Wines - 2023 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon, Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Situated on the western Oakville bench, the celebrated Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard has gravelly loam soils with high mineral content derived from sedimentary deposits of the volcanic Mayacamas Mountains and the alluvial fan of the Napa River. The vineyard has low organic matter content and thorough drainage, which devigorates the vines and produces small berries that are ideal for wines with intense concentration. The site is warm and sunny throughout the day, but cooled by late afternoon breezes, producing ripe Cabernet Sauvignon with lovely acidity. The blocks that make up our blend represent a diverse array of the Beckstoffer To Kalon terroir and clonal selection, creating a unique and extraordinary wine from this critically praised site.

In the cool darkness of night, grapes were hand-picked into small twenty-five-pound bins to minimize crushing. By early morning, the grapes were subjected to rigorous selection by our three-tiered sorting process, which includes our innovative optical sorter and a slow, individual berry hand sort. Whole berries were gently delivered by gravity to tank by our unique crane system, which kept the berries intact. Cold soaks lasted from five to eight days, and fermentations were managed through a combination of pump-overs and délestage. Extended maceration of up to six weeks ensured exceptional extraction and fine-tuning of tannin profiles. This wine underwent twenty-one months of élevage in French oak barrels, 81% of which were new.

The delicious 2023 Beckstoffer To Kalon opens with a complex tapestry of blackberry liqueur, crème de cassis, and violet, layered with savory hints of grilled steak, lavender, and warm spice. On the palate, the wine is elegant yet plush, where precise flavors of dark berry preserves meet a distinct earthy core of gravelly loam and fig. Undeniably age-worthy, the wine’s refined structure and seamless polish lead to a persistent finish marked by iron and subtle cracked pepper. – Christopher Tynan, Director of Winemaking