Oakville 2019: the top Cabernets from this Napa AVA
It's only a little more than 3km wide, but this appellation in the centre of California's Napa Valley is synonymous with some of the best-known and most recognised Cabernet Sauvignons in the state. And again in 2019, this famous AVA boasts many of Jonathan Cristaldi's top-scoring wines.
QUICK LINK 2019 Napa Cabernet: full vintage report and top-scoring wines
This famous AVA has many of my top scorers for the 2019 Napa Cabernet vintage, the wines showing immense concentration, complex layers of aroma, flavour and texture, and balanced by an almost balletic grace.
Scroll down for the top-scoring Oakville 2019 Cabernets
Winemaker Jesse Katz,of Aperture Cellars and maker of The Setting, described 2019 as having ‘all the markings of being one of the greats of the past decade or more in Napa’, and notes that the long, warm summer saw ‘cold foggy mornings with very few extreme heat events’, which allowed for ample hang time.
For Screaming Eagle winemaker Nick Gislason, 2019 was a welcome ‘easy’ vintage, ‘and there were some heavy rains in May that made the vintage a beautiful one’. Freshness is a trademark feature of Screaming Eagle, and ‘2019 is a great example’ of that trait, says Gislason, along with ‘fairly soft tannins from the very beginning’.
Oakville 2019: the top-performing producers
- Screaming Eagle
- Vine Hill Ranch
- Dalla Valle Vineyards
- Robert Mondavi
- Oakville Ranch
Cristaldi’s value picks
95 points Oakville Ranch, Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, Napa Valley 2019
95 points Patria, Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, Napa Valley 2019
QUICK LINKS
Napa Cabernet 2019 – individual analysis by AVA:
Calistoga | Coombsville | Howell Mountain | Rutherford | Spring Mountain | St Helena | Stags Leap District | Other Napa Valley AVAs
PLUS: Top-value Napa Cabernet 2019 – the best to buy
Oakville 2019: the top-scoring Cabernets
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Napa Cabernet 2019: full vintage report and top-scoring wines
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Lithology, Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
<p>From the Beckstoffer To Kalon vineyard, blocks C, D and E. Each block is fermented separately in a mix of oak, stainless steel and concrete...
2019
LithologyNapa Valley
Screaming Eagle, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
Power and intensity balanced by so much freshness, tension and energy – quite remarkable. Aromas lead with beautifully delineated black and blue fruits, pops of...
2019
Screaming EagleNapa Valley
Vine Hill Ranch, VHR Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
Fresh, enticing aromas of sappy red and black fruits, leather, sandalwood, cassis, violets and sweet cedar. Gorgeous on entry, brimming with elegance in its finely...
2019
Vine Hill RanchNapa Valley
Harbison, Horseshoe, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
Philanthropists Joe and Pat Harbison own this estate, which enjoys a border with Oakville’s Screaming Eagle. Horseshoe is the Harbison’s west-facing block, named for all...
2019
HarbisonNapa Valley
Dalla Valle Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
Deep, dark and alluring nose of black fruit, rich cedar and cigar box. Well-built, beautiful and balanced, with deeply concentrated, yet fresh and ripe flavours...
2019
Dalla Valle VineyardsNapa Valley
Tor, Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
Powerful, heady aromas of dense dark fruits and rich oak spices, accompanied by pie crust and baker's chocolate. Full-bodied with compact black and blueberry fruit...
2019
TorNapa Valley
Harbison, Pony Express, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
Harbison has 5ha of vines in prime Oakville terroir, bordering Screaming Eagle and Dalla Valle. (Joe and Pat Harbison produced JP Harbison wines from 1998...
2019
HarbisonNapa Valley
Robert Mondavi, The Reserve To Kalon Vineyard, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
This wine has proved to be one of Napa's longest-lived reds, capable of cellaring many decades. If its nose is characteristically reticent, that is to...
2019
Robert MondaviNapa Valley
Harbison, The Trail, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
Joe and Pat Harbison work with consultant winemaker Jean Hoefliger. The vineyard blocks for The Trail are near the front of the property closest to...
2019
HarbisonNapa Valley
Justice, Blind Justice, Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
<p>A dried spice character on the nose, along with black and red fruits and tobacco. Full-bodied and seamless palate with inky black berries, rich potting...
2019
JusticeNapa Valley
Purlieu, Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
Alluring aromas of blue berries and violets, with lots of cedar freshness. Round and richly fruited with tremendous saturation and a plethora of cumin and...
2019
PurlieuNapa Valley
The Vineyard House, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
Consultants Philippe Melka and Maayan Koschitzky stared working with this label in 2018. Sourced from the southwest corner of the property, in a valley between...
2019
The Vineyard HouseNapa Valley
Tor, Tierra Roja Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
Just 13 barrels made from 1.6ha site by Jeff Ames. Big, bold aromas of earth, cumin and fennel, along with red and black fruits leap....
2019
TorNapa Valley
Turnbull, Fortuna Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
Lavish toasty oak spices mingle with toffee and brandied fruit aromas. The silky palate reveals juicy blackberry and blueberry compote, balanced by emerging savoury notes...
2019
TurnbullNapa Valley
Oakville Ranch, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
A stalwart producer from this AVA and just 275 cases were made of this decadent, richly scented Cabernet. Lush blueberry and black cherry compote notes...
2019
Oakville RanchNapa Valley
Patria, Oakville Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
Beautiful purple florals, red and black currants, coffee bean, vanilla, cedar and cocoa nose. Satiny dark berry fruit palate with an ethereal texture – it's...
2019
PatriaNapa Valley
The Setting, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
Explosive aromas of black fruit, dark chocolate, hot cast iron minerality and rich toasty oak spices give way to an easy-drinking, lush palate of berries,...
2019
The SettingNapa Valley
Tierra Roja Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is incredibly pretty on the nose and palate, offering baskets of vivid red and black berry fruits, red florals, baking spices,...
2019
Tierra Roja VineyardsNapa Valley
Baker & Hamilton, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
The inaugural release of Baker & Hamilton from Bruce Phillips, whose family owns Vine Hill Ranch in Oakville, so you can guess where the Cabernet...
2019
Baker & HamiltonNapa Valley
Groth, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
Sumptuous black and blue berries, candied violets and sweet cedar on the nose. Fresh and inviting in the mouth, showing elegant red, black and blue...
2019
GrothNapa Valley
Detert Family Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
Heady aromas of berry liqueur, caramel oak, tobacco leaf and dark potting soil. Dense on the palate, with ample dark berry fruit flavours and robust...
2019
Detert Family VineyardsNapa Valley
Schrader Cellars, Double Diamond Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown says this is sourced from the younger vines in To Kalon and a vineyard on Oakville Cross Road. High-toned red berry...
2019
Schrader CellarsNapa Valley
Nemerever Vineyards, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
Matured in new French oak for 18 months and bottled 14 months prior to release. For all that new wood, the nose is surprisingly elegant,...
2019
Nemerever VineyardsNapa Valley
RD Winery, Hundred Knot Khoai, Oakville Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
A 100% Cabernet from winemaker Tim Milos. Fragrant ripe strawberry, baked cherry, and rich caramel oak. Densely packed palate of dark berry fruit, salted dark...
2019
RD WineryNapa Valley
Tamber Bey, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
Alluring aromas of red fruit, sweet cedar spice and iron shavings. Easy drinking, silky red berry fruit palate enhanced by coffee bean, sagebrush and cocoa...
2019
Tamber BeyNapa Valley
Vine Cliff Winery, Private Stock 16 Rows Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
The winery's top four barrels from its best blocks, aged in 80% new French oak for 20 months. Red currants and dried wild herbs on...
2019
Vine Cliff WineryNapa Valley
The Vice, Batch 60 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2019
With 20 months' ageing in new French oak barrels, this unfiltered and unfined 100% Cabernet leads with brandied cherries and red-toned floral notes. Weighty palate...
2019
The ViceNapa Valley
