#15 Wine Spectator Top 100 (2010 edition - 2007 vintage)
#20 Wine Spectator Top 100 (2008 edition - 2005 vintage)
 
98+Points by Robert Parker, James Suckling & Jeb Dunnuck.
The grapes used in the creation of this wine came from the Beckstoffer Family's portion of H. W. Crabb's original To Kalon Vineyard which was established in 1868.
Lots of violets, flowery incense, cassis, and spice notes emerge from the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS, a full-bodied, silky, elegant 2019 that shines just as much for its purity and balance as its richness and depth. Possessing good acidity, a lively, vibrant mouthfeel, supple tannins, and a great finish. Drink now!
Aged in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud French oak barrels.
 
Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown
In the past decade, superstar winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown has received 25 perfect 100-point scores from wine critic Robert Parker for Cabernet Sauvignons he has crafted, which is why dozens of Napa Valley wineries pay him the big bucks as a consultant.
 
Schrader Cellars is a cult Napa Valley winery founded by former antiques dealer Fred Schrader. Its focus is on premium Cabernet Sauvignon from single parcels and single vineyards – the most famous of which is the Old Sparky label, produced from the renowned Beckstoffer To Kalon vineyard.
Schrader entered the wine industry in 1992, founding Colgin Schrader Cellars with his then-wife Ann Colgin (who would go on to found Colgin Cellars). In 1998, he left to start his own label, bringing on board winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown and grape grower W. Andrew Beckstoffer.
Schrader makes a range of wines from Napa, most of which are made from Cabernet Sauvignon. The most significant vineyard associated with the label is the Beckstoffer To Kalon vineyard in Oakville, which provides an excellent growing environment for Cabernet Sauvignon: high mineral content and superb drainage in the soil, lots of sun exposure, and a coastal breeze for cool nights.
In 2008, Schrader Cellars became the first winery to receive 100-point reviews from US critic Robert Parker for the same wine across four consecutive vintages, a recognition that it received for two labels, both the Schrader CCS (from the initials of Carol Colesworthy Schrader, Schrader's partner) and the Old Sparky.
The small production of Schrader Cellars is mostly distributed through its mailing list, which can have a wait time of two to three years.
Schrader Cellars was bought by drinks giant Constellation in 2017 in a reported US$60 million deal.
 
Vineyard Notes
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®.