Beckmen 2022 Cuvee Le Bec Santa Ynez Valley Red

Winery's Notes
"Our largest single production, the Cuvee Le Bec has always been an incredible value wine in our portfolio. A red Rhone style blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Counoise, the core of the CLB is balance. Harvested from vineyards on both our Winery Estate and Purisima Mountain Vineyard, the wine is predominately Grenache and Syrah in most vintages with lesser portions of Mourvèdre and Counoise. Based on the Village wines of the Côtes du Rhône, the CLB shows great old-world complexity and elegance and ripe California fruit.

Expressive and complex, the 2022 Cuvée le Bec shows a deep garnet color with layered aromas of pepper, clove, allspice, and loads of dark red fruits. The mouth is round on entry and through the mid-palate, with fine tannins and vibrant acidity that keep the wine bright and lifted. Dark red fruits and spice glide across the palate through a long finish, where the flavors turn redder—freshly picked cherry, pomegranate, and raspberry linger beautifully. A standout vintage, the 2022 CLB will evolve gracefully for a decade or more."

Varietal Composition: 52% Syrah, 33% Grenache, 12% Mourvèdre, 3% Counoise
Appellation: Santa Ynex Valley AVA
Vineyards: 75% Purisima Mountain Vyd, 25% Thomas & Judith Estate Vyd
Aging: 21 months in French oak barrels, 25% new, 14% once- and twice-used, $61% neutral
Production: 3,150 cases

93 Points - Vinous
"The 2022 Cuvée Le Bec is the 25th vintage of this bottling. It's a fantastic entry-level Rhône blend. Dark, sumptuous fruit, savory minerality, tobacco and a floral air join together in a layered, harmonious profile. Structured enough to age, yet irresistibly delicious today the 2022 is a standout in this range." -BN, Aug/2025

91 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
"Based on 52% Syrah, 33% Grenache, 12% Mourvè­dre, and 3% Counoise, the 2022 Cuvée Le Bec was 90% destemmed with 10% whole clus­ters and brought up in stain­less steel tanks. Dark­er berries, pep­pery herbs, and some South­ern Rhône-like spice all define the aro­mat­ics, and it’s medi­um-bod­ied, has ter­rif­ic puri­ty of fruit, and a charm­ing, deli­cious style. Cal­i­for­ni­a’s answer to a great Côtes du Rhône, it will drink beau­ti­ful­ly over the com­ing 3 – 5 years. Drink 2025 – 2030."