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.
An enthusiastic crowd of tasters, despite the heat at Robert Mondavi Winery
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…
Source : https://www.vinography.com/2026/08/napas-royal-reds-the-taste-of-oakville-2026
