2014 Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Community Tasting Notes (2) Avg Score: 97 points

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  9/29/2020 - Geaux Tigers Likes this wine: 98 Points

  90 min decant. Oak receded, no tannins in the way, but seamlessly form a nice structural backbone for this goddess of a wine. I was surprised how ready this was at 90 min, only marginal improvement with air, maybe a point or so, and held position as we drank.
  
  Opaque black purple in color, with only a little transparency at the edges. Inky, viscous texture yet light flowing across the palate. Initial nose of spice and red fruit, hint of licorice, touch of dried wildflowers. It has elements of “that BTK nose” that I can never seem to define in any consistent manner whatsoever, yet can pick out blind.
  
  Primarily red berries and some dark berry fruit, dark chocolate covered cherries, a menagerie of other flavors dancing along to a 30 second finish (reminds me of an ‘09 Realm BTK that killed it several years ago). There is a lovely mineral streak from the mid palate to the end that seems to provide a highway for the the menagerie. Drank better at cooler / cellar temps so had to keep decanter cool even inside (Fall is here in TX, but that only means evenings in the upper 70s, not lower 90s). I was enjoying being outside so had many smaller pours to avoid warming effects.
  
  I consider BTK a first growth site in Napa and this bottle further solidified that opinion. Premier terroir that great winemakers use to make outstanding wines. This is that. Kudos to Vice Versa here, cannot wait to try the ‘16s and ‘18s after they slumber a bit more.
  
  As I drank this, I kept coming back to two words—precision and balance. The nose and palate are pointed, precise, but not overpowering, the mineral streak keeps the fruit in check, the fruit brings out the mineral streak. Is this hedonistic but restrained? Is this restrained but hedonsitic? Fruit bombers will hate it, BDX lovers will hate it. Both will love it. Me, I just had a great bottle of wine!

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  10/3/2017 - csimm wrote: 95 Points

  Vice Versa (Saint Helena): A wonderfully balanced version of To Kalon. Not overtly flavor-blasted or extracted the way some versions of BTK can end up. Haunting and dark with still a finessed lift that elevates the core fruit, providing the perfect amount of energy and drive though the finish. Dark black cherry, black raspberry, black currant, cassis, spicebox, and hints of smoked brisket and vanillin-laced cedar.
  
  What I appreciated even more about this wine was that it (like all of VV's 2014s) had a precise, yet silky focus, and did not veer anywhere near the muddled boundaries of overblown sweetness or richness. Some 2014s have been so flamboyant that they have come off a little sloppy. This wine maintains focus while simultaneously delivering wonderfully tiered core fruit flavors. 95+ points, with certain upside after 2019.

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