2023 WH

Wappo Hill Vineyard, in the Stags Leap District, was first planted in 1969. Produced from 100% Clone 685 Cabernet Sauvignon, this bottling is sourced from hillside vines planted on well-drained, gravelly, and clay-loam soils. The vines thrive with ample afternoon sun bookended by cool mornings and evenings and produce intensely flavored fruit with exceptionally balanced acidity. The wine features notes of blackberry, red cherry, and briary aromas that combine with pleasing threads of baking spice, floral petal, and dusty earth tones. This stunning wine shows the tremendous power of a classic Napa Valley Cabernet with a polished, long-lasting finish.

Vintage 2023
Vineyard Wappo Hill Vineyard
Appellation Stags Leap District, Napa Valley
Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
Clone 100% Clone 685
Cooperage Aged in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud French oak barrels
Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown

Accolades

95-97 Pts. “Rocking levels of red, blue, and black fruits, graphite, crushed stone, and flowery, spicy notes all shine in the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Wappo Hill Vineyard, a rich, medium to full-bodied, concentrated, seamless barrel sample that has the vintage's pure, focused, structured, and incredibly impressive style."
— Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com
WH Accolades
- 2023 Schrader Wappo Hill 750mL — 95-97 JD
  
  95-97 Pts. “Rocking levels of red, blue, and black fruits, graphite, crushed stone, and flowery, spicy notes all shine in the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Wappo Hill Vineyard, a rich, medium to full-bodied, concentrated, seamless barrel sample that has the vintage's pure, focused, structured, and incredibly impressive style."
  — Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com
- 2022 Wappo Hill Vineyard —
  
  93 Pts. “Coming from a single block in this Stag's Leap vineyard, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Wappo Hill Vineyard is deep ruby/plum-hued and reveals a lifted, perfumed nose of red plums, incense, darker chocolate, and graphite-driven aromatics. These carry to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, textured, expressive 2022 that's perfect for drinking over the coming 10-15 years."
  — Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com
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- 2021 Wappo Hill Vineyard — 97+ JD, 97 WS, 95 WA
  
  97+ Pts “A release that was first produced in 2019, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Wappo Hill Vineyard comes from a site in the Stags Leap District and is all Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in mostly new French oak. Red and black currants, iron, white flowers, candle wax, and spicy notes all emerge from this full-bodied, concentrated yet vibrant, fresh, focused 2021 that has plenty of ripe tannins, a great mid-palate, and one incredible finish. It's going to age beautifully. Give bottles 2-4 years and enjoy over the following two decades or more.”
  — Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com
  97 Pts "This captures the essence of the vintage wonderfully, with vivid notes of violet, anise and iris leading the way for ripe, succulent blackberry, boysenberry and mulberry paste flavors. Offers a flattering melted licorice snap accent along the edges, while the finish packs in brambly energy at its core. This is going to unfurl wonderfully in the cellar. Drink now through 2042.”
  — James Moleworth, Wine Spectator
  95 Pts “Just Schrader's second vintage of this wine (there was no 2020 produced), the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Wappo Hill comes across as a bit tarry, backed by black olives and black cherries. It's full-bodied, silky and almost plush yet retains a savory edge on the vibrant, lingering finish. All clone 685 and matured in a mix of new Taransaud and Darnajou barrels.”
  — The Wine Advocate
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- 2019 Wappo Hill Cabernet Sauvignon — 97 JS, 96 JD, 95 WS, 95-97 WA
  
  97 Pts “This is a fantastic new wine, with crushed berries, stones, and oyster shell with moss and pine needles. Full and linear, with agile acidity that gives the wine energy. It's salty and lively. So focused and mouthwatering. So attractive now, but will age beautifully. ”
  — James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com
  96 Pts “A new wine from this team, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Wappo Hill comes from a famous site in the Stags Leap District and is all Cabernet Sauvignon. At a high level, Stags Leap is a slightly cooler region, and the wines shine for their complexity, and that's certainly the case here. Lots of cassis, violets, graphite, dried flowers, and spicy oak define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, has good acidity, some chalky tannins, and notable freshness and purity. The acidity is higher here, but this still brings plenty of classic Schrader opulence and texture.”
  — Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com
  95 Pts “Showy, with waves of cassis, plum pâte de fruit and blackberry preserves backed by licorice snap, roasted apple wood and cocoa. A nice, racy graphite spine provides necessary support. A hedonist's delight. Drink now through 2035.”
  — James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
  95-97 Pts “...gregarious scents of mulberries, redcurrant jelly, blackberry pie and cassis, plus hints of fragrant earth, bouquet garni, cumin seed, and pencil lead.”
  — Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate
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Vineyard

Wappo Hill Vineyard, located in the upper end of the Stags Leap District, was first planted in 1969. The grapes for our wine are grown on a hillside in well-drained, gravelly, and clay-loam soils. Ample afternoon sun, bookended by cool mornings and evenings, produce intensely flavored fruit with exceptionally balanced acidity.
Vintage

2023 blessed us with what will surely become one of Schrader's most celebrated vintages. Napa Valley experienced its longest growing season in over a decade, with mild, consistent temperatures that allowed for extended hang time and generous yields. These ideal conditions fostered exceptional fruit development, producing wines of unprecedented depth, harmony, and structure. As winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown notes, "It should end up being one of the best vintages of Schrader we've ever bottled."

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2023 WH

Accolades

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