Napa Valley Cabernet 2021: Top wines from Oakville
The Oakville AVA is frequently the source of great Napa wines, and the 2021 vintage is no different. Oakville is a sweet spot in Napa Valley, known for its warmth and famous vineyards. The best Cabernets from this storied sub-appellation showcase concentration, balance and elegance.
Napa Valley Cabernet 2021: Full vintage report and top-scoring wines
The 2021 vintage in Oakville produced some of Napa Valley’s best wines, hewn from a growing season that was even, calm, and free from the impacts of wildfires or significant heat spikes.
The lack of available moisture forced an early bud break in the vines and smaller canopies. While yields were 25% lower than average, and berries were smaller than usual, careful crop thinning was required due to the lighter canopies to ensure that the developing fruit didn’t get burned.
Scroll down for the Oakville 2021 Cabernets rated 98-100 points
Oakville at a glance
Climate:
Moderately warm and heavily affected by the cooling influence of the morning fog and evening fog. The eastern side of Oakville is exposed to the warm afternoon sun.
Soils:
The Oakville soils are fairly deep and retain moisture but vary along an east/west delineation. The eastern soils tend to be iron-rich and volcanic, while those on the western side of the AVA tend towards sedimentary soils in the form of gravelly loam.
Elevation:
Oakville runs the spectrum from the valley floor at 130ft (30m) and extends 500ft(150m) up the Mayacamas and 1000ft(300m) up the the side of the Vaca Mountains.
‘We had smaller canopies and fewer leaves, and spring got off to a cool, late start,’ recalled Nick Gislison of Screaming Eagle. ‘So late bud break and slow development because our soils were dry and temperatures were moderate meant that it took longer for everything to get ripe.’
A few brief heat spikes did little to impact the vines, and harvest in Oakville was a leisurely affair for most growers, but the more concentrated fruit required a gentle hand in the cellar to preserve aromatic nuance in the final wines.
The 2021 Oakville reds are dark, weighty, and dense on the palate, balanced by a beautiful sense of energy.
There are some great wines to be found.
Oakville 2021: the top-performing producers:
- Simon Family Estate
- Screaming Eagle
- Dalla Valle Vineyards
- Rudd Estate
- Harlan
- B Cellars
Oakville 2021: the top-scoring Cabernets
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