2019 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
Community Tasting Note
csimm wrote:
Monday, June 6, 2022 - Christopher Tynan: I love Tynan’s take on To Kalon, with a serious cut instantly reminding me of a MACDONALD-esque physique and intensity that showcase some of the frame and fortitude that is sometimes missing in the overly ripe and gushing-hot versions from other producers that can override the true terroir of the TK vineyard. In young Cliff Lede style, this leads from the frame, hits you with a solid dose of black minerality, and then fires off with an acute blast of dark soil-laden berry fruit. It doesn’t have the layering that the other-worldly ’19 Songbook currently exhibits, but the TK will surely become less sinewy with another 7+ years in-bottle. It’s a bit of a steely display, which strikes at the fruit a bit and keeps the core from unleashing and expanding, but boy oh boy is there drive and focus that make this a wine for the ages. If you want right-now-melting-ice-cream-ravenous-fruit-bomb style, this ain’t it. This wine will straight snipe you for even looking at it sideways or thinking it’s a puppy to play with. Serious business here.
If you want a wine that makes you feel inferior because it is clearly more awesome and street-fighter than you (and it knows it), pick up a few of these bad boys. Don’t forget to grab a pack of diapers on the way home… and call your therapist. Hold bottles until your kid finishes med school. 96++ points. Tasted twice on separate occassions.
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2 comments have been posted
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Comment posted by Sdr69:
8/28/2023 4:56:00 AM - Thanks for the notes on this CSIMM. It's really remarkable how these '19s are still available. Any chance to try the '18s for comparison?
Comment posted by csimm:
9/1/2023 9:14:00 AM - Hey there! I can’t recall having the 2018 TK, so unfortunately I can’t compare. I can say I’ve actually been driven to the Songbook a hair more lately. That said, I think Tynan’s take on TK is always pretty spot on and never overblown the way some other Beckstoffer iterations can be. :)