When it comes to wine, I only have three pet peeves. The first is when people refer to a grape variety as a 'varietal', the second when people mispronounce Paso Robles (it's "Paso Row-Bulls", not "Paso Ro-bless"). My third? When people misspell Beckmen Vineyards as "Beckman".
Seeing "Beckman" on a wine list, or in a retail newsletter has become my version of Where's Waldo. I'm always searching for it. Sadly, I find the error all too often. Is it really that difficult for people to spell correctly?
Tom Beckmen and his son, Steve, have really done a LOT to raise the standard of Central Coast wines in general, and Santa Ynez wines in particular. Their Biodynamically-farmed Purisma Mountain Vineyard is the source of some of the best fruit in the County. Their fruit and the wines they make from it deserve your attention and respect. So, please, enough with the "A".
Last week I was perusing my latest issue of Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. This issue included a great report on California's Central Coast by Antonio Galloni. Thumbing through the section devoted to Santa Barbara County, I was a bit surprised to find no reviews on Beckmen wines. Continuing on to Galloni's report on Paso Robles, I came across - you guessed it! - the Beckmen reviews. While I was happy to read some great reviews - and, yes, he spelled Beckmen correctly - I was amazed to find such a geographical blunder by such an esteemed publication. Come on, Mr. Galloni, invest in a map!
Okay...enough ranting. Despite his being geographically challenged, Galloni's reviews were good...and here they are:
2009 BECKMEN "Le Bec Blanc" - #75344
"The 2009 Le Bec Blanc is a rich, burnished wine endowed with considerable richness and fatness in its fruit. It has just enough minerality to lend balance to its extroverted, opulent personality. The Bec Blanc is 46% Marsanne, 38% Roussanne and 16% Grenache Blanc. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014. 88 Points."
2009 BECKMEN "Cuvee Le Bec" - #75334
"The 2009 Cuvee Le Bec is a fabulous wine for the money. Wild cherries, flowers and smoke are some of the notes that jump from the glass in this powerful red. Readers won’t find a ton of finesse here, but the wine compensates for that with its superb drinkability. Sweet red fruit and licorice add complexity on the finish in a rustic wine that is ideal for everyday drinking. The Cuvee Le Bec is 45% Grenache, 34% Syrah, 14 % Mourvedre and 7% Counoise. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014. 89 Points."
2009 BECKMEN Syrah - #75324
"The 2009 Syrah Estate possesses dazzling purity and length in a cool, inward style that stands a bit apart from some of the more opulent wines in this lineup. There is a level of delineation in the aromas and flavors here that is quite striking. A vein of minerality frames the inviting finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019. 91 Points."
Seeing "Beckman" on a wine list, or in a retail newsletter has become my version of Where's Waldo. I'm always searching for it. Sadly, I find the error all too often. Is it really that difficult for people to spell correctly?
Tom Beckmen and his son, Steve, have really done a LOT to raise the standard of Central Coast wines in general, and Santa Ynez wines in particular. Their Biodynamically-farmed Purisma Mountain Vineyard is the source of some of the best fruit in the County. Their fruit and the wines they make from it deserve your attention and respect. So, please, enough with the "A".Last week I was perusing my latest issue of Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. This issue included a great report on California's Central Coast by Antonio Galloni. Thumbing through the section devoted to Santa Barbara County, I was a bit surprised to find no reviews on Beckmen wines. Continuing on to Galloni's report on Paso Robles, I came across - you guessed it! - the Beckmen reviews. While I was happy to read some great reviews - and, yes, he spelled Beckmen correctly - I was amazed to find such a geographical blunder by such an esteemed publication. Come on, Mr. Galloni, invest in a map!
Okay...enough ranting. Despite his being geographically challenged, Galloni's reviews were good...and here they are:
2009 BECKMEN "Le Bec Blanc" - #75344
"The 2009 Le Bec Blanc is a rich, burnished wine endowed with considerable richness and fatness in its fruit. It has just enough minerality to lend balance to its extroverted, opulent personality. The Bec Blanc is 46% Marsanne, 38% Roussanne and 16% Grenache Blanc. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014. 88 Points."
2009 BECKMEN "Cuvee Le Bec" - #75334
"The 2009 Cuvee Le Bec is a fabulous wine for the money. Wild cherries, flowers and smoke are some of the notes that jump from the glass in this powerful red. Readers won’t find a ton of finesse here, but the wine compensates for that with its superb drinkability. Sweet red fruit and licorice add complexity on the finish in a rustic wine that is ideal for everyday drinking. The Cuvee Le Bec is 45% Grenache, 34% Syrah, 14 % Mourvedre and 7% Counoise. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014. 89 Points."
2009 BECKMEN Syrah - #75324
"The 2009 Syrah Estate possesses dazzling purity and length in a cool, inward style that stands a bit apart from some of the more opulent wines in this lineup. There is a level of delineation in the aromas and flavors here that is quite striking. A vein of minerality frames the inviting finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019. 91 Points."
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