It's been two years since I lasted tasted this 2014 AO Beckstoffer to Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon. It again blew me away...
The color of the wine is deep and dark with some ruby on the rim -- which implies this could age much longer! Initial swirls reveal legs hanging on to the glass for dear life (14+ % alcohol)
The nose took some time to develop in the glass -- 30-45 minutes minimum - and revealed dried flowers, deep dark fruit and a bit of spiciness. The nose is big, the kind you can just keep swirling and smelling. Its heaven.
Initial sip revealed low acid and solid tannins for a nice balance. Tones of leather, coffee and DEFINITELY dark chocolate for me! The spiciness of the nose continued on the tongue but not peppery more like baking spices. There's nothing sweet about this wine...its big, bold and beautiful. I find this BIG big - even for a Napa cab. The finish resolves to a tannic fruitiness to a welcomed linger. With time, each sip seems to get better.
This is a wine that makes a statement...A Napa Valley expression of cab that leaves no doubt where its from. It is exactly what it is supposed to be. Wonderful.
I tasted this while preparing Mexican Chicken and rice bowls for dinner -- NOT the pairing I would recommend as its boldness competes with the Mexican flavors and heat.
If you want to make statement and/or enjoy the boldest and one of the best cabernet sauvignon single vineyard wines from Napa -- this is it.
Going to Napa in couple weeks and will buy more!!
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Tasted at the 5 minutes mark in the decanter and it was a bit mute but clearly showing the direction to "fantastic".
After 30 minutes in the decanter it was ready to rock! The wine is bold, tons of character, plenty of tannins and great structure. The mid palate is excellent and the finish is OMG!
Drink or hold. I wish I had more!
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As many have mentioned, the aroma is wonderful and it is enjoyable to just bask in the aroma for a while as you anticipate the upcoming first sip. The taste is magical. The wine is rich, smooth and light on its feet. It has a nice dark cherry overtone with chocolate hints along with a mild but nice spicey note. I have one more, but I wish I had a couple cases. This is a crowd pleaser on steroids. Exceptional wine.
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2014 is not my favorite vintage, however this Alpha Omega Beckstoffer Cabernet has matured incredibly well over the years and is a pleasure to drink right now. Dark purple ruby color with an alluring violet nose. This wine is great right out of the bottle but a bit of air takes it to another level. There’s dark and elegantly extracted berry fruits, black and blueberry fruit, cassis, dark cherry, a touch of spice with essences of violet aromas that make this wine a delight to drink. The aromas incredible and the finish is long wonderful. This is a fantastic bottle of wine. 96+/ 97 Points.
PNP. Chocolate pudding, graham cracker, and black cherry on the nose. Smooth, dry palate. Firm tannins on the longish finish.
Awesome bottle. My notes don’t do it justice and we really should have decanted this. This was very late into MJP HOU’s wine event. It was my 10th glass (small ones), so I was fading a bit.
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Wow. The nose on this is perfect full but not sharp. With some time out of the bittle it mellowed so beautifully. Really a classic Napa cab with a unique finish. Just truly enjoyable. I have to imagine this is near peak drinking window. Maybe not , but opening my last bottle of this vintage won’t be long from now. Raelly fantastic.
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I think it needs more time. Delicious, but not the outstanding bottle I expected. The fruit was there, but the secondary notes were muddled and the finish a bit disjointed.
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Opened for 2 hours and started to drink it but it felt like an Australian Syrah. Not convinced this was what it's meant to be we place it in the decanter for 30 minutes and ohhh boy, it was singing opera! Big, bold, fruit forward with smokes and valley dust. Notes of chocolate and berries. A very VERY long finish of over a minute. This wine will keep on drinking beautifully for many years to come...!!!
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savory herbs, chocolate, coffee, blackberry, pencil shavings, black cherries, vanilla, and baking spice
classic to kalon, although i feel like the mid-palate is a bit lacking. somehow I always feel like what i tasted in barrel is always better than whats in bottle with AO wines.
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Nice dark red color, aroma of raspberry, strong earthy taste and silk finish. It was a great companion to our thanksgiving turkey. Has still room to age further
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This high-toned and rich Cabernet is drinking fine right now, but it still seems a bit tart to be that enjoyable. Dark red in color and medium in body, the wine offers aromas of raspberry, graphite, and cocoa powder. Tastes of black cherry, rhubarb, leather, and rosemary, with a polished though tart finish. 14.9% alcohol. Decant at least an hour. A little better on second day.
This is consistent with the AO style, which - in my mind - seeks balance over depth. Similar to a Mondavi To Kalon, this wine has a tart silkiness that those who prioritize a light mouthfeel should enjoy. I, for one, found myself wanting more ripeness and roundness (i.e., more blue fruit, less red), particularly given the site. Perhaps it will develop more body with time, so maybe wait another year or two to drink.
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Espresso, smoke and black cherry come to the surface. Full bodied, dense and with silky tannins, soft textures, there is freshness, luscious fruits and just a minor a touch of heat in the long, dark, fruit filled finish. This beauty was made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.
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Medium red color. Aromatic with some age. Aromas of mesquite, vanilla and strawberry.
Dry with a light body. Crisp acidity with medium tannins. Fair balance. Flavorful with flavors of red raspberry, green pepper, white pepper and green olives. Medium finish.
Great.
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Super young and wanted to give this a try. Lots of settling down to do but drinking nicely. Cocoa, some red fruit, dusty quality to it and some sweet vanilla and oak. Give this a few years and it will be delicious!!
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Decidedly rich and deep, with a nice push mid-palate that drove the dark berry and currant flavors through to the notably smooth finish. Some chocolate and earth skipping around the perimeter of the core fruit.
A very accessible To Kalon. Similar to the Stagecoach with its dark, chocolate-covered berry flavors. A little more noticeable alcohol, which was actually a welcome addition to the fat fruit. Missing just a touch of complexity, especially when compared to other To Kalons from other winemakers, but otherwise a decent example of the site.
94 points for now.
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5/6/2024 - Roman Empire Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tasting Note 21 of #50in2024
"Highest Beauty" aka To Kalon
It's been two years since I lasted tasted this 2014 AO Beckstoffer to Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon. It again blew me away...
The color of the wine is deep and dark with some ruby on the rim -- which implies this could age much longer! Initial swirls reveal legs hanging on to the glass for dear life (14+ % alcohol)
The nose took some time to develop in the glass -- 30-45 minutes minimum - and revealed dried flowers, deep dark fruit and a bit of spiciness. The nose is big, the kind you can just keep swirling and smelling. Its heaven.
Initial sip revealed low acid and solid tannins for a nice balance. Tones of leather, coffee and DEFINITELY dark chocolate for me! The spiciness of the nose continued on the tongue but not peppery more like baking spices. There's nothing sweet about this wine...its big, bold and beautiful. I find this BIG big - even for a Napa cab. The finish resolves to a tannic fruitiness to a welcomed linger. With time, each sip seems to get better.
This is a wine that makes a statement...A Napa Valley expression of cab that leaves no doubt where its from. It is exactly what it is supposed to be. Wonderful.
I tasted this while preparing Mexican Chicken and rice bowls for dinner -- NOT the pairing I would recommend as its boldness competes with the Mexican flavors and heat.
If you want to make statement and/or enjoy the boldest and one of the best cabernet sauvignon single vineyard wines from Napa -- this is it.
Going to Napa in couple weeks and will buy more!!
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4/7/2024 - gteran76 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tasted at the 5 minutes mark in the decanter and it was a bit mute but clearly showing the direction to "fantastic".
After 30 minutes in the decanter it was ready to rock! The wine is bold, tons of character, plenty of tannins and great structure. The mid palate is excellent and the finish is OMG!
Drink or hold. I wish I had more!
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1/13/2024 - zylmanj Likes this wine: 97 Points
As many have mentioned, the aroma is wonderful and it is enjoyable to just bask in the aroma for a while as you anticipate the upcoming first sip. The taste is magical. The wine is rich, smooth and light on its feet. It has a nice dark cherry overtone with chocolate hints along with a mild but nice spicey note. I have one more, but I wish I had a couple cases. This is a crowd pleaser on steroids. Exceptional wine.
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6/9/2023 - CRL Stc wrote: flawed
Unfortunately, bottle was off - not corked, just never opened up.
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5/22/2023 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 96 Points
2014 is not my favorite vintage, however this Alpha Omega Beckstoffer Cabernet has matured incredibly well over the years and is a pleasure to drink right now. Dark purple ruby color with an alluring violet nose. This wine is great right out of the bottle but a bit of air takes it to another level. There’s dark and elegantly extracted berry fruits, black and blueberry fruit, cassis, dark cherry, a touch of spice with essences of violet aromas that make this wine a delight to drink. The aromas incredible and the finish is long wonderful. This is a fantastic bottle of wine. 96+/ 97 Points.
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5/2/2023 - dkwins Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very smooth, rich dark fruit with a touch of chocolate. 3 hour decant provided long and pleasing finish
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12/31/2022 - Seneg Likes this wine: 94 Points
excellent after carafed for 3 hours
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8/12/2022 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 95 Points
PNP. Chocolate pudding, graham cracker, and black cherry on the nose. Smooth, dry palate. Firm tannins on the longish finish.
Awesome bottle. My notes don’t do it justice and we really should have decanted this. This was very late into MJP HOU’s wine event. It was my 10th glass (small ones), so I was fading a bit.
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3/4/2022 - Roman Empire wrote: 95 Points
Wow. The nose on this is perfect full but not sharp. With some time out of the bittle it mellowed so beautifully. Really a classic Napa cab with a unique finish. Just truly enjoyable. I have to imagine this is near peak drinking window. Maybe not , but opening my last bottle of this vintage won’t be long from now. Raelly fantastic.
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3/14/2021 - fats1976 Likes this wine: 93 Points
I think it needs more time. Delicious, but not the outstanding bottle I expected. The fruit was there, but the secondary notes were muddled and the finish a bit disjointed.
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1/30/2021 - gteran76 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opened for 2 hours and started to drink it but it felt like an Australian Syrah. Not convinced this was what it's meant to be we place it in the decanter for 30 minutes and ohhh boy, it was singing opera! Big, bold, fruit forward with smokes and valley dust. Notes of chocolate and berries. A very VERY long finish of over a minute. This wine will keep on drinking beautifully for many years to come...!!!
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1/28/2021 - pkouchu wrote: 94 Points
savory herbs, chocolate, coffee, blackberry, pencil shavings, black cherries, vanilla, and baking spice
classic to kalon, although i feel like the mid-palate is a bit lacking. somehow I always feel like what i tasted in barrel is always better than whats in bottle with AO wines.
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12/31/2020 - dase13 wrote: 94 Points
Color of dark red. Scents of raspberry. Taste of raspberry and certainly earthiness and medium tannins.
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11/27/2020 - Seneg wrote: 93 Points
Nice dark red color, aroma of raspberry, strong earthy taste and silk finish. It was a great companion to our thanksgiving turkey. Has still room to age further
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11/3/2020 - jnocera Likes this wine: 94 Points
Solid but didn't jump out to me as crazy good like To Kalon normally does.
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9/3/2020 - Tysonsf@yahoo.com Likes this wine: 100 Points
Absolutely amazing
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7/13/2020 - HelenANDTony wrote:
What a lovely aroma! I almost didn’t want to taste it, but I’m glad we did.
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9/5/2019 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 93 Points
A very elegant wine. Silky, and approachable. Cheers
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12/5/2018 - msuwine wrote: 93 Points
This high-toned and rich Cabernet is drinking fine right now, but it still seems a bit tart to be that enjoyable. Dark red in color and medium in body, the wine offers aromas of raspberry, graphite, and cocoa powder. Tastes of black cherry, rhubarb, leather, and rosemary, with a polished though tart finish. 14.9% alcohol. Decant at least an hour. A little better on second day.
This is consistent with the AO style, which - in my mind - seeks balance over depth. Similar to a Mondavi To Kalon, this wine has a tart silkiness that those who prioritize a light mouthfeel should enjoy. I, for one, found myself wanting more ripeness and roundness (i.e., more blue fruit, less red), particularly given the site. Perhaps it will develop more body with time, so maybe wait another year or two to drink.
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1/25/2018 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 92 Points
its crazy how most other wines in this vintage are so drinkable. not this bad boy. hold for 5 years +
That being said , I did get a taste of the future, and its pretty dam good. Cheers
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9/8/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
Espresso, smoke and black cherry come to the surface. Full bodied, dense and with silky tannins, soft textures, there is freshness, luscious fruits and just a minor a touch of heat in the long, dark, fruit filled finish. This beauty was made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.
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4/29/2017 - ColluraJ Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted at the winery.
Medium red color. Aromatic with some age. Aromas of mesquite, vanilla and strawberry.
Dry with a light body. Crisp acidity with medium tannins. Fair balance. Flavorful with flavors of red raspberry, green pepper, white pepper and green olives. Medium finish.
Great.
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10/27/2016 - Griffeyfan04 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Super young and wanted to give this a try. Lots of settling down to do but drinking nicely. Cocoa, some red fruit, dusty quality to it and some sweet vanilla and oak. Give this a few years and it will be delicious!!
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7/5/2016 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
Alpha Omega Single Vineyard Tasting (AO St. Helena): Barrel sample.
Decidedly rich and deep, with a nice push mid-palate that drove the dark berry and currant flavors through to the notably smooth finish. Some chocolate and earth skipping around the perimeter of the core fruit.
A very accessible To Kalon. Similar to the Stagecoach with its dark, chocolate-covered berry flavors. A little more noticeable alcohol, which was actually a welcome addition to the fat fruit. Missing just a touch of complexity, especially when compared to other To Kalons from other winemakers, but otherwise a decent example of the site.
94 points for now.
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5/30/2016 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 94 Points
Same notes as the previous and my favorite of them all. Still quite early in the maturation process but showing nicely.
I think this wine will be a WINNER!93-94 Points at this point.
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4/17/2016 - Yack Man wrote: 94 Points
A very good Beckstoffer out of the barrel (barrel tasting) that is young, big with elegance and finesse. 94 Points
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