TOR’s 2018 Cabernet Melanson Vineyard offers an enticing bouquet of fresh morning espresso and dark, fresh fruit tarts. Vibrant notes of black cherries, blackberries, violets and cedar with hints of lavender, chocolate truffles and pipe tobacco meld together brilliantly across a cashmere-like texture. This majestic, mountain fruit (across from Colgin Cellars and next to Continuum) will enter its prime drinking window in 2022 – – decanting recommended – – and should reach at least 99 points over the next decade. Bravo!”

The Winery

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.

Their 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.