Clone 4,6,337 used. Aged 20 months in French oak (Danajou). Old Sparky means electric chair. Schroeder's To Kalon Vineyard's top cuvée, a blend of carefully selected excellent lots from the To Kalon vineyard. Only magnum bottles are produced.
Wine Profile
Old Sparky Cabernet Sauvignon is the rarest wine in our portfolio and is produced from a section of Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, where rich soils contain ancient marine deposits and alluvial fans rich in fine minerals.
Blended from only the best barrels from the vintage, this full-bodied wine has a harmonious balance of concentrated black and purple fruit, elegant floral and spice aromas, fresh acidity, and moderately ripe tannins.
This is a wine made with aging in mind, and we recommend aging it in the cellar for 12 to 15 years.
Vintage Information
2021 was a vintage full of classic Napa Valley style and, for many, it marked a recovery from the disasters of 2020.
Several years of dry vintages created ideal conditions for the vines, resulting in low yields, but small bunches and tiny grapes that produced dense, flavorful fruit, and Mother Nature's blessings ensured that the grapes ripened at optimum ripeness.
The viticulture team and winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown are confident that 2021 will be an outstanding vintage, surpassing the 2019 vintage in both quality and complexity.
In creating the 2021 wines, we aimed to capture the power, complexity and elegance of the vintage.
Tasting notes from barrel by Jeb Dunnuck
Old Sparky does not receive pre-release barrel tasting ratings because the blend is finalized just prior to bottling.
The wine has received 16 100-point ratings from Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate, James Sacklin, and Jeb Dunnuck.
Field Information
To Kalon Vineyards
First planted in 1868 by the charismatic winegrower and winemaker Hamilton Club, To Kalon Vineyards has long been recognized as the source of some of Napa Valley's finest Cabernet Sauvignon.
In our prime vineyard locations, the alluvial fans are rich in fine and diverse minerals and the fertile soils contain many marine deposits, which give our wines their unique character.
The vines receive ample sunlight and optimal temperatures during the day and are cooled by cool sea mists at night.
This celebration of individuality and commitment to local origins and quality is at the heart of Schrader Cellars.
Vintage: 2021
Capacity: 1500ml
Type: Red wine
Taste: Full-bodied
Main variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of Origin: America
Region Name: California
AVA: Napa Valley
Nested AVA, Other: Oakville
Vineyard: To Kalon Vineyard, clones 4, 6, 337
Winemaker: Thomas Rivers Brown
Aging: Aged in new French barrels (D'Arnajou & Tarançao)
Cap: Cork
Alcohol content: 15.5%