Professional reviews
Robert Parker (97)
My favorite of the current offerings from Bulgheroni is the 2021 Lithology Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard. It's slightly smoky-oaky on the nose, offering pungent licorice and peppery notes over its deep base of cassis fruit. Full-bodied, it's rich and concentrated, with a long, plush, velvety finish.
James Suckling (96)
Lots of lead pencil and black berry aromas follow through to a medium to full body with a firmness and juiciness at the end. Open-grained tannins. Shows a firmness but openness at the same time. Savory. Mushroom and earth undertones to the fruit. A blend of 92% cabernet sauvignon and 8% cabernet franc.
Vinous (95)
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Lithology Dr. Crane Vineyard is laced with dark red cherry/plum fruit, lavender, rose petal and cinnamon. As always, the Dr. Crane Cabernet emphasizes aromatics and silkier textures than those found in some of the other wines in the range. Its relatively mid-weight structure feels somewhat impacted by recent bottling. I won't be surprised if it is even more expressive in a few years' time.
Jeb Dunnuck (98)
Another absolute blockbuster from this singular vineyard just outside of St. Helena, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard is based on 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc brought up mostly in oak, with about a fifth in stainless steel. It's one of the bigger, richer wines in the vintage and has a thrilling bouquet of bloody black and blue fruits, iron, spring flowers, and chocolate. Powerful, full-bodied, deep, rich, and concentrated, with incredible extract and density in its aromas and flavors, this insanely good wine has velvety tannins, an incredible mid-palate, and a great finish. Don't miss it. It's gorgeous today, will be insanely good in 4-5 years, and I suspect have 40 years of overall longevity.
