The 2021 Schrader "Old Sparky" Cabernet Sauvignon is the kind of wine that turns heads—big, bold, and beautifully made from Napa's legendary To Kalon Vineyard. It’s a top-tier bottle crafted from the best barrels of the vintage, blending power with polish in classic Schrader style. Think rich black fruit, silky tannins, and layers of complexity that only get better with time.

James Suckling | JS 100
Published: May 30, 2024

This elite wine in the Schrader lineup is a selection of the best barrels from three cabernet clones planted in the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville. Ultra ripe in flavor, creamy in texture, with tannins that are soft at first but firm up on the finish. Generous in chocolate, black cherries, blueberries and those broad, melted tannins. Very full-bodied at 15.5% alcohol, but it has inherent acidity for balance. Tasted from a magnum. Drinkable now, but best from 2030.

The Wine Advocate | RP 98
Published: 31 Jan 2024
Drink: 2025-2045

A best-barrel selection and blend chosen and made by Thomas Rivers Brown, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Sparky Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard essentially takes the characters of the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard bottling and ratchets up the intensity. Raspberries, blackberries and black cherries cascade over a base of deep Oakville loam and dried spices. It's full-bodied, rich, concentrated and almost creamy in texture, finishing lush and long. Bottled in magnum. 

There have been few changes visible to consumers since Constellation Brands purchased Schrader in 2017. Thomas Rivers Brown has remained as the consultant, much of the grape sourcing has remained constant, and quality, thankfully, hasn't dropped off.

With the availability of additional fruit from the Mondavi vineyard holdings—both within To Kalon and outside of it—Brown has had the opportunity to make wine and add bottlings from different blocks. The Mondavi Heritage Clone To Kalon Vineyard is perhaps the most notable success. The Double Diamond wines—there's now a Proprietary Red as well as a Cabernet Sauvignon—provide relatively affordable on-ramps to the Schrader portfolio.

The Schrader 2021s reviewed here are all excellent examples of their respective sites and the Thomas Rivers Brown style. The vintage character comes through as well, as the wines do show a slightly more concentrated, tannic edge than in many previous years. They should age particularly well. Fans of the wines may want to stock up if possible, as 2022 looks considerably more uneven throughout Napa Valley. When Brown doesn't hesitate in calling 2022 "the worst non-fire vintage I've seen," readers should take notice.

Decanter | D 98
Published: Mar 6, 2024
Drink: 2024-2040

The 2021 Schrader Cellars Old Sparky Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon hails from a tiny vintage crop. A super-expressive nose of blackberry fruit and wild herbs leaps out of the glass with fragrant sandalwood and mocha. Full-bodied, with luscious and succulent black-toned fruits, this red shows satiny, polished tannins framed by a wealth of ironstone mineral notes through an exceptionally long finish nuanced by spicy herbs.

Schradercellars.com

The most coveted bottling in the portfolio, Old Sparky Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from a section of the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard that is planted on rich soils containing ancient marine sediment and an alluvial fan that provides excellent mineral deposits. Blended from a selection of only the best barrels from the vintage, the wine is full-bodied with concentrated black and purple fruit balanced with elegant floral and spice notes, fresh acidity, and firm ripe tannins. A wine that is built to age and recommended to cellar for 12-15 years.

Technical Specs

Alcohol: 15.5% ABV
Closure: Natural cork
Harvest: 2021
Oak: Aged in 100% new French oak barrels from Darnajou and Taransaud cooperages
Varietals: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon; blended from Clones 4, 6 and 337
Farming: Sustainable certification not specified
Vineyard Area: Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, Oakville, Napa Valley, California, USA. Rich alluvial soils containing ancient marine sediment and mineral deposits
Harvest: 2021 vintage; exact harvest dates not confirmed
Vinification: A prestigious, limited-production cuvée blended from a selection of the finest barrels of the vintage. The wine showcases concentrated black and purple fruit, elegant floral and spice notes, fresh acidity and firm, ripe tannins. Matured in new French oak to add complexity, structure and depth. Produced exclusively in magnum format.
Winemaker: Thomas Rivers Brown
Region: Oakville AVA, Napa Valley, California, USA

Serving Temperature: 16–18°C
Decanting: 2 hours
Food Pairing: Dry-aged ribeye steak, roast beef, braised short ribs, roast lamb, venison and mature hard cheeses.