To Kalon Vineyard Highest Beauty, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, California, United States 2019

Description

Wine Info:

The goal for our namesake wine is working with To Kalon Vineyard® as a
whole, crafting a wine from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, while capturing
the purity, intensity, and diversity of this special terroir. With soft tannins,
plenty of structure, richness, and aromatic excitement, this wine tells the
story of the nearly ideal 2018 growing season. The grapes were harvested
at night to preserve the freshness of the fruit. Careful sorting and a long,
slow fermentation and maceration round out the wine and bring forward
the broad spectrum of flavors and aromas inherent in this noble variety.

James Suckling 98

“Black olives, blackberries and blackcurrants, as well as asphalt, lead
pencil, crushed stone and oyster shell. Full-bodied with chewy and juicy
tannins that are spread across the palate. Fuller and more flavorful
than the 2018. Plush and dry, velvety texture. This needs at least
five years to open. Try after 2027.”

Wine Spectator 97

“Boasting tiers of cassis, plum, mulberry and black cherry fruit stacked
upon each other, this towering example relies on purity and focus as
much as power, thanks to racy yet deeply embedded acidity as well as
enticing violet and iron notes that fill in throughout. Rather than
just lingering, the fruit ripples with underlying energy through the
lengthy finish. Outright gorgeous. Best from 2024 through 2040.
From California.”—

H.W. Crabb came to California looking for gold but stayed to become
one of the pioneers of Napa Valley winemaking. He named his estate
To Kalon Vineyard, Greek for Highest Beauty, because of the lush bounty
it provided. Soon, his wines became renowned around the world. And
over the last 150 years, the vineyard’s consistent fine quality has made
it one of the most coveted in the world.
Sited between the sheltering Vaca and Mayacamas mountain ranges deep
in the valley, the vineyard has well-drained, gravelly soil that allows the
vines to root deeply to find precious moisture and nutrients. The broad
diurnal temperature shifts and reliable sun, wind, and fog provide the
ideal blend of growth and rest for complex flavor development.

The grapes were macerated on the skins for almost 30 days on average
to fully burnish the tannins and maximize the potential of the vineyard.
The wine was then aged for 20 months in new French oak, further
polishing the texture and adding new layers of complexity. Deep and
energetic with powerful character, this wine is built to age for decades,
but will certainly please a crowd whenever it is opened.