2021 MB

The Monastery Block is located on the western side of the To Kalon Vineyard, nestled against the foothills of the Mayacamas adjacent to the Carmelite monastery from which it takes its name. The wine is produced from 100% Clone 169 Cabernet Sauvignon planted on well-drained gravelly soils, showing a classic Oakville expression that balances rich black fruit with minerality and a floral component. Elegant and classically styled, this wine is generous, layered, and fresh.

Vintage 2021
Alcohol 14.5%
Vineyard To Kalon Vineyard, Monastery Block
Appellation Oakville, Napa Valley
Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
Clone Pure Clone 169
Cooperage Aged in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud French oak barrels
Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown

Tasting Notes

Profoundly rich, the Schrader Monastery Block is a force of nature. Grown in the famed Monastery Block, the wine shows very deep purple to black color and upon entry, offers aromas of blueberries, black cherries, black plums, and cassis that burst from the glass. The rich fruit aromas combine with notes of graphite, violets, sweet saddle leather, and licorice, all of which perfectly carry through to the ample flavors. The wine fills the senses and the silky smooth texture soothes the soul. The natural balance and firm structure beautifully support the monumental fruit core.
Accolades

97 Pts “An exotic version, offering a dense, gushing wave of blackberry, fig and black currant compote flavors laced liberally with menthol, alder, sweet tobacco and savory notes. Shows both lush and burly aspects, with a long finish that melds its fruit and savory sides and frames them in a mouthwatering bittersweet cocoa detail. Best from 2025 through 2045.”
— James Moleworth, Wine Spectator
94+ Pts “Closed and slightly hard to read on this occasion, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Monastery Block is full-bodied and impressively concentrated, with ripe black fruits, smoky oak, scorched earth, and graphite-like aromas and flavors. One of the more firm and inward wines in the lineup, it needs to be forgotten for 3-4 years and it should be long-lived.”
— Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com
93 Pts “All clone 169 from a block on the western edge of the vineyard, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Monastery Block To Kalon Vineyard delivers waves of black cherries and loamy earth, plus intriguing accents reminiscent of black tea. It's medium to full-bod...
MB Accolades
- 2022 To Kalon Vineyard MB —
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- 2021 To Kalon Vineyard MB — 97 WS, 94+ JD, 93 WA
  
  97 Pts “An exotic version, offering a dense, gushing wave of blackberry, fig and black currant compote flavors laced liberally with menthol, alder, sweet tobacco and savory notes. Shows both lush and burly aspects, with a long finish that melds its fruit and savory sides and frames them in a mouthwatering bittersweet cocoa detail. Best from 2025 through 2045.”
  — James Moleworth, Wine Spectator
  94+ Pts “Closed and slightly hard to read on this occasion, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Monastery Block is full-bodied and impressively concentrated, with ripe black fruits, smoky oak, scorched earth, and graphite-like aromas and flavors. One of the more firm and inward wines in the lineup, it needs to be forgotten for 3-4 years and it should be long-lived.”
  — Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com
  93 Pts “All clone 169 from a block on the western edge of the vineyard, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Monastery Block To Kalon Vineyard delivers waves of black cherries and loamy earth, plus intriguing accents reminiscent of black tea. It's medium to full-bodied, firm and tannic, showing solid depth and ripeness, without the seamlessness shown by some of the other Schrader bottlings.”
  — The Wine Advocate
- 2019 To Kalon Vineyard Monastery Block MB — 98 JS, 97 JD, 96 WS, 97-100 WA
  
  98 Pts “A fine, effusive quality from the sandalwood, violets, black pepper and blackberry concentrate. Quite a denser and more muscular expression, yet you won't feel any chew from the tannins, as they melt into the dark fruit. Long and focused. Much better if you can wait for a few years. Try from 2026.”
  — James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com
  97 Pts “Revealing a vivid purple hue as well as a powerful, more black-fruited, iron, tobacco, and scorched earth-like aromatic profile, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Monastery Block is full-bodied, has a rich, powerful attack, great mid-palate density, and brilliant tannins. Coming from a famous block located on the western side of this great vineyard, brought up in new barrels, it's another 2019 that has a rounded, supple, approachable style while also bringing impressive density, depth, and structure.”
  — Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com
  96 Pts “A dark and winey style, with loads of plum, blackberry and black currant preserves tumbling through, enlivened with apple wood, anise and bramble along the way. The finish is underscored by a swath of loam and tar but the fruit keeps the upper hand, ending with a flourish of additional spice, incense and iron. A wine that flaunts it—because it can. Best from 2024 through 2038.”
  — James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
  97-100 Pts “The full-bodied palate reveals wonderfully impactful black and blue fruit layers with a to-die-for backbone of very finely grained tannins and fantastic freshness.... Very impressive!”
  — Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate
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- 2018 To Kalon Vineyard MB — 98+ WA, 98 JS, 97+ JD, 96 WS
  
  98+ Pts. “Only the second vintage of this new Schrader label, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Monastery Block To Kalon Vineyard comes from clone 169 planted on the Monastery Block of the Robert Mondavi section of To Kalon vineyard in Oakville. One hundred percent Cabernet Sauvignon, it is was aged in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud French oak barrels for 18 months. Deep garnet-purple in color, the nose is shut down, requiring a fair amount of swirling to unveil pronounced black currant cordial, stewed plums and blackberry preserves scents with hints of crushed rocks, tar, licorice and camphor. Medium-bodied, the palate reveals a lot of energy and tension, offering glimpses of mineral and spice accents among the tightly knit, muscular black fruit layers, supported by a solid wall of firm, grainy tannins. It finishes with great length and a lively burst of freshness. 302 cases were made.”
  — Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate
  98 Pts. “An expressive and complex cabernet sauvignon with notes of plum, blackberry, toasted oak and earthy undertones. Lots of blue fruit. The palate is full and tannic with firm tannins and a long, powerful finish, showing so much black currant, blue fruit and dark chocolate. Solid. Better after 2024.”
  — James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com
  97+ Pts. “Coming from the historic Monastery Block in this Grand Cru vineyard, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard MB offers a beautifully layered, full-bodied, yet structured profile that's going to benefit from bottle age. Lots of blackcurrants, gravelly earth, dark chocolate, and liquid violet-like nuances give way to a concentrated 2018 with a wonderful mid-palate, building tannins, and a great finish. Do your best to hide bottles for 4-5 years, and this puppy should be long-lived!”
  — Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com
  96 Pts. “This is laden with vibrant fruit, showing flavors of cassis, kirsch, linzer and acai berry, while violet, apple wood and melted licorice notes fill in where they can. Shows a bramby hint through the back end, adding good energy to the massively endowed fruit core. The finish echoes and echoes with fruit. Best from 2022 through 2038.”
  — James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
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- 2017 To Kalon Vineyard MB — 97+ WA, 95 JS, 94 WS, 94 JD
  
  97+ Pts. “Very deep purple-black colored, it bursts from the glass with a fruit explosion of blueberry compote, freshly crushed black plums, black cherry preserves and cassis, giving way to touches of red roses, cigar boxes, yeast extract and fallen leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a fantastic frame of bold freshness and very finely grained, firm tannins, impressively supporting the mouth-coating blue and black fruits, finishing very long and very perfumed.”
  — Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate
  
  95 Pts. “Fabulous aromas of crushed black currants, licorice, tar and violet. Inkwell, too. Medium body and tight, linear tannins that are polished and chewy. Driven finish. Needs time to open. First vintage of this wine and from Constellation's To Kalon holdings. Drink after 2022.”
  — James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com
  
  94 Pts. “Shows a beautiful range of warmed sassafras, sage and bay leaf aromas, with black tea and juniper hints, all of which impart a sense of lift and volume to the steeped plum and açaí berry core. Reveals a smoldering loam note through the finish. Best from 2021 through 2036. 646 cases made.”
  — James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
  94 Pts. “The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Monastery Block is always terrific, yet I always find it more linear and foursquare compared to some of the other releases in the lineup. Nevertheless, it offers a terrific bouquet of gravelly earth, ground herbs, chocolaty dark fruits, and some obvious minerality. This full-bodied Cabernet is going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 15-20 plus.”
  — Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com
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Vineyard

Monastery Block, a part of our To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville, is home to some of the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines in California. Dry farmed in the highly gravelly soil, the block is nestled into the foothills of the Mayacamas next to the Carmelite monastery from which it takes its name. Great wines start with great vineyards and a great winemaker. For nearly two decades, we have researched, trialed, and procured what we feel are the finest vineyard sites for producing benchmark Cabernets in the Napa Valley. This new exploration is truly worthy of the Schrader name.

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