2008 SCHRADER GIII CABERNET SAUVIGNON Vineyard:     Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard, Rutherford Varietal:       100% Cabernet Sauvignon Clone:          Clone 337 Aging:          20 months on average Cooperage:  Darnajou and Taransaud

PRESS NOTES ON SCHRADER GIII CABERNET SAUVIGNON:

2008 SCHRADER GIII CABERNET SAUVIGNON, Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard
Rated (95-97) Pts. The 2008 Schrader Cabernet Sauvignons were undoubtedly the finest 2008 Napa Cabernets I tasted. Thomas Brown told me it was the second straight drought year, and while there were some heat spikes, overall it was a warm year. Nearly all of the 2008 offerings possesses a slight degree of higher alcohol, but that component is not detectable. The wines reveal showy personalities, and even more flamboyance than the 2007s. At this stage, less minerality as well as more structure are present, and the wines seem fleshier, more flamboyant and even more opulent than the extraordinary 2007s. There is the potential for two perfect 2008s, the Cabernet Sauvignon CCS and Cabernet Sauvignon Schrader, as well as three upper 90-point wines, the T6, RBS, and George III. When all the dust settles many years from now, I suspect 2008 may turn out – at least for Schrader – as great as 2007. Last year the 2007s seemed more grapy and less nuanced than the 2006s, but one would not make that statement tasting the 2007s out of bottle as they are quite structured, and exhibit great minerality, complexity, and potential. The 2008s are gorgeously fruity, rich, and opulent at present. In another year they should be far more delineated and complex. (Robert M. Parker, The Wine Advocate)



2007 SCHRADER GIII CABERNET SAUVIGNON, Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard
Rated 97+ Pts. The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer George III Vineyard comes from clone 337, from a Beckstoffer-owned vineyard in Rutherford. Its dense purple color is followed by a big, sweet nose of black cherries, black currants, cedar, spice box, and subtle oak. Enormously concentrated and full-bodied with superb minerality as well as tannic structure, it will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age, and should evolve for three decades. (Robert M. Parker, The Wine Advocate)



2006 SCHRADER GIII CABERNET SAUVIGNON, Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard
Rated 96 Pts. Seductive in its overlay of rich, concentrated flavors, with enticing jazzy toasty-creamy oak draped over rich currant, black cherry and blackberry fruit that's tight and focused. Ends with mouthcoating ripe tannins that have great traction. Best from 2010 through 2018. (James Laube, Wine Spectator)

Rated 95 Pts. As I wrote last year, this is a fascinating portfolio of 100% Cabernet Sauvignons all of them from Beckstoffer-owned vineyards, including the To-Kalon Vineyard in Oakville, and one wine from the George III Vineyard in Rutherford. All the wines are aged in 100% new French oak, usually a combination of Darnajou and Taransaud barrels, with a higher percentage of Darnajou used for the T6, CCS, Old Sparky, and Schrader. The different bottlings are essentially based on specific blocks and/or specific clones of Cabernet Sauvignon. In short, I think the 2006s are arguably the finest wines of the vintage, and the 2007s appear to be as profound.

The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer George III Vineyard offers an extraordinary bouquet of creme de cassis, scorched earth, and burning embers as well as full-bodied power, velvety tannins, and exceptional density and richness. This superb wine exhibits layered extravagance and sweet tannins, a rarity in this vintage. It is already drinking well. (Robert M. Parker, The Wine Advocate)