other vintages. Take care.
Comment posted by Badmonkey:
4/26/2023 5:20:00 AM - Mike altered the blend with the 2020 Becklyn Napa cab because he didn’t use the 3 Twins fruit due to the smoke/fires. He used the Moulds fruit in the blend instead. With the 2021 vintage it is back to the blend of 3 Twins, Kenefick Ranch, and Scarlett/McGah. There’s no question that the 2018 vintage overall has been frustrating for me. I recently had a bottle of the 2018 Mending Wall Tournahu cab because of some positive CT notes and I also came across some bottles at a good price that I was thinking about buying. It didn’t come around even on day three. I still expect better days ahead for both the 2018 and 2019 vintages in light of how they are usually showing on day three but I believe it could be a couple years. Hopefully I’m wrong and they come around sooner. The 2018 Lewis cabs are the few exceptions for me. Still a shame that they raised the price of their Napa cab with the 2020 vintage. That was one of my staples in the mid-$80s through the secondary market but those days appear to be over.
Comment posted by NickRut:
4/26/2023 8:51:00 PM - Did you buy any of the 2019 Scarlett? Debating what to do with that this year. Haven’t tried them and looks like a second reserve bottling?
Comment posted by Badmonkey:
4/27/2023 2:56:00 AM - I did buy some of the 2019 Scarlett. I had a bottle last November and it was fairly closed/not overly expressive even after a fair amount of air. I figure that it probably needs a year or two as Mike Smith also recommended. However, someone did post a recent positive note so I was thinking about revisiting it but after having the 2019 Becklyn Napa cab I’m probably going to give them some more time.