A world-class producer of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, TOR is a namesake winery for Tor Kenward who spent 26 years building Beringer Vineyards into the wine juggernaut that it is today. As their vice president he was instrumental in helping create that brand into national prominence before retiring in 2001. For years the Beringer Reserve wines were truly some of the finest in Napa and Tor played a major role in that project. Beringer actually paid for Tor to study viticulture and enology following his retirement, as Tor built his brand as an ultra-premium producer single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons, sourcing from the top blocks within premium sites throughout Napa Valley. The current TOR lineup sources from esteemed sites such as Beckstoffer To Kalon, Vine Hill Ranch and Tierra Roja in Oakville, and Melanson on Pritchard Hill. These wines have really spoken to me for years. I love their polish, their texture and sense of place. For my palate, this is some of the finest expressions of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon that you will find in the entire valley.
The new releases that I tasted come from the warm 2021 vintage. Don’t miss out on the 2021 TOR ‘Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 99) which flirts with perfection. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://torwines.com Here are the gorgeous new wines by TOR.
2021 TOR ‘Melanson Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This incredible 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from the Melanson Vineyard which is located on Pritchard Hill, and set on very rocky soils. This edition is 100% varietal and was stored in 80% new Taransaud French oak barrels before bottling. It is a masterpiece by winemaker Jef Ames and proprietor Tor Kenward. Very inky in the glass, this offers wet gravel and creme de violette aromatics that leap out of the glass, alongside shades of creosote and sandalwood. The palate offers a seductive texture, with a bright beam of acidity that runs through the generous core of mocha with black and blue fruit flavors, with salty and stony accents. With more air, notes of lavender and crushed mint enter the fray. The combination of concentration, texture and underlying finesse really drives this wine that flirts with perfection. Truly a joy to consume in its heady youth, this stunning Cabernet Sauvignon will shine on for decades to come. Drink 2023-2045- 99
2021 TOR ‘Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- One of the finest new world wines that I have tasted in the past year, the 2021 TOR ‘Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a masterclass from this famed Napa house. This wine comes from the famed vineyard that was planted in 1868 and acquired by Andy Beckstoffer in 1993. The wine has as small portion of Cabernet Franc blended in, as this spent 31 days fermenting and then was stored for twenty months in 80% new French oak barrels before bottling. Needing an hour in the decanter to be fully expressive, once aroused this unveils layers of freshly tilled loamy soil aromas alongside dried herbs, creme de cassis and suggestions of espresso grounds that all sing in unison. The palate is soft and initing with an opulent texture and refined structure. Dense, yet showing a weightless appearance once on the palate, this is pure class and liquid velvet on the mouth. Enjoy this head-turning Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon now and over the next twenty plus years. Drink 2023-2045- 99