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 Vintage2002 Label 1 of 64 
TypeRed
ProducerSchrader Cellars (web)
VarietyCabernet Sauvignon
Designation"Old Sparky"
VineyardBeckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
CountryUSA
RegionCalifornia
SubRegionNapa Valley
AppellationOakville

Drinking Windows and Values
Drinking window: Drink between 2008 and 2024 (based on 131 user opinions)
Wine Market Journal quarterly auction price: See Schrader Cabernet Sauvignon Old Sparky on the Wine Market Journal.

Community Tasting History

Community Tasting Notes (average 96 pts. and median of 94 pts. in 4 notes) - hiding notes with no text

 Tasted by Mark H. LeQuire on 10/22/2016 & rated 100 points: Very, very deserving of its rating. Defines perfection. Ready to drink. Paired perfectly with grilled scallops. No flaws. No sediment. Dark ruby garnet color. Moderate rim variation. Full of florals and fruits. Low tannin/acid. Medium alcohol. Very long finish in the mouth. Only regret: only bottle I had. Enjoy. (2195 views)
 Tasted by tp096255 on 5/1/2015 & rated 94 points: Another hit from the same bottle using my Coravin. This thing is still going strong now over 3 months of accessing it. Same tasting note/score.

This wine is more intriguing and Schrader-like than the 2002 RBS (also rated by WA at 100). (2602 views)
 Tasted by tp096255 on 3/13/2015 & rated 94 points: ---
COLOR: Deep ruby-garnet, translucent
NOTE: This is "all-up-in-yer-business" Schrader. Oh yeah. While the alcohol is present from nose to finish, this starts out with wonderful elements of blackberry compote, Saigon cinnamon, rosewood dust, grated nutmeg, saddle leather and bourbon vanilla. And this is the third time I've accessed this bottle via my Coravin! Such a wonderful device. I never talk much about "legs" because they only indicate alcohol. But when the legs have color that's a different story. That means there is a boatload of flavor dripping down the edge of that glass, and this has it in spades. The mouth is somewhat deceptive because the tannins are so sweet, pure and supple, but they are in full force and even at 12 years of age they still have some grip! I love the raspberry and blackberry fruit elements in the mouth, more of fresh fruit than preserved. Unusual for a Schrader and seems to indicate a higher level of acidity than I expected. It's really refreshing. It actually makes it more of a food wine than one to have on its own.
The finish is just as remarkable, with the black fruits taking over along with the baking spices. It does come across as mature, but not tired. I would not wait a moment longer to try this for fear it could head down hill any moment and its current glory lost forever.

Enjoy all you Schrader freaks! Good to be me today!

DECANT: 1-4 hours
GLASS USED: Bordeaux
TASTE: 9.4+
COST: 2000 (mag) - no I didn't pay that, but did a trade for SQN Stockholm Syndrome bottles of equivalent value
VALUE: 1.0
TRY AGAIN: now!!!
CORAVIN'D: yes, twice prior and have about 60% of the bottle left
PRE-POUR LEVEL: 80%
PAIRING: n/a
Inquiries can be addressed to troypeterson@usa.net
--- (2731 views)
 Tasted by kstoddard on 12/12/2014 flawed bottle: VA on the nose. From magnum. (2953 views)

CellarTracker Wiki Articles (login to edit | view all articles)

Schrader Cellars

Producer website

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is probably the most famous red wine grape variety on Earth. It is rivaled in this regard only by its Bordeaux stablemate Merlot, and its opposite number in Burgundy, Pinot Noir. From its origins in Bordeaux, Cabernet has successfully spread to almost every winegrowing country in the world. It is now the key grape variety in many first-rate New World wine regions, most notably Napa Valley, Coonawarra and Maipo Valley. Wherever they come from, Cabernet Sauvignon wines always seem to demonstrate a handful of common character traits: deep color, good tannin structure, moderate acidity and aromas of blackcurrant, tomato leaf, dark spices and cedarwood.

Used as frequently in blends as in varietal wines, Cabernet Sauvignon has a large number of common blending partners. Apart from the obvious Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the most prevalent of these are Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere (the ingredients of a classic Bordeaux Blend), Shiraz (in Australia's favorite blend) and in Spain and South America, a Cabernet – Tempranillo blend is now commonplace. Even the bold Tannat-based wines of Madiran are now generally softened with Cabernet Sauvignon

Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Beckstoffer To Kalon continues to receive worldwide accolades for its wines, particularly in the last decade. The vineyard is on a gentle slope on the western foothills of the Oakville appellation. Soils are Bale loam/Bale clay loam, and are impeccably farmed by Andy Beckstoffer’s team. We have a by-acre contract so we can determine canopy, crop load and picking dates – but rely on the Beckstoffer viticulturists for insight into this unique vineyard to guide our decisions. ... ©2012 Tor Kenward Family Wines
On weinlagen-info

USA

American wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.

California

2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson

Napa Valley

Napa Valley Wineries and Wine (Napa Valley Vintners)

Oakville


 
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