Napa’s Royal Reds: The Taste of Oakville 2026

There aren’t many tastings in California where the wine trade lines up more than an hour in advance of the doors opening. But that’s precisely what happens ahead of the annual Oakville Winegrowers event in Napa Valley. Why? Because for many, myself included, this tasting is the sole opportunity each year to taste many of Napa’s most sought-after and exclusive wines. The Oakville AVA hosts a large percentage of the so-called cult wines of Napa Valley, including names such as Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, Harlan Estate, and BOND—and most of these are available for tasting at the event. This year, the event returned to its customary home at the recently remodeled Robert Mondavi Winery. The space was lovely, though the combination of indoor and outdoor space suffered a bit in the heat of the day, making for a less than ideal tasting environment. Despite the warmth, an enthusiastic crowd of buyers, consultants, sommeliers, and wine writers gathered to see what the 2022 and 2023 vintages looked like from this storied stretch of Napa Valley. Personally, all other things being equal, I favor the generally cooler 2023 vintage when it comes to Napa Cabernet. However, many top producers in the valley made exceptional 2022 wines that don’t obviously show the much hotter qualities of that year. The standout of the tasting, however, was the 2021 ULYSSES Red Wine that Christian Moueix makes from a 40-acre parcel that was once part of the Charles Hopper Ranch in Oakville. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with a bit of Cabernet Franc and a touch of Petit Verdot, it had incredible balance and complexity with a texture that was extremely beguiling. A proper pairing for the summer of the The Odyssey, and an incredible deal at $175 per bottle, if you can get ahold of one. Looking up current prices for these wines on Wine-Searcher offers a sobering reminder of just how expensive Napa Valley Cabernet has become. I’m a serious and dedicated wine lover, but I very rarely pay more than $100 for a bottle of wine at retail. The top-scoring wines below average roughly $327 per bottle. That staggering figure puts them firmly out of reach for all but the wealthiest wine lovers. Many factors have contributed to the rising price of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, but prices at this level increasingly turn wines into collectibles and markers of social capital rather than bottles to be opened and enjoyed. I think that’s a real shame. Scores Sometimes at large public tastings, I prefer to taste as widely as possible, and then simply score wines rather than trying to make coherent notes on 100+ bottles. Given the size of the tasting, the crush of people, as well as the heat, that’s the approach I decided to take at this event. Those who prefer wine evaluation done in more controlled conditions are welcome to take these scores with a grain of salt. Wines With a Score Between 9.5 and 10 2021 ULYSSES Red Wine. $175 buy. Wines With a Score Around 9.5 2022 BOND “Vecina” Red Wine. $400 buy. 2022 BOND “St. Eden” Red Wine. $?? 2023 Dalla Valle Collina Red Wine. $150 buy. 2023 Dalla Valle Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon. $300 buy. 2022 Far Niente “Benson Vale” Cabernet Sauvignon. $517 buy. 2022 Favia Wines Cabernet Sauvignon. $267 buy. 2015 FUTO Estate “Oakville Estate” Red Wine. $368 buy. 2023 FUTO Estate “Oakville Estate” Cabernet Sauvignon. $300 buy. 2022 Harlan Estate Proprietary Red. $1900 buy. 2023 MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon. $475 buy. 2021 Morlet Family Vineyards “Force Tranquille” Cabernet Franc. $337 buy. 2021 Morlet Family Vineyards “Coeur de Vallée” Cabernet Sauvignon. $229 buy. 2021 Morlet Family Vineyards “Passionnément” Cabernet Sauvignon. $397 buy. 2012 Robert Mondavi Winery “The Reserve – To Kalon Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon. $195 buy. 2022 Rudd Estate “Samantha’s” Cabernet Sauvignon. $257 buy. 2022 Rudd Estate “Oakville Estate” Red Wine. $300 buy. 2023 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon. $2800 buy. 2023 Tierra Roja “Tierra Roja” Cabernet Sauvignon. $225 buy. Wines With a Score Between 9 and 9.5 2022 B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon. $150 buy. 2022 Detert Family Vineyards “East Block” Cabernet Franc. $225 buy. 2023 Ehrlich Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. $158 buy. 2023 Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon. $127 buy. 2023 Favia Cabernet Sauvignon. $154 buy. 2022 Gamble Estates Cabernet Sauvignon. $229 buy. 2023 Gamble Estates Cabernet Sauvignon. $229 2023 Ghost Block Estate “Estate” Cabernet Sauvignon. $81 buy. 2024 Ghost Block Estate “Pelissa Vineyard” Zinfandel. $41 buy. 2022 Groth Vineyards & Winery “Oakcross” Proprietary Red. $111 buy. 2022 Groth Vineyards & Winery “Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon. $169 buy. 2019 Heitz Cellar “Martha’s Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon. $330 buy. 2025 Martha’s Vineyard “One & Only (Barrel Sample)” Cabernet Sauvignon. $tbd 2023 Nickel & Nickel “John C. Sullenger Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon. $105 buy. 2018 Nickel & Nickel “John C. Sullenger Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon. $125 buy. 2021 Oakville Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon. $150 buy. 2022 Opus One Red Wine. $495 buy. 2022 Robert Mondavi Winery “The Reserve – To Kalon Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon. $250 buy. 2023 Schrader Cellars “Monastery Block” Cabernet Sauvignon. $510 buy. 2023 Spoto Family Wines “Oakville Cuvée Christiane” Red Wine. $90 buy. 2012 Spoto Family Wines “Oakville Private Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon. $125 buy. 2023 Tench Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. $200 buy. 2023 Tench Estate “Lilian John” Red Wine. $130 buy. 2023 TOR “Oakville” Cabernet Sauvignon. $100 buy. 2023 TOR “Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon. $320 buy. 2022 Turnbull Wine Cellars “Oakville Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon. $110 buy. 2022 Turnbull Wine Cellars “Black Label” Cabernet Sauvignon. $175 buy. 2023 VHR, Vine Hill Ranch “Baker & Hamilton” Cabernet Sauvignon. $90 buy. 2023 VHR, Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon. $325 buy. 2018 Zeitgeist Cellars “Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Station” Cabernet Sauvignon. $235 Wines With a Score Around 9 2023 B Cellars “Ehrlich Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon. $158 buy. 2023 Detert Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon. $128 buy. 2023 Detert Family Vineyards Cabernet Franc. $128 buy. 2024 Fait-Main Wines “Weitz Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon. $?? 2024 Fait-Main Wines “Tierra Roja Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon. $250 2023 Gamble Estates “Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon. $?? 2023 Gargiulo Vineyards “Money Road Ranch” Cabernet Sauvignon. $165 buy. 2022 Gargiulo Vineyards “G Major 7” Cabernet Sauvignon. $200 buy. 2023 Groth Vineyards & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon. $80 buy. 2022 Harbison Estate “Pony Express” Red Wine. $450 buy. 2018 Heitz Cellar “Martha’s Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon. $325 buy. 2023 Maybach Family Vineyards “Materium” Cabernet Sauvignon. $300 buy. 2021 Meyer Family Cellars “Le Bon Bon” Cabernet Sauvignon. $135 buy. 2016 Meyer Family Cellars “Bonny’s” Cabernet Sauvignon. $139 buy. 2023 Narsai David Estates “Cuvée Venus” Cabernet Sauvignon. $?? 2022 Narsai David Estates “Cuvée Venus” Cabernet Sauvignon. $?? 2019 Oakville Ranch “Oakville Ranch” Red Blend. $?? 2016 Paradigm Winery Cabernet Sauvignon. $126 buy. 2011 Paradigm Winery Cabernet Sauvignon $n/a 2016 Peter Michael Winery “Au Paradis” Cabernet Sauvignon. $243 buy. 2022 Peter Michael Winery “Au Paradis” Cabernet Sauvignon. $266 buy. 2019 Raymond Vineyards “District Collection Oakville” Cabernet Sauvignon. $135 buy. 2016 Raymond Vineyards “District Collection Oakville” Cabernet Sauvignon. $n/a 2023 Screaming Eagle “The Flight” Red Wine. $1000 buy. 2022 Spoto Family Wines “I Want You” Cabernet Sauvignon. $n/a 2022 To Kalon Vineyard Co. “Eliza’s To Kalon Vineyard” Red Wine. $240 buy. 2022 To Kalon Vineyard Company “Highest Beauty” Cabernet Sauvignon. $216 buy. 2022 Vine Cliff “Oakville Estate” Cabernet Sauvignon. $160 buy. 2023 Zeitgeist Cellars “Oakville Station” Cabernet Sauvignon. $213 buy. Wines With a Score Between 8.5 and 9 2023 B Cellars “Game Farm Vineyard” Sangiovese. $85 buy. 2023 Gargiulo Vineyards “Aprile – Super Oakville Blend” Red Wine. $87 buy. 2022 Harbison Estate “Horseshoe” Red Wine. $?? 2022 Harbison Estate “The Trail” Red Wine. $?? 2017 Harbison Estate “The Trail” Red Wine. $235 buy. 2021 Kelleher Family Vineyards “Brix” Cabernet Sauvignon. $120 buy. 2016 Kelleher Family Vineyards “Brix” Cabernet Sauvignon. $152 buy. 2023 Meyer Family Cellars “Fluffy Billows” Cabernet Sauvignon. $58 buy. 2011 Miner Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon. $n/a 2022 Paradigm Winery Cabernet Sauvignon. $102 buy. 2019 Patria Wines “Oakville Ranch Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon. $100 buy. 2023 Patria Wines “Oakville Ranch Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon. $125 buy. 2022 PlumpJack Estate Winery “Estate” Cabernet Sauvignon. $198 buy. 2022 Saddleback Cellars “Oakville” Cabernet Sauvignon. $85 buy. 2023 Tamber Bey “Oakville Estate Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon. $185 buy. 2023 Tamber Bay “Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper” Cabernet Sauvignon. $?? 2022 Vine Cliff “Private Stock 16 Rows” Cabernet Sauvignon. $220 buy. Wines With a Score Around 8.5 2023 Goldschmidt Vineyards “Hilary Goldschmidt Charming Creek” Cabernet Sauvignon. $52 buy. 2022 Goldschmidt Vineyards “Game Ranch” Cabernet Sauvignon. $97 buy. 2022 Goldschmidt Vineyards “The Conspirator” Red Wine Blend. $50 buy. 2014 Kelleher Family Vineyards “Bari’s” Cabernet Sauvignon. $?? 2017 Miner Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon. $75 buy. 2021 Miner Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon. $95 buy. 2022 Nemerever Vineyards “Estate” Cabernet Sauvignon. $125 2023 Oakville Ranch Field Blend Red Wine. $111 2023 Patria Wines “Oakville Ranch Vineyard Avoyelles” Red Blend. $167 buy. 2021 Stanton Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon. $83 buy. 2014 Teaderman Vineyards “Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon. $?? 2017 Teaderman Vineyards “Estate” Cabernet Sauvignon. $?? Wines With a Score Between 8 and 8.5 2023 Nemerever Vineyards “Estate” Cabernet Sauvignon. $125 2020 Stanton Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon. $100 2023 Villa Ragazzi Sangiovese. $42 2023 Villa Ragazzi Cabernet Sauvignon. $?? Wines With a Score Around 8 2019 Vine Cliff Cabernet Sauvignon. $165