Schrader Double Diamond Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Napa Valley 2019

Wine Spectator #1 Wine of 2022

“When it comes to Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon is king. But entering the Cabernet Sauvignon kingdom comes at a price, typically a lofty one. Most top bottlings cost $200, $300, $500 or more; additionally, most are single-vineyard wines or select cuves that total just a few hundred cases each, making them as difficult to find as they are to afford.

Our Wine of the Year provides an emphatic answer to the Napa Cabernet value question, punching above its weight while costing well below the triple-digit entry point for top-flight Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. And it comes from Schrader Cellars, one of those wineries whose top bottlings check in at $475 and whose winemaker, Thomas Rivers Brown, is acknowledged as one of the valleys best.”

Winemaker Notes

Our 2019 Double Diamond Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted by winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown in the Schrader Cellars tradition of making the best Cabernet Sauvignon that Napa Valley can offer. A unique expression of the Oakville AVA with harmonious integration of decadent fruit, refined structure, and silky tannins, the 2019 vintage of Double Diamond is ready to enjoy now and will continue to evolve over the next 3-5 years.
The 2019 vintage of Double Diamond offers intricately woven layers of decadent flavor, complemented by exotic spice components and a refined tannin structure. It highlights all the best attributes of what defines Oakville as the epicenter for Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

In the glass, the wine displays a nearly opaque ruby-purple hue. Upon closer inspection, aromas emerge in waves suggesting framboise, nutmeg, toasted cedar bark, plum reduction, and pennyroyal mint. The sleek palate is marked by mouth-watering notes such as blackberry compote, dark chocolate shavings, cassis, oolong tea, flint, and lavender. The dynamic flavors interact on the mid-palate with a vivid harmony, carrying through to the long floral finish, which lasts for up to a minute. With a pleasing acidity and fine tannic framework, this wine is very enjoyable today and should develop gracefully in the cellar for years to come.