Here are the stunning new releases by TOR from the 2024 vintage.
Tor Kenward is one of the great talents in the Napa Valley and spent a remarkable 26 years building Beringer Vineyards. Serving as their vice president he helped 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. This electric lineup sources from famed sites such as Beckstoffer To Kalon, Vine Hill Ranch and Tierra Roja in Oakville, and Melanson on Pritchard Hill.
TOR makes some of the best Chardonnay in the Napa Valley and I adored the new 2024 TOR ‘Cuvee Torchiana’ Chardonnay (OB, 96) which is nervy with terrific texture and tension. I was once again blown away with the 2024 TOR ‘Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) which is an otherworldly wine that has some serious aging potential. Learn more about these dazzling wines at https://torwines.com Here are the gorgeous new wines by TOR.
2024 TOR ‘Cuvee Torchiana’ Chardonnay- A stunning edition of this wine, the 2024 TOR ‘Cuvee Torchiana’ was sourced from Chardonnay vines planted back in 1988 at the Beresini Vineyard. Once on the nose this takes on layers of brioche and banana that combine with white peach, ginger and shades of cardamom drenched Japanese pear. The palate is dense and delicious with amazing salty tension and weight. Glorious to enjoy now, watch this evolve over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2026-2036- 96
2024 TOR ‘Cuvee Susan’ Chardonnay- The 2024 ‘Cuvee Susan’ is a barrel selection wine from the famed ‘Hyde Vineyard’ in the Carneros region. Golden n the glass, this exudes class with its aromatic range from tropical, melon and even citrus fruits that mingle well with beautiful white florals. The palate is dense and delicious with a seamless texture as this simply glides throughout the drinking experience. An otherworldly bottling, enjoy nw and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2026-2038- 97
2024 TOR ‘Oakville’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2024 ‘Oakville’ Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from Double H Ranch (Harter) Vineyard on the western slopes of the Vaca Range and Renteria 360 Vineyard on Skellenger Lane in northeastern Oakville. This shows allspice dusted black currants, mocha, tar and pencil lead on the nose. The palate is heady and dense with a terrific mouthfeel and flavor density, heavily weighted with heady dark fruits, cloves and great loamy soil character. While highly enjoyable to savor now, watch this evolve over the next ten plus years to go. Drink 2026-2041- 95
2024 TOR ‘Vaca Ridge Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from this high elevation location the looks out over the Napa floor, the 2024 ‘Vaca Ridge Vineyard’ opens with cassis, creme de violette, tar and Cuban cigar notes on the nose that all meld in the glass.The palate is wonderfully rich, with terrific verve and tension, alongside refined tannins that frame this beauty. Heady black and even blue fruits collide with iodine notes and stony/salty minerals. The weight of the wine is outstanding, as this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2026-2042- 98
2024 TOR ‘Vine Hill Ranch’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Another year, another sensational edition of the ‘Vine Hill Ranch’ by TOR. This 2024 edition was sourced from vines planted all the way back in 1978. On the nose this takes on sweet pipe tobacco, mocha, creosote and shades of dusty soils with beautiful dark florals that sing in unison. The palate is dense and delicious with a terrific underlying verve and remarkable flavor density. This pushes perfection with its rocky and loamy soil character that combine swift opulent dark fruits and its pillowy texture. A total joy to consume in its full-throttle youth, watch this stunner evolve over two decades. Drink 2026-2046- 99
2024 TOR ‘Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Leaving no doubt of perfection in the glass, the 2024TOR ‘Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignons one of the great wines I have tasted this year. Stored for 20 months in French oak barrels (Darnajou and Taransaud, 80% new), the aromatics are extraordinarily perfumed offering its classic creme de cassis notes alongside cigar box, Middle Eastern spices. Jet black in the glass, this is utterly seamless throughout the drinking experience. A glorious core of black and blue fruits combine with milk chocolate, anise, pencil lead, and amazing loamy soil character. Shockingly good to savor in its youth, watch this evolve over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2026-2046- 100