There is so much to say about Tor’s Red wines and the outstanding efforts of his winemaking team led by winemaker Jeff Ames. 2013 is no exception…another great vintage in a string of exceptional years for the Napa Valley. Cabernet drinkers will especially love this offer and I think I will have Robert Parker sum up the 2013 Tor wines for you when he says:

“The 2013 Tor Cabernet Sauvignons are the best he has released to date. I thought he hit home runs with many of his 2012s, but he has exceeded those efforts with his 2013 grouping”. The quantity of the 2013 Vintage is not as large as 2012 so wines will be a bit more limited.

I am fortunate to add two additional Cabernets to the offer this year that are normally not available. Please note that these two wines will be allocated based on participation in this year’s offer.

The Wines

2013 Tor Kenward Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon
A Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Red Table wine from
USA, Napa, North Coast, California, USA

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon, or course, comes from that great first-growth vineyard, and what’s not to like, as everyone seems to nail a classic Cabernet from this large holding on the valley floor in Oakville. Deep purple, with notes of creosote, charcoal, blueberry and blackcurrant fruit as well as some licorice and background oak, this wine has great intensity, a magnificent mouthfeel and texture, and a long, long finish.

2013 Tor Kenward Family Vineyards Proprietary Red Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
A Proprietary Blend Dry Red Table wine from
USA, Napa, North Coast, California, USA

A wine to keep an eye out for, as I’m sure it is going to grow in weight and develop more aromatics, is the 2013 Proprietary Red Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard (91% Cabernet Franc). Intense forest floor notes intermixed with black cherry, blackcurrant and raspberry fruit as well as spring flowers are followed by a full-bodied wine displaying a hint of Asian spice. A medium to full-bodied mouthfeel is never heavy or tiring. Drink 2015-2030.

2013 Tor Kenward Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Cimarossa Vineyard
A Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Red Table wine from
USA, Napa, North Coast, California, USA

Slightly more tannic, with mulberry, graphite, and floral notes, the dense purple 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Cimarossa Vineyard comes from high on Howell Mountain (about 2,000-foot elevation), a site Tor Kenward certainly knows well, as fruit from this vineyard often went into the Beringer Private reserve program. This big, full-bodied, structured wine needs another 3-4 years of cellaring and should last 25 or more years.

2013 Tor Kenward Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Tierra Roja
A Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Red Table wine from
USA, Napa, North Coast, California, USA

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Tierra Roja comes from a four-acre vineyard just below the Dalla Valle estate in the Vaca hillsides of the Oakville corridor, where the red soils dominate. This wine is a beauty, showing loads of cedar wood, licorice and dusty, loamy underbrush notes along with oodles of blackberry and cassis fruit. Its beautiful purity, full-bodied mouthfeel, and majestic texture and length all suggest a brilliant future of 15-25 years for this offering.

2013 Tor Kenward Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Melanson Vineyard
A Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Red Table wine from
USA, Pritchard Hill, Napa, California, USA

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Melanson Vineyard comes from very rocky soils high on Pritchard Hill, directly above Colgin’s IX Estate. It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from clone 7. Classic Cabernet notes of tobacco leaf, créme de cassis, blackberry, licorice, camphor and charcoal are all present in this opulent, full-bodied, multi-dimensional wine. This is another stunner from Tor Kenward, who seems to have the Midas touch and insider knowledge to access some incredible terroirs for his wines. This should drink well for at least 25+ years.

2013 Tor Kenward Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
While I have no current review on this wine, I can tell you that supply is extremely limited. Orders may have to be allocated.

Tor says this about this wine: "The 2013 Napa Cabernet shows just how great this vintage was from a valley perspective. This is a blend of Mast in Yountville, Melanson on Pritchard Hill, Tierra Roja in Oakville, and To Kalon in Oakville. The blending of these three different vineyards produced what is easily the best Napa Cabernet we have ever produced. The 2013 Napa Cabernet is immediately drinkable with silky sweet tannins and loads of red fruit. The wood, acidity and tannins are all in perfect balance so all you get is the great blackberry, cherry and sweet vanilla. This is the wine to drink while you wait for your designates to be at peak. Drink this between 2016 and 2020."

The Offer

2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon $175
2013 Proprietary Red Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard (Cabernet Franc) $175
2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Cimarossa Vineyard $150
2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Tierra Roja $150
2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Melanson Vineyard $200
2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $85

Ordering

For all questions and orders, contact Wine Director, Jeff McCarthy. Let us know if you would like your wine shipped or placed in your wine locker. Sales tax and appropriate shipping will be added to all orders. Allow 2-3 weeks for account processing and shipping. During extreme weather, wine orders may be held until it is safe to ship.

Jeff McCarthy, Wine Director 
[email protected]
707.569.2906