The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard boasts surprising density power and richness. Complex, graceful and deftly balanced, offering ripe currant and red berry flavors, with touches of cedar and licorice. Long and lingering on the finish.
Reviews:
- Vinous: The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard boasts surprising density power and richness. Mocha, espresso, plums, new leather, licorice and spices all meld together in a wine of volume, power and pure texture.
- James Suckling: Unusually supple and refined for the vintage, almost Pinot-like in silkiness, this is fun and easy to drink. Complex, graceful and deftly balanced, offering ripe currant and red berry flavors, with touches of cedar and licorice. Long and lingering on the finish.
Producer Information
Realm Cellars is a Napa Valley producer with a winery and estate vineyards in Stags Leap District. The operation is known for its powerful Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines from premium vineyards, and is quickly becoming one of Napa’s cult producers. There is a devoted mailing list following, and much of the wine is sold directly to members, or to restaurants.The business was founded in 2002 by Juan Mercado and Wendell Laidley as a virtual winery, using five tons of fruit from each of Beckstoffer To Kalon and Dominus Estate’s Napanook vineyards. Other vineyards such as Beckstoffer Dr Crane and Farella were added as sources in following years.The wines were initially made at Sherwin Family Vineyards on Spring Mountain. Vinification later moved to Chateau Boswell near St Helena.Realm now also owns its own vineyard, after acquiring Hartwell Estate Vineyards in Stags Leap District in late 2015. From the 2016 vintage, the wines have been made at the former Hartwell winery. Today, half the production is evenly split between single-vineyard wines and propietary blends from sites all over Napa.Then in 2020 Realm added a further two adjacent parcels to their estate holding. These extra 5 acres (2ha) had been part of the original Hartwell property, and are earmarked for a future “Hartwell Vineyard” bottling.
