Napa Cabernet 2022: Top wines from St Helena

The 2022 vintage in St Helena delivered wines with a signature polish, depth and elegance despite the challenges of the heat dome.

Due to its location in the warmest part of the valley floor, St Helena tends to produce rich, fruit-forward wines.

To read all coverage of the Napa Cabernet 2022 vintage use the code NAPA22 for a 20% discount off an annual Premium subscription

However, this vintage saw remarkable balance, freshness and vibrant energy across many bottlings.

Winemakers who harvested strategically before the extreme heat preserved bright acidity and structure, leading to wines that retain both immediate appeal and ageing potential.

St Helena 2022: The top-performing producers

Colgin Cellars

AXR

Vida Valiente

Bure Family Wines

Corison

Morlet Family Vineyards

Memento Mori

Patria

Annulus Cellars

The fruit profile of St Helena wines in 2022 is defined by a mix of ripe black cherry, blackberry, cassis and spiced plum, often accented by red-fruited lift – raspberry, pomegranate, and cherry pit – bringing vibrancy and freshness.

Some wines showcase blue fruit character, a notable trait for this AVA.

A mineral streak of graphite, crushed rock and saline elements runs through several wines, highlighting the diverse soils of the AVA, from alluvial fans to deep gravel beds.

Notes of sagebrush, bay laurel, and tobacco reflect the influence of nearby mountain slopes and forested areas, contributing to a savoury and structured edge in contrast to the lush fruit core.

St Helena wines in 2022 exhibit well-integrated tannins, ranging from silky, plush and velvety in more approachable bottlings to firm, pixelated and tension-driven in the most structured examples.

While some wines show classic Napa richness and density, others surprise with a taut, refined structure reminiscent of Bordeaux.

St Helena at a glance

Climate Due to greater protection from western hills, St Helena is warmer with less fog or wind incursions from the Bay. This narrowest part of the Napa Valley floor reflects more heat off the hillsides.

Soils South and west borders are more sedimentary, gravel-clay soils; further north and to the east, soils are volcanic in origin.

Elevation 61m-145m

Acidity remains impressively fresh, particularly in wines sourced from Beckstoffer Dr. Crane, Beckstoffer Las Piedras, and high-elevation parcels near Spring Mountain, ensuring balance in this warm vintage.

Wines from Dr. Crane, Las Piedras and sites near Spring Mountain will benefit from five– 20+ years of ageing, thanks to structured tannins, deep fruit complexity and firm acidity.

These include Beckstoffer Dr. Crane (Sam Kaplan, B Cellars), Las Piedras (Vice Versa, Annulus) and select estate Cabernets from Tychson Hill and Bure Family.

Click here for scores and reviews of all 650+ 2022 Napa Cabernets tasted

Many St. Helena wines in 2022 are beautifully polished and ready to enjoy now, with ripe fruit, soft tannins and elegant textures.

Wines from Morlet, Spottswoode and select estate bottlings are balanced, expressive and enjoyable over the next 10 years.

Consumers who prefer high-acid, cool-climate Cabernets, may want to skip over the St Helena wines in 2022 as they lean into fruit-driven depth and richness, rather than a more restrained, structured style.

Cristaldi’s 2022 value picks from St Helena

J Lohr Carol’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Corison Cabernet Sauvignon

Salvestrin Dr. Crane Vineyard, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Crocker & Starr Wines, RLC, Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley Cabernet 2022: Full vintage report and top-scoring wines

St Helena 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