In the pantheon of Napa Valley vineyard sites, few command the reverence and recognition of Beckstoffer To Kalon. Here, we explore a decade-plus journey through Realm Cellars' interpretation of this legendary vineyard, witnessing not just the evolution of individual vintages, but the maturation of our own understanding of this storied terroir.

Most people think of To Kalon as producing wines of monolithic power—impressive but sometimes one-dimensional. At Realm, we've always sought to craft something more nuanced, more complex. In the early years, the plush red fruit character of our Beckstoffer To Kalon wines almost concealed the wine's inherent freshness, but as we've added more blocks over time, these wines have gained remarkable complexity. The 2018 vintage marked a significant step forward in this evolution, representing a new level of sophistication in our approach to this revered site.

Adding another dimension to our To Kalon story is our Cabernet Franc, produced as a separate wine in some years, others blended in. This wine showcases an exotic, spicy aromatic profile that's truly unique, offering more complexity on the palate with a bit more edge than our Cabernet Sauvignon. The legendary To Kalon site expresses itself through the density and power that defines both the Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc wines.

Tasting date: April 15, 2025

Cabernet Sauvignon

2012: Graceful Maturity
Now evolved but still carrying hints of beautiful fruit, the 2012 offers red currant, green tobacco leaf, rosemary, baking spice, and cassis. Approachable and pleasurable, this vintage demonstrates how well To Kalon ages when given time. Drink now and enjoy its graceful maturity.

2013: Storied Site Expression
Black fruit dominates the aromatics, joined by tar, warm spice, herbs, and earthy notes. The lifted, savory herb character creates a classic Cabernet profile from this legendary vineyard. Dense and concentrated with an exceptional texture and lingering finish, the 2013 embodies everything we expect from To Kalon. Ready to drink and thoroughly enjoyable.

2014: Precision and Beauty
Ripe red and black fruit mingles with quince and warm spices in a complex aromatic tapestry. The defining characteristic here is the great softness in the mid-palate, creating an inviting texture that draws you back for another sip. Bright with good energy, firm tannins, and excellent length, this vintage shows remarkable precision and beauty. Holding up beautifully and ready to drink.

2015: Great Flow
This solar vintage produced a concentrated wine with delicious red and black fruit notes. On the palate, this wine is still juicy, with great flow. Ready to drink now.

2016: Velvety and Concentrated
Gorgeous red fruit, plum, and black cherry create exactly what you'd expect from this revered site. Velvety, concentrated, and massive yet remarkably well-balanced, the 2016 represents To Kalon at its most seductive. This vintage rewards patience—hold for future enjoyment as it continues to integrate and evolve.

2017: Elegant and Sleek
With pretty notes of black cherry and fresh herbs on the nose, this wine has excellent concentration in a slightly smaller, more elegant frame. Sleek with chiseled tannins and a long finish, this wine will reward additional cellaring.

2018: Built to Last
Dark, almost brooding fruit combines with herbal notes in a bold expression. Velvety with outstanding concentration and length, supported by firm structure, this wine is built like a fortress. The huge structure promises decades of aging potential. A wine for the patient collector—hold and watch it unfold over time.

2019: Hold With Confidence
Very perfumed with aromas of blackberry, lavender, baking spices, and pencil shavings. Complex, dense, and powerful, this vintage clearly needs time to fully express its potential. The structure suggests great things ahead—hold with confidence.

2020 Vintage
We did not produce this vintage due to wildfires.

2021: A Standout
This vintage represents everything that makes collectors seek out To Kalon. Gorgeous, decadent fruit mingles with lavender, cassis, graphite, earth, and an underlying freshness. There's a brightness and precision to the fruit and at the same time great richness, density and concentration - creating a dynamic tension between power and delicacy. With only 200 cases produced, this is a rare treasure to hold on to.

2022: #DrinkEmYoung
Perfumed aromatics of bright red fruit, graphite, and violet create an immediately appealing profile. Complex, effusive, and generous—this vintage wears its charm openly. The 2022 offers both immediate pleasure and aging potential. I'm in camp #drinkemyoung.

Cabernet Franc

2015: Fresh Complexity
Notes of red and black fruit mingle with baking spices, black tea and hints of fresh tobacco. The wine is fresh, bright, and remarkably complex. Concentrated and velvety, this is truly a unique wine that showcases what happens when Cabernet Franc meets To Kalon terroir. Drink or hold—this wine rewards patience but offers pleasure now.

2016: Mouthwatering Pleasure
Very pleasurable red and black fruit dominates, enhanced by hints of menthol, toasted marshmallow, and vanilla. Fresh, bright, and round with plenty of richness and density. The mouthwatering quality makes this irresistible to drink now, though the excellent structure will allow this wine to age gracefully for years to come.

2017 Vintage
We did not produce this vintage due to wildfires.

2018: Classic Franc Character
This is what you would expect from great Cabernet Franc – black fruit complimented by graphite, tobacco, and spice. Chiseled and precise with good length, the wine remains tightly wound and promises significant holding potential.

2019: Elegant Beauty
Black raspberry, fresh mint, black pepper and black tea notes weave together in an exotic profile that is unmistakably Cabernet Franc. This elegant, beautiful wine shows the density and structure that marks all great To Kalon wines while maintaining the varietal character that makes Franc so compelling. Built for the cellar, hold with patience.

2023: Full Measure
Opulent yet refined. Red and black fruit mingle with baking spice and earth, framed by broad, juicy tannins. A complete expression of To Kalon’s breadth and depth with the structure to age beautifully.

To learn more about the label artwork, visit Beckstoffer To Kalon: Behind the Label, click here.