Historical records show that a portion of this vineyard was planted in 1895 by Mrs. Thomas Rutherford. This 300-acre parcel first purchased by Beaulieu founder Georges de Latour in 1928 and called Beaulieu Vineyard Number 3, was the home to BV’s Rutherford Cabernets made by the renowned winemaker André Tchelistcheff. These wines achieved wide acclaim in the 1960s and ’70s, establishing BV’s pre-eminence in the making of fine Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Purchased by Beckstoffer Vineyards in 1988, the vineyard has since been replanted using new Cabernet Sauvignon clones with tighter spacing and advanced trellising systems, enhancing both quality and grape tonnage.

After our 12-year partnership at Stagecoach Vineyard, we set out with a simple mission: find the best Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in Napa Valley. Our research took us to Beckstoffer Vineyards. That said, you can’t just go knock on Andy or Dave Becksoffer’s door and request grapes. We had multiple very well-respected and accomplished winemakers who are currently clients reach out to vouch for us. These personal referrals, along with our own portfolio wines, got us in the door. After a few “interviews”, we were set for our first vintage, 2016.

We have our own block, B2b, which is dedicated to Clone 7 on 110R rootstock. Row directions were replanted to more East-West for favorable and evening ripening in late afternoon summer afternoons. Due to our Vineyard Designate Acreage Contract, we are able to control all farming practices such as green thinning, canopy control, clusters per shoot/spur, irrigation, and ultimately yield control. We found the best Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in the Valley, next is making the best damn Cab in the Valley!

2018 was a great and consistent vintage and this wine represents the vintage and vineyard well. The wine offers a richer dark fruit character with a tobacco and cocoa powder that is often associated with Rutherford Dust. It is a full-bodied wine with a well-integrated tannin structure and a ripe balanced structure that lasts through the elegant finish. Young though approachable, the wine will continue to develop offer the next several years to a decade.