2009 Realm Cellars, Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville 1x750ml

Robert Parker 94

The more exuberant yet still tannic, full-bodied, powerful 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard offers sweet creme de cassis, Christmas fruitcake, licorice and espresso notes in a full-bodied, deep, multilayered style with sensational ripeness and texture as well as a beautiful finish. The tannins are present, but there is enough lavish fruit to easily balance them out. While approachable, this beauty will be better in 4-5 years and should last for two decades or more. [Robert Parker, 10/01/2013]

Anticipated maturity: 2017-2037

Vinous 93+

(at 14.9% alcohol, this is the ripest of Realm’s 2009 red wines): Bright full ruby-red. Aromas of crushed cassis, violet, licorice pastille and minerals. Seamless, dense and highly concentrated, with lovely inner-mouth perfume to the classic cabernet flavors of cassis, licorice and bitter chocolate. Finishes with fine-grained but rather powerful tannins and superb chocolatey persistence. More medicinal and backward today than the Dr. Crane cabernet, this should be even better with several years of bottle aging. [Stephen Tanzer, 01/05/2012]