Napa Valley Cabernet 2021: Top wines from Spring Mountain & Mt Veeder

Napa Cabernet 2021: full vintage report and top-scoring wines

Spring Mountain

The idyllic and mountainous Spring Mountain AVA, reaching up to 640 meters of elevation on the northern and eastern slopes of the Mayacamas range, has always been about rugged individuality and an almost heroic performance from the vines, even in easy-going vintages.

In 2021, however, the vines struggled even more than usual, with little rain to quench their thirst. Yields varied almost block by block and were below average overall.

In nearly all cases, though, quality was exceptional, with growers and winemakers grinning from ear to ear early as the harvest came in.

The intensity of flavours and colours became the hallmarks of the 2021 wines from Spring Mountain, with concentration that’s rare even for the mountain fruit for which this AVA has become legendary.

Scroll down for the top-scoring Spring Mountain & Mt Veeder 2021 Cabernets

Spring Mountain at a glance

Climate:

One of Napa’s cooler to moderate appellations, dependent upon elevation and aspect. Many vineyard sites are situated above the fog line, providing warmer nights and cooler days than the valley floor.

Soils:

Spring Mountain is comprised of sedimentary soils of weathered sandstone and shale, which is very high draining.

Elevation:

600 to 2,600 feet (183 to 792 metres)

Spring Mountain 2021: the top-performing producers:

• Phillip Togni
• Stony Hill
• Vineyard 7 & 8

Mt Veeder

This Napa Valley sub-appellation is situated at elevations of 152 and 792 metres on the eastern slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains.

The potential for making world-class wine from Mount Veeder has been evident since at least the 1860s.

While this AVA has long been defined by rugged terrain and difficult farming, it also has a softer side. It enjoys cooling influences from the San Pablo Bay (in fact, its daytime temperatures are among the coolest in Napa Valley, second only to neighbouring Carneros).

This combination of cool winds and temperatures means vines are treated to the most extended growing season and often the lowest yields in Napa Valley.

Given that 2021 was the second straight year of severe drought for Mount Veeder and the fact that vines took off in growth during a warm spring, by early summer, it was evident that yields would be lower even by Mount Veeder standards.

Cooler fall weather, beginning in August, brought a sigh of relief for this AVA’s growers. It afforded them the dual luxuries of a long ripening curve for their grapes and a laid-back approach to harvest that allowed for multiple passes for both canopy management and harvesting.

The best 2021 Mount Veeder wines are true standouts, products of what will be remembered as an excellent vintage, brimming with dense flavours, ample structure, and fascinating complexity.

Mt Veeder at a glance

Climate:

Mt Veeder is one of Napa’s cool to moderate appellations. Most vineyards sit above the valley’s signature fog, translating to warmer nights, cooler days, and less diurnal range.

Soils:

A former seabed, Mt Veeder is home to sedimentary soils, with shallow sandy or sandy-loam.

Elevation:

500 to 2,600 feet (152 to 792 metres)

Mt Veeder 2021: the top-performing producers:

• Pulido-Walker
• Conn Creek
• O’Shaughnessy Estate

Cristaldi’s value picks from these Mountain appellations:

Ballard Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain, 2021

Barnett Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain, 2021

The Hess Collection, Mt. Veeder Estate Cabernet, Mount Veeder, 2021

Conn Creek, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder, 2021

Hudson, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder, 2021

Spring Mountain & Mt Veeder 2021: the top-scoring Cabernets

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