Description
Janzen, “Beckstoffer To Kalon” Cabernet Sauvignon
Our first Beckstoffer To Kalon offer. I can’t believe I’m finally able to say those words. This idolized cult vineyard, nestled in the heart of Napa Valley’s Oakville, is home to some of the most agonizingly expensive Cabernet Sauvignon on earth. Assuming you pass Andy Beckstoffer’s interview and agree to his regimented terms, the elite producers (Shrader, Realm, TOR, Paul Hobbs, Carter, etc.) who purchase fruit from this legendary site must brace themselves for a sticker shock that creates an explosive ripple effect for the end consumer.
For those seeking the genuine “To Kalon” experience, nearly every bottle starts at $250 and some soar well beyond $500—that’s just the nature of the valley floor’s most sought-after cult Cabernet. But today, a miraculous $199 opportunity has presented itself in the form of Janzen’s 2019 release: Sourced entirely from To Kalon’s prized, gold-mine “B Block,” this luxurious Cabernet aged 28 months in premium Taransaud oak and was held back an additional year before release. It is impossibly rich and velvet-textured, a Cab hedonist’s dream, and there may be no better word to describe it than “voluptuous.” Best of all, we own the lowest price in the country for the next 48 hours. Should any remain beyond that, they’ll be available in our store, albeit at a substantially higher price. Even if you don’t consider yourself a bonafide collector, I urge you to take full advantage of this limited deal!
Since gallons of ink have been spilled on Andy Beckstoffer, I’ll give a quick summation: When it comes to the contemporary scene of premium Napa Valley sources, no individual has had a greater individual impact. Owner to perhaps the most enviable blue-chip collection of Napa vineyards like Dr. Crane, Bourn, Las Peidras, Georges III, Missouri Hopper, and today’s To Kalon, Andy’s name is synonymous with wine-growing royalty.
Beckstoffer To Kalon in Napa Valley’s Oakville AVA is arguably the granddaddy of them all, with a history that predates any living grandpa. It was first planted by Henry Crabb in the 1860s and, according to Jancis Robinson, “once spann[ed] more than 359 acres and contain[ed] more than 400 different grape varieties.” Legend Andre Tchelistcheff also made wine here in the 1930s, and later on, Robert Mondavi coaxed greatness from it.
In the early 1990s, there was a power shift as Andy Beckstoffer ponied up to purchase 89 acres and planted them overwhelmingly to Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, the predominant owners of To Kalon are Robert Mondavi, Opus One, and Andy Beckstoffer, but Andy’s vines lie entirely within the historic original vineyard.
Janzen, a small label produced under the Bacio Divino estate, has purchased To Kalon grapes since 2004, specifically from the south-facing “B Block” which sits on Oakville’s gravelly, gently sloped west bench. The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested at ripe levels and fermented in tank before being transferred into brand new Taransaud French oak from the Allier and Tronçais forests. After 28 months of maturation in these barrels, the Janzen family did something unprecedented: they bottled the wine and allowed it to age for an additional 12 months before release.
If you were to Google synonyms for “luxurious,” Janzen’s 2019 “To Kalon” would check off every populated result. Yes, these grapes were raised on Napa Valley’s oven-baked floor, yes, the wine crosses into the 15% ABV range, and yes, it was treated with 100% new oak. But that only paints a partial picture. There is legitimate finesse and poise to this hedonistic Cabernet Sauvignon. It is not heavy-handed, “dense,” or overbearing. It spills into a Bordeaux stem with an opaque purple-ruby and viscous tears. The nose erupts with cassis, black raspberry liqueur, plum preserve, licorice, candied violets, pipe tobacco, black stone, dark chocolate, and an enveloping fusion of sweet baking spice. Then there’s the massive, velvety palate that, somehow, at such a young age, reveals a gliding wine with superb freshness and tension. It’s a gloriously silken creation that begs for a special occasion “cheat meal” where liquid calories, carbs, and fats are thrown out the window. Enjoy responsibly!
