Napa Cabernet 2020: Vintage report and top recommendations
After what turned out to be a difficult and traumatic growing season across California, those who were able to did manage to produce many high-quality wines, albeit often in small quantity, as our expert summary reveals. Follow advice where you can, and consider drinking rather than keeping long term.
Napa Cabernet 2020 vintage rating: 3.5 stars
The wines often show the warmth of the vintage, with rich, riper red fruits, dusty mineral notes, and burly, almost rustic tannins due to heat spikes. Many are medium- to full-bodied, compact and rather tight at the pull of the cork. They gain in volume and soften with decanting.
Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the top 34 Napa Cabernet 2020 wines
Individual AVA posts:
Rutherford | Oakville | Coombsville | St Helena | Stags Leap District
Luck and timing
Value & quality: Cristaldi’s 2020 Napa top picks
Choose advisedly
See the Napa Cabernet 2020 score table
Napa Cabernet 2020 recommendations
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Paul Hobbs, Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard, St Helena, Napa Valley, California, USA 2020
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Beaulieu Vineyard, Rutherford Reserve, Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, USA 2020
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Stags' Leap, The Leap, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District, California, USA 2020
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Spottswoode, Napa Valley, St Helena, California, USA, 2020
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Screaming Eagle, Napa Valley, California, USA, 2020
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Cathiard Vineyard, Napa Valley, California, USA, 2020
Ripe and juicy blue fruit aromas on the nose with some soft wood spice, acaia, liquorice, a touch of California heat in the aromas but...
2020
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Corison, Kronos Vineyard, Napa Valley, St Helena, California, USA 2020
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2020
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DVO, Napa Valley Red, Napa County, California, USA 2020
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2020
DVONapa Valley
Favia, Napa Valley, Coombsville, California, USA, 2020
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Morisoli Vineyard, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA 2020
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Morlet Family Vineyards, Napa Valley, St Helena, California, USA 2020
Such an elegant pure, pretty wine with finesse of character and juicy, bright energy. Heady and lifted aromatics lead with red and black-toned fruit, cherry...
2020
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Morlet Family Vineyards, Coeur de Vallée, Napa Valley, California, USA 2020
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Paul Hobbs, Nathan Coombs Estate, Napa Valley, Coombsville, California, USA 2020
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Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, Fay, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District, California, USA 2020
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B Cellars, Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA 2020
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2020
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Corison, Sunbasket Vineyard, Napa Valley, St Helena, California, USA 2020
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Harbison, 3-Blocks, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA 2020
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Kanpai Wines, Hi No Tori Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll, California, USA 2020
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Paul Hobbs, Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard, St Helena, Napa Valley, California, USA 2020
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Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, CASK 23, Napa Valley, California, USA 2020
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2020
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Wappo Hill, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA 2020
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2020
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B Cellars, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2020
B Cellar works with nine different Oakville AVA Cabernet sites. Lovely dark berry fruits, dusty herbs, anise, and rose petal notes lead to a medium-...
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Beringer, Private Reserve, Napa Valley, California, USA 2020
The Private Reserve is both expressive and reticent and, with some time, could prove a stand-out of the vintage. A very classic Napa Cabernet nose...
2020
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Clos Pegase, Milat Ranch Block 7, Napa Valley, St Helena, California, USA 2020
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2020
Clos PegaseNapa Valley
Monticello Vineyards, Monticello Estate, Napa Valley, California, USA 2020
The 2020 Monticello Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is a pleasure-packed, layered red with ample weight and structure, balanced by a remarkable lightness. Rich, savoury, and classically...
2020
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Pride Mountain Vineyards, Vintner Select Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA 2020
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2020
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The Setting, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2020
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2020
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Vine Hill Ranch, VHR, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA 2020
The 2020 VHR achieves a dramatic balance of opulence and structure. Leading with plump dark fruit, fragrant brown spices, capsicum and bay laurel. Full-bodied with...
2020
Vine Hill RanchNapa Valley
Beaulieu Vineyard, Rutherford Reserve, Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, USA 2020
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2020
Beaulieu VineyardNapa Valley
Black Stallion, Collector Edition, Napa Valley, Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, USA 2020
Only the third vintage Black Stallion has bottled from the Rutherford AVA, and it's a savoury, pleasure-packed gem of the vintage. Gorgeous capsicum and dusty...
2020
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Dalla Valle Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA 2020
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2020
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Salvestrin, Dr Crane Vineyard, Napa Valley, St Helena, California, USA 2020
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2020
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Stags' Leap, The Leap, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District, California, USA 2020
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2020
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Whitehall Lane, Millennium MM Vineyard, Napa Valley, California, USA 2020
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