Schrader To Kalon Vineyard ‘Old Sparky’ 2023 (1.5L Magnum)

Schrader Cellars was founded by Fred Schrader in 1998 with the singular goal of producing the best possible Cabernet Sauvignon from the best possible vineyard site. Their fame is built on three crucial pillars:

Schrader sources nearly all of its grapes exclusively from the To Kalon Vineyard in the heart of Oakville, Napa Valley. To Kalon is widely considered one of the greatest, if not the greatest, site for Cabernet Sauvignon in North America. Schrader focuses on specific, prized blocks within To Kalon, using distinct clones of Cabernet Sauvignon.

However you slice it, the winery is a straight up “score machine.” They were one of the first modern Napa producers to consistently receive perfect 100-point scores from major critics like Robert Parker and The Wine Advocate. This continuous stream of top ratings fueled collector demand and justified the wine’s extreme price point and rarity.

The winemaking is led by Thomas Rivers Brown, one of the most respected and talented consulting winemakers in Napa Valley. Brown is known for crafting intensely dark, structured, yet balanced Cabernets that are built to age but are also opulent upon release. This combination of the best fruit, meticulous winemaking, and perfect scores help solidify Schrader’s cult status.