Napa Cabernet 2022: The top wines from Calistoga
From the northernmost reaches of Napa Valley, at the foot of Mount St Helena and sandwiched between the Mayacamas and Vaca ranges, sits Calistoga. It is hotter in summer than most of the region’s other sub AVAs, but also cooler at night. Jonathan Cristaldi offers his top picks from the 2022 vintage.
In 2022, Calistoga’s wines reflect the AVA’s characteristic warmth, intensified by the extreme heat dome that defined the vintage.
However, despite the challenges, consumers should look for names like J. Davies, Arkenstone, Perliss and Venge. These producers harvested grapes from sites in the northern end of Calistoga, where there’s a cool wind corridor.
Their wines achieved balance, maintaining freshness and structure, while showcasing the appellation’s hallmark boldness.
Scroll down for notes and scores for the the top-rated Calistoga 2022 Cabernets
The wines predominantly lean into a dark-fruited profile, with blackberry, black cherry, cassis and plum as the dominant fruit expressions.
Some wines introduce red-toned elements – raspberry, red cherry, pomegranate and strawberry fruit leather – offering an energetic lift. Blue fruit notes also emerge in select bottlings, adding brightness.
Calistoga 2022: The top-performing producers
Arkenstone
Perliss
B Cellars
Venge Vineyards
Impensata
J Davies Vineyards
Larkmead
Napa Valley Cabernet 2022: Full vintage report and top-scoring wines
The influence of oak ageing contributes layers of mocha, dark cacao, espresso and Mexican chocolate, while spice aromatics range from cedarwood, sandalwood and warm brown spices to exotic nuances like white pepper, sassafras and Indian spices.
The wines deliver power, density and opulence, yet many also reveal surprising finesse and freshness.
Tannins vary from super-fine and pixelated to firm and powdery, with many wines showing elongated, structured finishes that support their fruit concentration.
While some wines are immediately approachable, others remain coiled and structured, requiring time to unwind.
The interplay of plush fruit, layered complexity and structural integrity suggests that many wines will be enjoyable in the near term.
Calistoga at a glance
Climate Calistoga sees the most rain in the Napa Valley and has the highest diurnal variation, meaning the difference in temperatures from daytime highs to nighttime lows. The region is cooled at night by breezes from the Pacific Ocean through the Chalk Hill Gap.
Soils There is a uniformity of volcanic origin to the soils in Calistoga, though they may vary from heavier clay-silt in the valley’s centre to stony, cobbly soils on the hillsides.
Elevation Calistoga has a serious range in elevation, beginning at 92m and peaking out at up to 370m at the higher elevation sites.
Click here for scores and reviews of all 650+ 2022 Napa Cabernets tasted
Cristaldi’s 2022 value picks from Calistoga
Jax Vineyards, Estate Block 3 Cabernet Sauvignon
B Cellars, Kenefick Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon
Larkmead, Cabernet Sauvignon
Calistoga 2022: The top-scoring Cabernets
Related articles
- Napa Valley Cabernet 2022 vintage preview
- Napa Valley Cabernet 2021: Full report and buying guide
- Napa Cabernet 2021: Score table
Arkenstone, Amoenus Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Calistoga, California, USA, 2022
The Amoenus Vineyard was planted in the western hills of Calistoga near the base of Mount St. Helena and extending toward Knights Valley in the...
2022
ArkenstoneNapa Valley
Perliss, Pearl of the Ravens Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Calistoga, California, USA, 2022
<p>Sourced from a steep hillside vineyard in the foothills of Mt. Saint Helena, near Peter Michael and the Napa-Sonoma border, this wine comes from a...
2022
PerlissNapa Valley
B Cellars, Kenefick Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Calistoga, California, USA, 2022
<p>Sourced from Kenefick Ranch in Calistoga, this wine was aged 22 months in 80% new French oak. A full-throttle powerhouse, it showcases excellent concentration and...
2022
B CellarsNapa Valley
Davies Vineyards, Oliven Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Calistoga, California, USA, 2022
The Oliven Vineyard sits at the northern end of Calistoga in a cool wind corridor. This 1.2ha site is planted to three different clones, which...
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Davies VineyardsNapa Valley
Impensata, Englehard Vineyard Proprietary Red Wine, Napa Valley, Calistoga, California, USA, 2022
Engelhard is a 6.4-hectare site in Calistoga on Franz Valley School Road. Lovely aromatics of red fruit layered with warm Indian spices and rich cedarwood....
2022
ImpensataNapa Valley
Larkmead, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Calistoga, California, USA, 2022
The estate Cabernet Sauvignon in 2022 is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Cabernet Franc, grown in Cortina gravel and Pleasanton loam soils...
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LarkmeadNapa Valley
Relic Wine Cellars, Artefact Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Calistoga, California, USA, 2022
Sourced from Kenefick Ranch in Calistoga, this blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot reflects the unique terroir of deep volcanic soils in...
2022
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Venge Vineyards, Bone Ash Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Calistoga, California, USA, 2022
Sourced from the 3.84-hectare Bone Ash Vineyard, the estate site surrounding the Calistoga winery, where most vines were planted in 1990, this wine is a...
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Venge VineyardsNapa Valley
