2013 CCS


Hailed by legendary critic Robert Parker as "one of those incredibly hedonistic, yet intellectually satisfying wines that fills the olfactory senses and saturates the palate with incredible blue and black fruits," this young 2013 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS brilliantly carries forward the tradition of excellence established by the Schrader CCS marque. On the nose the wine releases notes of Blackberry and Cassis intermixed with notes of graphite. Nobly structured with great balance and richness, this immense wine offers an astonishingly long, luxurious finish.

  • Vintage 2013
  • Alcohol 14.5%
  • Vineyard Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
  • Appellation Oakville, Napa Valley
  • Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Clone Pure Clone 4
  • Cooperage Aged 20 months in rare Darnajou French oak barrels
  • Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown
  • Tasting Notes

    Hailed by legendary critic Robert Parker as “one of those incredibly hedonistic, yet intellectually satisfying wines that fills the olfactory senses and saturates the palate with incredible blue and black fruits,” this young wine brilliantly carries forward the tradition of excellence established by the Schrader CCS marque. On the nose the wine releases notes of Blackberry and Cassis intermixed with notes of graphite. Nobly structured with great balance and richness, this immense wine offers an astonishingly long, luxurious finish.

  • Accolades

    100 Pts. “There is something ethereal about the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon CCS, a wine that I tend to give more perfect scores to than of the other Schrader offerings. This is clone 4 from a special block of the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville, and it always seems to have these incredible, explosive aromatics ranging from blueberry to blackberry to cassis to spring flowers and lead pencil shavings. It's always one of the more seductive wines early on, with sweet, velvety tannins, a plush, succulent mouthfeel, full-bodied splendor and majestic texture. This is a killer effort of great intensity and presence. Drink it over then next 25-30 years.”
    — Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

    99 Pts. “So aromatic and floral with violet, lilac, and sage character. Full body, very cool. Lots of blue fruit. Hints of sweet tobacco, lemon grass and white pepper. Needs two or three years to open. Muscular. Better in 2023.”
    — James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com

  • Vineyard

    First planted in 1868 by viticultural and winemaking icon Hamilton Crabb, To Kalon Vineyard® has long been regarded as the source of Napa Valley’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Within the prime vineyard blocks, an alluvial fan provides excellent and varied mineral deposits, and the rich soils are filled with marine sediment that gives our wines their distinctive profiles. The vines receive full sun and optimal heat during the day and are cooled by marine fog at night. These conditions allow the Cabernet Sauvignon planted in the vineyard to display its own unique character, and this celebration of individuality is the essence of Schrader ®.

  • Vintage

    In 2013 the grapes enjoyed month upon glorious month of effortless sunny days followed by clear, cool nights. Warm spring temperatures gave way to an early budbreak and the consistent, dry weather afforded an optimal fruit set. The favorable conditions seamlessly continued through the summer and we faced none of the rogue heat spikes or rain threats that might otherwise challenge a strong vintage. Once in barrel, the wine continued to develop and gain profound flavors that led to winemaker Thomas Brown stating “These are the finest wines I have ever made.”