2022 TOR Wines 'Black Magic' Napa Valley

TOR Wines' 2022 Black Magic Napa Valley is not made every year—it exists only when the cellar's finest barrels demand it. The 2022 vintage is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon with a generous addition of Petit Verdot, drawn primarily from eight blocks within Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville and the remainder from Vine Hill Ranch. This is TOR's most coveted bottling, born from obsession rather than formula, and the 2022 expression earned 98 points from James Suckling and 96 to 98 points from Wine Advocate. TOR Wines was founded by winemaker Tor Kenward, whose approach centers on barrel selection and vineyard relationships built over decades. Beckstoffer To Kalon in Oakville is among Napa Valley's most historically significant sites, planted in 1868 and defined by deep alluvial soils that produce Cabernet Sauvignon of extraordinary concentration and structure. Vine Hill Ranch, also in Oakville, contributes similar depth. The 2022 Black Magic represents a rigid selection process—only the most intense, tension-filled barrels make the final blend, resulting in a wine made by instinct and feel rather than predetermined ratios. The 2022 opens with roasted meats, Christmas baking spices, black currant, and anise, layering into dried blueberries, crushed blackberries, cocoa, and graphite. A sense of petrichor and Turkish coffee moves through the mid-palate, which exudes power and richness before tapering into a finish that refuses to end. The texture is muscular yet polished, with tightly wound tannins built to carry the wine for decades. Best enjoyed after 2030, though even now it offers a commanding, thrilling glimpse at what lies ahead. Pair it with dry-aged ribeye, braised short ribs, or aged hard cheeses—anything substantial enough to meet its intensity. The 2022 TOR Wines Black Magic Napa Valley is available for pickup at our Lincoln Park bottle shop at 1128 W Armitage Ave, local Chicago delivery, or nationwide shipping.