For more than a decade I have enjoyed the brilliant wines of TOR. A Napa Valley icon, Tor Kenward spent 26 years building Beringer Vineyards. As their vice president he was instrumental in helping develop the 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.
I have loved these wines for many years. I was blown away with the overall quality of the new wines. Do not miss on the 2022 TOR ‘Cuvee Torchiana’ Chardonnay (OB, 96) which is silky and refined, showing great concentration. I adored the world-class 2021 TOR ‘Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) which is a must purchase for any serious collector of Napa Cabernet. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://torwines.com Here are the gorgeous new wines by TOR.
2022 TOR ‘Cuvee Torchiana’ Chardonnay- The sensational 2022 TOR ‘Cuvee Torchiana’ Chardonnay is a standout wine made in a tough vintage for white wines, with heat spikes near harvest. This 2022 TOR revels in its deep, golden color in the glass, coming up opulent and seamless on the mid-palate. Heady grilled pineapple and mango flavors collide with minerals and shades of papaya on the palate. Rich and layered, this is a gorgeous bottling that has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2024-2033- 96
2022 TOR ‘Cuvee Susan’ Chardonnay- The incredible 2022 ‘Cuvee Susan’ is sourced from the famed Hyde Vineyard in the Carneros AVA. This windswept location is known for heavy morning fog and cool nights which result in a long growing season. This has incredible body and underlying finesse. Rich honeydew melon and salted Macadamia nut flavors combine with shades of buttered French bread on the palate. The finish just won’t quit. What a stunning wine from a really difficult vintage with heat spikes at harvest. Bravo! Drink 2024-2033- 97
2021 TOR ‘Vaca Ridge Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The Vaca Ridge Vineyard is set on very rocky soils that overlook the valley floor. Once on the nose this is highly expressive, offering wet rock and creosote tones that combine with boysenberry cordial, mocha and espresso grounds. The palate is soft and seamless throughout the drinking experience, as this wine creates a very weightless effect. Showing great length and viscosity, with salty and stony undertones, and bright underlying acidity. Enjoy this beautiful wine over the next twenty plus years. Drink 2024-2048- 98
2021 TOR ‘Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ethereal 2021 TOR ‘Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is equally good as the otherworldly 2019 bottling. It is a joy to go back to after first tasting. Very inky in the glass, this is highly perfumed with loamy soils that combine with creme de cassis, anise, Black Forest cake and suggestions of tar. The palate is utterly seamless, showing great flavor density, richness and bright tension that makes this glide throughout the drinking experience. Kudos to Jeff Ames and the winemaking team in crafting this total stunner. Just an infant now, it will be exceedingly fun to see this evolve over the next twenty five years. Drink 2024-2050- 100
2021 TOR ‘Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A gorgeous wine made by TOR, the ‘Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard’ comes from this site that was first planted by Dr. George Belden Crane in 1858. Remarkably it was during the 1920's that the Chinatown of the City of St. Helena was located on the site. This comes off very heady and dense on the palate, with serious verve. Mocha, tar, exotic spices and rich dark fruits all parade on the palate, with a seamless texture and gorgeous sense of length. A total stunner, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next twenty plus years to come. Drink 2024-2045- 98