The 7 Best Cabernet Sauvignons From Napa’s Oakville AVA to Buy in 2026

Fred Schrader founded Schrader Cellars in 1998 and hired famed Napa winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown in 2000. Since that time, Schrader Cellars has garnered more than 35 perfect 100-point scores from some of our respected wine colleagues. The 2023 Double Diamond Cabernet Sauvignon has enticing aromas of graphite, black plum, cassis, and just a light touch of saddle leather. It has pleasantly grippy tannins that will undoubtedly soften over time and flavors of cassis, black raspberry, and a touch of bright red cherry in the balanced and long-lasting finish.

Stan and Patty Teaderman purchased 14 acres in the heart of Oakville in 1978 and first grew Sauvignon Blanc grapes that were sold to the Robert Mondavi Winery to craft their famous Fumé Blanc. But in the early 1980s, Stan began replanting part of his vineyards with Cabernet Sauvignon. Initially, he made wine only for friends and family, and it wasn’t until 2001 that he released his first commercial wine. Teaderman Vineyards has just re-released its 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon as a library wine, and when we tasted it last week, we were quite impressed with its longevity. Deep ruby garnet in the glass, it has aromas of freshly ground black pepper, black plum, black raspberry, and dried Mediterranean herbs that transition to the palate with velvety tannins and flavors of cassis, black raspberry, and a touch of fine spice in the finish. It’s drinking perfectly right now, but we’re sure it has a few good years left if you decide to lay some down.

Mark Albrecht had always wanted to make wine, but didn’t come from a wealthy family to support his dream, so he sold his house and all of its contents and used the money to turn that dream into a reality. Fortunately, a group of friends liked what he was doing, invested in his project, and in 2005, Roots Run Deep was founded. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes for his 2021 Hypothesis Cab are grown in the Oakville Money Road Vineyard and are blended with 10 percent Cab and 5 percent Malbec that are grown in other Napa Valley vineyards. It is ruby-purple in the glass with aromas of black currant, mocha, and ripe black plum. It has soft, silky tannins and a voluptuous mouth feel with flavors of dark chocolate, black raspberry, and a light touch of graphite in the finish.

Groth Vineyards and Winery remains a family-owned outfit with five decades in the Oakville AVA. It all started in 1981, when Judy and Dennis Groth bought a vineyard on the Oakville Cross Road in the heart of Napa Valley. Their hope was to produce world-class wines made from Napa-grown grapes, and just four years later, one of their vintages earned the distinction of becoming California’s first 100-point wine when it was rated by Robert Parker of The Wine Advocate. Today, the couple’s daughter, Suzanne, is firmly at the helm, and the family continues to make exceptional wines. Their 2021 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon has heady aromas of black currant, black raspberry, and brown baking spices with a lifted note of peppermint oil. It has juicy yet powerful tannins and flavors of cherry, chocolate, and blackberry.

The Pelissa family has been growing grapes in Napa Valley for five generations and proudly farms all their 600-plus acres while adhering to 100 percent certified organic guidelines. They produce wines under three labels, but the Ghost Block wines specifically are made by winemaker Priyanka Dhar French. Ghost Block 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from grapes grown in the Rock Cairn Vineyard and has aromas of cassis, cocoa, and ripe red plum. It is velvety soft on the midpalate with flavors of dark chocolate, black raspberry, and black currant.

Carla and David Ramey founded their eponymous winery in 1996, and in 2021, they welcomed their children, Claire and Alan, to the family business. Together, the family makes stunning wines in both Napa and Sonoma. This wine, made from grapes grown in the Pedregal Vineyard, really caught our attention. Named for the Spanish word denoting a “rocky place,” Pedregal is located on a rock bed on the eastern edge of Oakville. The wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot and introduces itself with aromas of cedar, brown spices, and cassis that transition seamlessly to the palate with additional flavors of black cherry, dark chocolate, and savory spices. Polished tannins linger into a slightly savory finish.

Johnathan Pey and his wife, Susan, were enamored with the wines of France and Italy and set out to make Napa wines that reflect the power of California and the balance of European vino. Their wines are made by winemaker Abigail Estrada, who worked in Italy, New Zealand, Israel, and other leading wineries in the Napa Valley before joining Textbook. A blend of 92 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 8 percent Merlot, this amazing wine has aromas of chocolate, black cherry, and espresso beans with well-rounded tannins and flavors of mocha, blueberry, cassis, and black plum.