The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoff Dr. Crane Vineyard is another sensational wine from winemaker Mike Smith. Offering an undeniably Graves-like smoked earth and gravelly mineral-like quality (wines from this vineyard often remind me of older vintages of La Mission Haut-Brion) as well as powerful blackcurrant, black cherry, chocolate, Asian spice, and graphite aromas and flavors, this stunner is full-bodied, deep, opulent, and concentrated on the palate. While it doesn’t have the sheer precision nor the massive concentration of the Elysian release, it’s more opulent, sexy, and hedonistic while still showing incredible finesse and elegance. It’s drinking better today than the Elysian version and will continue blowing people’s minds for another 20-25 years or more.

(98 points) The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard tastes like a California version of a La Mission Haut-Brion. Blueberry and blackberry fruit, wet gravel, crushed-rock notes and white flowers are followed by a full-bodied, elegant wine - with not the level of concentration of the Georges III, but with seemingly more ethereal and sublime subtleties and nuances. This is a stunner with sweet tannin that is beautifully, rich full and long. It should drink well for 20-25 years.