2023 Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
2023 Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard
Cabernet Sauvignon
An exclusive new release from Tamber Bey
This release marks Tamber Bey’s first bottling of Cabernet Sauvignon from Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard, one of Oakville’s most respected vineyard sites. Long admired for its pedigree and performance, the vineyard has given us a wine of structure, intensity, and depth, while remaining grounded in balance and restraint. Available in limited quantities, this wine reflects a thoughtful interpretation of a storied site rather than a departure from Tamber Bey’s established style.
Precision Over Power
97 points, Dr. Owen Bargreen
From the first taste of the fruit, the intent was clear: allow the vineyard to lead. Winemaking decisions by Sally Johnson Blum and her team were made to support, not overshadow, the site’s inherent character.
Extended cold soak and maceration built depth through the midpalate, while long fermentations and aging in predominantly new French oak added texture and integration rather than overt sweetness. The result is a Cabernet Sauvignon that feels deliberate and composed, where intensity is matched by finesse.
A Storied Site, Clearly Defined
Missouri Hopper Vineyard lies just north of Yountville in the Oakville AVA on land originally held by George C. Yount in the nineteenth century. The property passed through the Hopper family beginning in 1877, was later incorporated into the historic Vine Hill Ranch, and was acquired by Beckstoffer Vineyards in 1996. Today, the vineyard is planted exclusively to multiple clones of Cabernet Sauvignon and is widely regarded as one of Oakville’s benchmark sites.
Situated on Oakville’s western alluvial fan, Missouri Hopper’s rocky, well-drained soils and warm afternoon exposure produce fruit of exceptional concentration. Though technically valley floor, the site behaves more like a mountain vineyard, yielding Cabernet Sauvignon with firm tannins, layered structure, and natural intensity.
The Character of 2023
The 2023 vintage provided ideal conditions for this inaugural bottling. A long, temperate growing season with no extreme heat allowed the fruit to reach full ripeness while preserving acidity and structure.
In the glass, the wine evolves with air—opening with dark cherry, plum, and cocoa, then unfolding into floral notes, blue fruit, and savory complexity. It is compelling on release with decanting, and built to reward patience in the cellar.
“The 2023 Tamber Bey ‘Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon stands inky in the glass, offering beautiful dark florals alongside tar, tobacco leaf and loamy soils. The palate is a total knockout in terms of flavor density, richness and underlying salty finesse. A stunning wine to enjoy now — the consummate iron fist in a velvet glove — enjoy over the next twenty years.”
— 97 points, Dr. Owen Bargreen
For the Cellar, and the Table
Our 2023 Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard is a Cabernet Sauvignon designed with collectors in mind. While approachable now with time and air, it will truly come into its own over the next several years, gaining nuance and harmony as the tannins integrate. A refined expression of Oakville, shaped by site, season, and a measured hand in the cellar. Available first to those who know Tamber Bey best, with the option of a wood box for three and six-bottle sets.
