Williams-Selyem Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper 2019

96 points Erin Brooks (Wine Advocate): "The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard is the first commercial release of a Cabernet Sauvignon from Williams Selyem. It's a lovely first rendition that embraces the elegant character of the 2019 vintage in Napa. It has an opaque purple-black color and slowly unfurling aromas of red cherry jam, lavender, tobacco, game meats and cedar. Like Williams Selyem's Pinot Noirs, the full-bodied palate is texturally notable, its abundant tannins very finely grained. It offers surprising bursts of mouthwatering acidity, and its 100% new French oak is already integrating nicely. The long finish boasts an array of floral and spicy sparks, and its freshness leaves you wanting more. Drink: 2025-2040. (6/15/23)"

94 points James Suckling: "Expressive fresh tobacco leaves and peppery green notes followed by lush black fruits, crushed graphite rocks and blanched almonds with a hint of vanilla beans. Full-bodied wine with firm yet fine-grained tannins with refreshing acidity that gives a charming freshness to the mid-palate and finish. Softness at the end with just a hint of vanilla. Need three to four years to come together. (11/20/23)"

Producer notes: "The inaugural offering of the Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard is nothing short of spectacular. This historic vineyard in the Oakville district stands equally with the other great vineyards in the Napa Valley. The nose leads with classic Cabernet aromas of boysenberry and is cloaked in hints of cedar, tobacco and savory herbs. Highlights of lavender add to the intriguing and mysterious aromatics. Located in the foothill in the southwest corner of the Oakville district, the microclimate is near perfect with the confluence of a cooler, windier site and gravelly, loam soils eroded from the Mayacamas. The wine is palate staining with a kaleidoscope of flavors and textures. Made using traditional Williams Selyem Pinot Noir technique, Cabernet Sauvignon from this site is transformed into an intense but elegant expression. Blue and black fruit flavors mix with notes of tobacco with a citrus peel and floral lift in the mid-palate. While exuberant and enticing today, it will benefit with a few more years of age. Alcohol 14.8%."