2017 RBS


When tasting the 2017 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS, our team all arrived with one word summary - WOW! Extremely rich, dense, and focused the 2017 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS is a stunner and puts on a display of the beautiful fruit that clone 337 has to offer. Flavors of raspberry and blueberry dance upon the palate finishing with subtle oak spice and a touch of sweet licorice that merge seamlessly.

  • Vintage 2017
  • Alcohol 14.5%
  • Vineyard Beckstoffer To Kalon
  • Appellation Oakville, Napa Valley
  • Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Clone Pure Clone 337
  • Cooperage Aged 20 months in rare Darnajou French oak barrels
  • Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown
  • Tasting Notes

    When tasting this newest vintage of Schrader RBS, our team all arrived with one word summary - WOW! Extremely rich, dense, and focused the Schrader RBS is a stunner and puts on a display of the beautiful fruit that clone 337 has to offer. Flavors of raspberry and blueberry dance upon the palate finishing with subtle oak spice and a touch of sweet licorice that merge seamlessly.

  • Accolades

    96 Pts. “Lots of flowers, such as violets and lilacs on the nose, as well as blue fruit. Medium to full body and firm, silky tannins that are polished and refined. Tight and focused. Lovely finish. Drink now or hold.”
    — James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com

    96 Pts. “More black fruits, tobacco, chocolate, and earthy notes emerge from the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS, but it’s a similarly textured, sexy, opulent wine on the palate. All Cabernet aged 20 months in 95% new French oak, this full-bodied, concentrated 2017 has terrific tannins, a balanced, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. It too is destined for 15-20 years of prime drinking.”
    — Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com

  • Vineyard

    First planted in 1868 by viticultural and winemaking icon Hamilton Crabb, To Kalon Vineyard® has long been regarded as the source of Napa Valley’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Within the prime vineyard blocks, an alluvial fan provides excellent and varied mineral deposits, and the rich soils are filled with marine sediment that gives our wines their distinctive profiles. The vines receive full sun and optimal heat during the day and are cooled by marine fog at night. These conditions allow the Cabernet Sauvignon planted in the vineyard to display its own unique character, and this celebration of individuality is the essence of Schrader ®.

  • Vintage

    Spring of 2017 was one of the largest winter rainfall totals we have experienced in recent years. Fortunately, once flowering started, the rains held off and allowed for optimal fruit set and prepared the clusters for even fruit ripening. Veraison finished at the end of August and the vines were positioned for success. Due to a combination of natural phenomena, the yields in 2017 are slightly lower and nearly matched to those that we produced in 2016 and 2015. This lower than average yield allowed for greater concentration on the vine providing the wines with more depth of character and rich complexity.