Schrader Cellars 10-Year Retrospective Tasting

WINE TALK
1

For $200, this seems more than fair in this current market…

We cordially invite you to a special 10-Year Retrospective Tasting at the To Kalon Collective at Arch & Tower in downtown Napa. This exclusive event is a celebration of our proud legacy and will feature several library wines from the 2012, 2013, and 2014 vintages including Old Sparky, Colesworthy and more.

This event is a rare opportunity to taste and purchase wines from the 2012, 2013, and 2014 vintages.

We will have several library selections and collections available. Additionally, if you have not had the opportunity to experience our new Schrader Cellars Member tasting at the To Kalon Collective at Arch & Tower, the event will provide a unique opportunity to get a sneak peek into our new home in downtown Napa.

A full list of wines that we will be pouring can be found below but we will have additional library selections available for our members to purchase:

• 2012 Schrader Cellars Old Sparky Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
• 2013 Schrader Cellars Old Sparky Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
• 2014 Schrader Cellars Old Sparky Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
• 2012 Schrader Cellars Colesworthy Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard
• 2013 Schrader Cellars Colesworthy Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard
• 2014 Schrader Cellars Colesworthy Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard
• 2013 Schrader Cellars T6 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
• 2014 Schrader Cellars T6 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
• 2012 Schrader Cellars RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
• 2013 Schrader Cellars RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
• 2014 Schrader Cellars RBS Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard
• 2013 Schrader Cellars GIII Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard
• 2014 Schrader Cellars GIII Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

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Never tasted any Schrader, but this is the type of event I’d jump at. If you go, please report back

3

That is the definition of a no brainer and I’m not a cab drinker

The 12 and 13 Old Sparky are over $500 a bottle by themselves and where would get access?

I’ve been very fortunate to taste many of these courtesy of @Steve_Nordhoff and they’re big and delicious

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4

1000% agree! Price is more than fair and that is a killer vertical. I haven’t had a ton of Schrader, but every time i have, it always come out on top vs. Other very high-end cabs.

5

This event sounds fantastic and fascinating for those who really want to understand this Winery and their style. I would be curious to go just to see how these wines develop overtime. I’ve only had younger ones and they were pretty big and not entirely distinctive. Wondering what bottle age does for these. I’ve also had people tell me that these wines age really well but that they stay pretty fresh the entire time.

Cheers

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I’ve them a couple of times with 15+ years. Doesn’t make a big dent other than rounding out some of the tannins.

BRIGCAMPBELL WROTE:

June 24, 2023 - Blind; I suspected this was a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and I guess the correct vintage of 2007. No idea on the producer.

I like this wine, good thing because Carol Schrader was sitting right across the table from me. LOL

It’s big in its concentration of color and flavor dominated by dark cassis and a creamy texture.

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Thanks for the reply, my friend. The interesting thing is that when I opened a newer release, the tannins already seemed pretty mellow and therefore I wasn’t sure what there was to round out. I hope that makes sense.

Have you found that to be the case with newer releases or do you find them pretty tannic any time to resolve?

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Not Brig, but having drank 2010’s - 13’s young they had a lot of tannin, but a lot of ripe tannin. I find that with TRB wines, they are tannic and structured, but the tannins are more in the round spectrum than jagged…if that makes sense.

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It’s always challenging to describe things like tannins in variable terms. I understand what you were saying entirely.

That said, if those tans are already somewhat round, how will they soften overtime? And what development might one truly expect?

I’m just really curious about the style of wine and how it evolves overtime or whether it does or not.

Cheers.

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Not sure what you are asking as tannin is tannin and just because tannins aren’t jagged much if ever post-2000 there is still a sizable tannic presence in the wines, it’s just enveloped by fruit and 10, 12, 13 were all fairly solar years so that would be expected.

I don’t think a wine has to have unripe or jagged tannins to age well, it’s moee about tannic load in the wine. Ripe tannins still have a drying presence on the palate that can be felt.

For me the difference between them younger and older is the fruit flavors and aromas change and the mid-palate broadens as the tannins soften. Young the mid-palate tends to be a bit more centered in middle of palate and heavier if that makes sense.

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Schrader needs a few years in the bottle to show best - 2018s are singing now. The tannin is always very ripe - that phenolic ripeness equates to a bit of a sweet tannic finish versus a harsh finish. I don’t find these wines improve greatly in the bottle except for those first few years. I had some '10s last summer and they were great. I still have some '09s that probably should be consumed. Maybe time to do a RBS vertical…

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Never had a Schrader. Is there an appreciable difference between the RBS, the CCS, and the T6?

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I think in any given year there are subtle differences - The “Old Sparky” is best barrel selection and probably is the most consistent and best example. Last fall I had a horizontal of some of the 2021 vintage - I thought the Heritage Clone was showing the best at that tasting - some are a bit more powerful like the CCS - the RBS maybe a bit more approachable in youth. You have to remember that stylistically they are all very similar - some are different clones obviously from different plats, but still 100% CS and 100% new oak. It is not everyone’s cup of tea - but I love them. Of course, the only coffee I truly like is french dark roast so maybe that is an indicator of my palate. Big and full bodied. I think they truly represent some of the best of Napa Cab - and the wines do get accolades across the board - not just WA.

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14

Ive got a bunch and have drank many. The best one I ever had was a 13 Old Sparky my friend brought to Brian’s Beserkerfest Summerf 2022. I think most if not all in attendance (including Mike Smith) would agree it was spectacular. He brought his. I still have mine:)

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For me the RBS is the ebst young drinker out of the line up. Its very fruit forward. The CCS needs the most time and I wouldn’t touch them for at least 10 years and probably more. Most dark fruited, tannic and complex

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16

Sounds like an awesome event! Would be awesome to go but don’t think I can make it down that weekend.

17

LPV is another one to have on young side.

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18

Agree. I drank all of those already also. Interesting things is LPV always got the lowest scores back a decade or so ago. It was one of my favorites and never understood the lower scores. It has of course since been discovered as a great vineyard the last few years

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I haven’t touched any '12s yet, so I might have to pull a '12 RBS in a couple of weeks to celebrate the end of “Dryuary.”

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'13 Old Sparky is the best - truly a 100 pointer!