Napa Valley Cabernet 2018: Top 10 producers and 10 wineries to watch
After an extensive tasting of more than 240 Napa Valley Cabernets, Matthew Luczy has selected 10 producers that impressed him the most, plus highlighted the best wineries or winemakers worth watching out for in the future.
Fresh from compiling the Decanter Napa Valley Cabernet vintage report for 2018 Matthew Luczy has pulled together a list of his top 10 producers and 10 wineries to watch based on the wines tasted.
Individual AVA analysis and top-scoring wines:
Calistoga, Coombsville, Howell Mountain, Mount Veeder, Oakville, Rutherford, St Helena, Stags Leap District
Unsurprisingly the producers behind Luczy’s two wines of the year – Corison and Kapcsándy – top his ‘best producers’ list alongside a host of wineries from across Napa’s varied AVAs.
Napa Valley Cabernet: Best value 2018 wines under £50/$50
All of the estates featured in the top 10 have two or more wines in the report with some as many as six. Here’s the rundown, and find the tasting note of the top-scoring wine from each producer below.
Matthew Luczy’s top 10 producers in A-Z order
- Chimney Rock
- Corison
- Dalla Valle
- Hourglass
- Kapcsándy
- Lokoya
- Larkmead
- Meteor
- Pilcrow
- Sodaro
Napa Valley Cabernet: Full 2018 vintage report
As well as his top 10 producers Luczy has compiled a list of ‘ones to watch’.
These are wineries which are perfect to discover now (if you don’t already know them) and keep an eye on for the future.
Again, find the tasting note and score for each producer’s top-scoring 2o18 Cabernet below.
Luczy’s top 10 producers to watch in A-Z order
- Acumen
- Brandlin
- Gallica
- Jericho Canyon
- Jones
- Mathew Bruno
- Metzker
- Nemerever
- Truchard
- Volker Eisele
Napa Cabernet 2018: Wines from the top 10 producers and 10 wineries to watch
See also
Decanter Premium Collector’s Guide: Napa Valley
The rise of US urban wineries
California Cabernet 2016: Panel tasting results
Corison, Kronos Vineyard, Napa Valley, St Helena, California, USA, 2018
Corison’s Kronos Vineyard is one of the great Cabernet vineyards on earth, and an anomaly in the modern Napa Valley landscape. Planted in 1971 on...
2018
CorisonNapa Valley
Kapcsandy Family Wines, Grand Vin State Lane Vineyard, Napa Valley, Yountville, California, USA, 2018
A truly exceptional wine. The very definition of feminine, perfumed and enthralling on the nose, with aromas of fresh flowers, bath soaps, orchard blossoms and...
2018
Kapcsandy Family WinesNapa Valley
Lokoya, Napa Valley, Mt Veeder, California, USA, 2018
There is a palpably regal quality to all four Lokoya wines, but the Mount Veeder Cabernet attains an additional level of purity and class. There...
2018
LokoyaNapa Valley
Larkmead Vineyards, Solari, Napa Valley, California, USA, 2018
The flagship single-vineyard wine from Dan Petroski at Larkmead is remarkable in 2018. Comprised of two parcels at the southern border of Calistoga, bordering St....
2018
Larkmead VineyardsNapa Valley
Dalla Valle Vineyards, Maya, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2018
A wonderfully fragranced and well-structured wine. Perfumed florality comes through from the 40% Cabernet Franc in the blend (with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon) alongside ripe...
2018
Dalla Valle VineyardsNapa Valley
Meteor Vineyard, Special Family Reserve, Napa Valley, Coombsville, California, USA, 2018
The Special Family Reserve takes Meteor vineyard to another level entirely, and is unquestionably one of the definitive wines of the Coombsville appellation. Exotic, enthralling...
2018
Meteor VineyardNapa Valley
Sodaro, Estate Cabernet, Napa Valley, Coombsville, California, USA, 2018
Quintessentially Coombsville on the nose, which combines freshness with opulent black fruits, tying them together with a sturdy, graphite-laden core. Utterly seamless on the palate,...
2018
SodaroNapa Valley
Pilcrow, Granite Lake, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain, California, USA, 2018
Dramatically darker and more intense on the nose, very clearly stating its rustic, Howell Mountain origins. Cigar box, charcoal and black currants on the nose....
2018
PilcrowNapa Valley
Hourglass, Hourglass Estate, Napa Valley, St Helena, California, USA, 2018
A unique, extremely fragrant nose filled with violets, lavender, roses and hibiscus. A deft, spry and exciting palate transitions into a firm, pleasantly-wiry finish. There...
2018
HourglassNapa Valley
Chimney Rock, Tomahawk Vineyard, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District, California, USA, 2018
Planted in 2002, this site produces a wine more dark-fruited and lush than the Ganymede bottling. Aged in 75% new French oak. Blackcurrants, wet cedar...
2018
Chimney RockNapa Valley
Acumen, Peak Attelas, Napa Valley, Atlas Peak, California, USA, 2018
The more floral and understated of the two Acumen vineyard-designate Cabernets. Fresh violets, moss, and black plums on the nose. The palate balances a plush...
2018
AcumenNapa Valley
Brandlin, Estate, Napa Valley, Mt Veeder, California, USA, 2018
A perfumed, fresh nose filled with violets, lavender, black currants. The palate is plush, dense and precise, finishing with a purity and deftness that is...
2018
BrandlinNapa Valley
Gallica, Oakville Ranch Vineyard, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2018
A composed, balanced nose shows off just enough ripeness and judicious use of new oak. The palate is alluring and ghostly, combining silky precision with...
2018
GallicaNapa Valley
Jericho Canyon, Reserve, Napa Valley, California, USA, 2018
From the northeastern corner of Napa Valley. Sweet, sappy aromas mix with those of dried herbs and chaparral. A rich, focused and simply delicious palate...
2018
Jericho CanyonNapa Valley
Jones Winery & Vineyard, Napa Valley, Calistoga, California, USA, 2018
From by renowned winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. Subtle new French oak aromas mix with saffron, black plums and pine needles. Black cherries, blueberries and paraffin...
2018
Jones Winery & VineyardNapa Valley
Mathew Bruno, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2018
From a site in Eastern Rutherford that supplied Beaulieu Vineyard during the 'Second Golden Age' of the 60s and 70s. A wonderfully fragrant nose of...
2018
Mathew BrunoNapa Valley
Metzker Family Estates, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain, California, USA, 2018
Wild and savage on the nose, combining mountain-based ruggedness with lively floral notes. The palate is strikingly juicy and succulent before transitioning into a burly,...
2018
Metzker Family EstatesNapa Valley
Nemerever, Estate, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2018
Sourced from three adjacent estate blocks in the heart of Oakville. Dusty, perfumed, old world-influenced aromas of turned earth, fresh thyme and dried flowers. The...
2018
NemereverNapa Valley
Truchard, Reserve, Napa Valley, Los Carneros, California, USA, 2018
Substantially more black-fruited on the nose than the entry-Truchard Cabernet, balanced with nuanced hints of new French oak. The texture here is wonderfully fine, rich...
2018
TruchardNapa Valley
Volker Eisele Family Estate, Las Flores, Napa Valley, Chiles Valley, California, USA, 2018
Herbal, forest-driven aromas combine with a scorched-earth rusticity on the nose. There is a meaty, savoury quality to the mid-palate which quickly transitions into fine,...
2018
Volker Eisele Family EstateNapa Valley
