Since I was on the fence with the 2018 Schrader release I decided to open a 2009 to test the waters. For an off vintage this wine is really nice. I also have no will power and full-filled my 2018 Schrader allocation (including some wish list) 
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2009 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon CCS Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (12/14/2019)
Bought on release, stored professionally. Decanted for 2 hours before the first pour. The nose was very floral from the start with with a full bodied aroma of classic dark blackberry and cassis. At 2 hours the nose softened while maintaining a richness hinting a quite robust but not overpowering wine to be savored. The first pour at 2 hours was excellent but not spectacular. The notes were all there but they hadnāt fully evolved. Everything about the wine was quite enjoyable (soft velvet on the mouthfeel, rich deep dark black cherry on the palate with a long finish) but not of the calibre you come to expect from a Schrader. At hour 3 she began to open up. Interestingly (for me) the nose never shined as bright later as it did out of the bottle and in the early hours. A great nose on a wine is my personal bias and the nose out of the gate was fabulous but dissipated and remained comparatively muted hours later. Regardless, the composition of the wine continued to grow by the hour achieving a rich taste, muscular body and long finish worthy of its reputation. The robustness of the wine with layered dark cherries that linger prominently really make this a wine to savor. Paired with a rib eye the wineās soft leather finish added great texture to a wine that should hold together for 10 years (and beyond). The long decant really aided this wine tonight but I would wait 2-3 years before opening another 2009 Schrader unless you have plenty of time to decant well in advance. (94 pts.)
Posted from CellarTracker