2018 Tor Kenward Family Wines Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon Tierra Roja Vineyards
2018 Tor Kenward Family Wines Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon Tierra Roja Vineyards The 2018 Tierra Roja shows more red fruits that the other vineyard designated Cabernets in 2018 but for this vineyard that is typical. This year though the black fruit component is a very black fruit profile with blackberries, brisket bark and road tar. As always the tannin profile is quite sweet and supple. This is probably one of the most seamless Tierra Rojas we have made and should have an accordingly long life with good storage.
95 James Suckling: A red with richness and density, offering plum and berry with tile and mahogany undertones. It’s full-bodied with layers of ripe tannins and a flavorful finish. More opulent and plusher style to it, as always. Try after 2024.
TOR Wines
Tor Kenward spent 27 years as a senior executive with Beringer Vineyards working in winemaking and marketing, helping to build a wine company known to collectors worldwide for its outstanding Reserve and single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons. He retired in 2001, and along with his wife Susan, started TOR Kenward Family Wines, a small wine company based on single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays.
“”For three decades I made a least one barrel of wine each vintage from Beringer’s best vineyard sites,”” recalls Tor Kenward. “”I had great mentors, Ed Sbragia and Bob Steinhauer, encouraging me to make wine and grow grapes. We had different approaches, but shared the same passion: great wine, and how to make it. We tasted together, traveled together to Europe to learn more, and shared the secrets we unearthed along the journey.””
“”I walked every corner of Napa and Sonoma those three decades, an avid student of what makes a great vineyard. Luckily, I am working today with people whom I consider to be extraordinary growers dedicated to growing the highest quality grapes,”” explains Tor. “”We farm these special vineyard sites by acre-by-acre — meaning we work together to achieve the best possible grapes regardless of cost.””
Our winemaking is driven by the same philosophy: constantly striving for the best, whatever it takes. Tor works exclusively with small cooperage houses in France to ensure we have the best barrels, and uses natural yeasts for both primary and secondary fermentations. Grapes are hand sorted, and our wines are crafted in very small cuvees so as to receive minimal handling. “”If we harvest what we consider world-class grapes, our job as winemakers is to stay out of the way. That takes experience and patience, but can be very rewarding when it all comes together,”” explains Tor.”
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