2008 SCHRADER T6 CABERNET SAUVIGNON Vineyard:     Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, Oakville Varietal:       100% Cabernet Sauvignon Clone:          Clone 6 Aging:          20 months on average Cooperage:  Darnajou and Taransaud

PRESS NOTES ON SCHRADER T6 CABERNET SAUVIGNON:

2008 SCHRADER T6 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
Rated (94-96+) 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 T6 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
Rated 97+ Pts. The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard T6 (clone 6) undergoes a barrel aging regime of 20 months in 90% new Darnajou and 10% new Taransaud barrels. More backward and tightly-knit than the RBS, it offers hints of charcoal, burning embers, blackberries, and cassis in its tannic, powerful, structured personality. In short, none of these 2007s lack structure or concentration, but the T6 should not be touched for at least 7-8 years. It is a brilliant effort boasting super purity, texture, length, and concentration that is capable of 30+ years of evolution. (Robert M. Parker, The Wine Advocate)



2006 SCHRADER T6 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
Rated 99 Pts. A masterpiece. Capturing currant and blackberry fruit at the zenith of ripeness, this is smooth, plush and layered, with a mix of mocha, black cherry, currant and wild berry all flowing together in a steady stream. Firms up nicely on the finish, yet the flavors keep rushing through. Best from 2010 through 2018. (James Laube, Wine Spectator)

Rated 98 Pts. The similarly-styled 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To-Kalon T6 displays extraordinary focus and precision along with lavish amounts of creme de cassis fruit intermixed with smoked herbs, milk chocolate, and burning embers. Powerful yet silky-textured and sumptuously rich, this is another stunner to drink over the next 20-25 years. 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. (Robert M. Parker, The Wine Advocate)



2005 SCHRADER T6 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
Rated 97 Pts. Powerful, dark, superrich and deeply concentrated. Massive yet elegant, with a dense core of mocha-laced currant, blackberry, wild berry and toasty, cedary oak. Finishes with a long, intense and persistent finish. (James Laube, Wine Spectator)

Rated 95 Pts. The dense purple-colored, more powerful 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon T6 (clone 6 of Cabernet Sauvignon) offers notions of sweet cassis interwoven with charcoal, spring flowers, and toasty oak. Ripe, opulent, fleshy, and full-bodied, it is surprisingly approachable for a 2005, and should drink beautifully for two decades.(Robert M. Parker, The Wine Advocate)



2003 SCHRADER T6 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
Rated 94 Pts. Dense and chewy, with a rich, massive core of earthy currant, wild berry, cedar and rye, it firms up on the finish, with taut tannins that offer a hint of chicory. The finish keeps revealing extra flavor nuances. Best from 2008 through 2013. (James Laube, Wine Spectator)

Rated 92 Pts. The backward, tannic 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon T-6 (Clone 6 from the Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard) comes across as Bordeaux-like because of the tannic structure. It is bigger, richer, and fuller-bodied than the RBS, with tremendous depth, power, and concentration, but it is more of a long-term proposition than something for immediate gratification. This wine requires 2-3 years of bottle age and should drink well for 15-20 years. (Robert M. Parker, The Wine Advocate)