Schrader To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

The 2022 vintage started off well, despite a continued drought. August was sunny and mild, and though we expected lower
yields, the outlook was optimistic. Then, in early September, an extreme heat wave struck, bringing vineyard temperatures
over 100 degrees for several days. Grape vines are resilient and can cope with a day or two of high temperatures, but the unrelenting heat of September was unprecedented, leaving us uncertain of what the vintage would yield. Despite these challenges, we pushed ourselves to create a beautiful portfolio that elegantly tells the story of the 2022 vintage and
showcases the strength of perseverance.

To Kalon Vineyard was first planted in 1868 by viticultural and winemaking icon, Hamilton Walker Crabb. It has long
been regarded as the source of Napa Valley’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon. 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 each block of Cabernet Sauvignon to showcase its unique clonal signature and capture the essence
of terroir. This celebration of individuality and focus on provenance and quality is at the heart of Schrader Cellars.

"For longtime Schrader collectors, this is the ‘new’ Schrader's Schrader. Since the fruit sourcing transitioned from Beckstoffer To Kalon to Mondavi's To Kalon side, vineyard manager Blake Wood has begun identifying blocks that meet the high-quality standards. "This, in a way, mimics the RBS bottling of Schrader," says winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, as he and Wood work to capture key blocks within the 177-hectare Mondavi To Kalon site that define the essence of this bottling. Aged for 20 months in 100% new French oak, Brown notes that the structure is excellent, the colour more saturated, and the palate more structured than ever. Intended to be the approachable drinker of the lineup—similar to the former RBS bottling, which featured Clone 337—this wine offers vibrant, upfront appeal. Expect dark cherry cola notes, a touch of sassafras, sweet oak spices, and mocha. Medium to full-bodied with a racy, fresh backbone, it features fine-grained, velvety tannins that lead into a finish layered with wild herbs, fennel and pressed flowers—a lively and captivating wine."
95pts, Decanter