2016 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon, Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, 1.5L
available
The 2016 To Kalon's fresh acidity carries the unctuous flavors along enthusiastically, and the ultrafine, sensuous tannin are impossible to resist.
Wine Specs
Vintage
2016
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Oakville
Vineyard Designation
Beckstoffer To Kalon
Bottling Date
July 2018
Alcohol %
15.1
Wine Spectator
95
Wine Profile
Vineyard Notes
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.
Production Notes
In the cool darkness of night, grapes were hand-picked into 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 cutting edge optical sorter, and a slow, individual berry hand sort. The fruit was gently gravity-delivered to small tanks and wooden cuves 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.
Winemaker Notes
The well drained, gravelly loam soils of western Oakville that are the source for our To Kalon Vineyard give this Cabernet’s signature aromas of violets, gravel, and dark cassis. The 2016 vintage is brimming with gobs of warm currants, dark chocolate cake, lavender, and an earthy minerality, that arise and coalesce in the glass. Flavors of clove and cinnamon-spiced blackberry preserves spring forth along the sultry palate.