Calistoga is the northernmost appellation of the Napa Valley, and as such, boasts some of the most stunning topography in this famed region. This special sub-AVA claims the largest diurnal swing—the most drastic temperature changes from day to night—in the entire valley. How does this benefit the grapes? Simple: After a full day of soaking up the sun and building up phenolic ripeness, a cooler night acts as a “relaxation period” for the grapes, resulting in better acid retention. Next, you have to factor in the classic terroir: With undulating forest land and striking rock formations, Calistoga is blessed with volcanic strata, alluvial fans, and sedimentary rock that lends unique minerality and serious concentration of flavor in the final wine—but only if you have a skilled craftsman at the winemaking helm. Enter Corey Beck. As you’ll learn below, the man knows his Cabernet, so it’s quite a statement when he says today’s 2014 is the “best wine we have made to date.”

Born and raised in the very town this wine was sourced from, Corey’s childhood consisted of working and learning amongst the vines of Château Montelena. How did a local teen land such a sweet gig? His grandfather was the vineyard manager! Unsurprisingly, the wine bug clamped down hard. Corey began steering his studies toward wine and that culminated with a Fermentation Science degree from UC Davis in 1994. Soon after graduation, he returned to Château Montelena and was hired on as their Cabernet Sauvignon Cellar Master. Today, he has his hands in quite a few pots—and C. Beck is the smallest one. Under this label, he only crafts two different wines in microscopic quantities. That’s it. 

After a dry and long growing season in 2014 (Corey harvested in October!), beautifully ripe, extra-plump Cabernet was hand-picked and subjected to a long fermentation with lengthy skin contact. The resulting wine then saw 20 months of aging in 50% new French barrels. After bottling, Corey allowed the wine to rest for one additional year before releasing it to the public. As a result, his 2014 is a dark-fruited, supple-framed Napa Cabernet with extraordinary class. Kirsch, blackberries, ripe plums, and créme de cassis unfurl in the glass with brooding concentration before savory notes of tobacco leaf, leather, and crushed volcanic stone emerge. And, thanks to judicious use of French oak, it’s not lacking mouthwatering notes of vanilla, baking spice, and cedar box either! What really puts this wine in an elite category for me though is the subdued alcohol—there is no hint of heat or over-extraction here—which only adds to the velvet-textured fruit and minerality swirling around the palate. C. Beck is in an amazing drinking window already, but you shouldn’t hesitate to hold back a couple over the next 5-10 years—the wine can handle it, no problem! Serve in large Bordeaux stems after a 30-minute decant and match it with a succulent reverse-seared steak. Classic pairing for a classic wine. It’s that simple. Cheers!