Memento Mori
Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
Such a love/hate relationship with the fancy tissue paper on bottles. I was under the impression I was opening their cab blend from 2014, not their single vineyard Dr Crane. I don’t know if the tissue paper is different, but I figured after tearing away the paper, maybe it was meant to be that this was the bottle to open...lucky me! About 100 cases, and the first vintage this wine was produced, I believe.
I’m between a 94-95 here. Having never had this wine before (though I really enjoyed their silky 2014 cab), but knowing Dr Crane is my favorite vineyard, I had high expectations. I wasn’t in a place to be able to decant this and give it the time it deserved, unfortunately, but figured the rich and open knit nature of Napa’s 2014 vintage would be to my benefit. I found this to be a solid expression of Beckstoffer Dr Crane...near purple/black in the glass with explosive aromatics. Juniper, violets, charcoal, stone, mocha, black currant, blackberry and unabashedly dark. Much of that translate to the palate...a core of dark fruits and beautiful floral notes with a spine of “minerality”. This is a big wine, and obviously improved the longer it was open. I was able to cork this and come back to it a couple hours later and it was more layered, with chewy tannins (to be expected). Although I wish I would have known I was opening this so that I could have been more prepared, it was certainly delicious. Decant for 2-3hrs if opening now, or hold a couple more years.
Such a love/hate relationship with the fancy tissue paper on bottles. I was under the impression I was opening their cab blend from 2014, not their single vineyard Dr Crane. I don’t know if the tissue paper is different, but I figured after tearing away the paper, maybe it was meant to be that this was the bottle to open...lucky me! About 100 cases, and the first vintage this wine was produced, I believe.
I’m between a 94-95 here. Having never had this wine before (though I really enjoyed their silky 2014 cab), but knowing Dr Crane is my favorite vineyard, I had high expectations. I wasn’t in a place to be able to decant this and give it the time it deserved, unfortunately, but figured the rich and open knit nature of Napa’s 2014 vintage would be to my benefit. I found this to be a solid expression of Beckstoffer Dr Crane...near purple/black in the glass with explosive aromatics. Juniper, violets, charcoal, stone, mocha, black currant, blackberry and unabashedly dark. Much of that translate to the palate...a core of dark fruits and beautiful floral notes with a spine of “minerality”. This is a big wine, and obviously improved the longer it was open. I was able to cork this and come back to it a couple hours later and it was more layered, with chewy tannins (to be expected). Although I wish I would have known I was opening this so that I could have been more prepared, it was certainly delicious. Decant for 2-3hrs if opening now, or hold a couple more years.
leon had this 5 years ago
leon had this 5 years ago
1 person found it helpfulDec 7th, 2018
Sophisticated bouquet! Oak and dark fruit with plentiful tannins. Superb wine that probably benefits from another 5-10 years in the cellar. My rating is on promise!
Sophisticated bouquet! Oak and dark fruit with plentiful tannins. Superb wine that probably benefits from another 5-10 years in the cellar. My rating is on promise!
Nov 23rd, 2023
Felt like for the price point it did not deliver. Still enjoyed it.
Felt like for the price point it did not deliver. Still enjoyed it.
Jun 17th, 2021
