Hundred Acre
Wraith Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
2013
Vintage
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV
14.5
Where it is, July 2026
At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2020-2041).
In 2026, the Hundred Acre Wraith Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 is at year six of a twenty-one-year peak window that runs from 2020 through 2041. This mid-early-peak position represents the wine at an ideal stage of development: six years of peak aging have begun to integrate the intense extraction and fruit concentration that characterizes Hundred Acre's style while the full aromatic complexity of a mature ultra-luxury Napa Cabernet remains a decade from full expression. The 2013 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon vintage is rated 97 Classic by Wine Spectator in an assessment that calls it practically a flawless growing season, with moderate temperatures throughout and no heat spikes or rain, describing it as a no-brainer benchmark with wines that brim with fruit and structure. For Hundred Acre's Wraith specifically, those vintage characteristics produced a wine of exceptional precision alongside the estate's characteristic dark, concentrated power: the 2013's naturally moderate temperatures and extended harvest window gave Hundred Acre's heavy extraction an unusual freshness and structural precision that distinguishes it from hotter vintage expressions. Wine Spectator's drink recommendation is Drink or Hold, and the ideal window for most bottles is 2026 to 2035. Compare with [Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 2018](/wines/screaming-eagle/cabernet-sauvignon/2018) and [Harlan Estate Red 2013](/wines/harlan-estate/red/2013) for other elite Napa Cabernets from comparable vintages. For more Napa Valley, see [Napa Valley wines](/wines/region/napa-valley) and the [Cabernet Sauvignon varietal guide](/wines/varietal/cabernet-sauvignon).
The ‘13 Wraith Cabernet Sauvignon.
Hundred Acre Wraith Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 at year six of its peak: Jayson Woodbridge's darkly concentrated, muscular Napa Cab from the WS 97 Classic vintage, with fifteen years of prime drinking still ahead.
Drinking window
Tasting note
The Hundred Acre Wraith Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 pours an opaque purple-black, almost ink-like, from which the 2013 vintage's exceptional concentration and Hundred Acre's signature dark intensity are immediately apparent. The nose is brooding and muscular: blackberry preserve and bittersweet chocolate open first, followed by dried cedar, espresso, and a distinctive note of smoked game that speaks to the Wraith's particular intensity of extraction and the natural complexity that emerges from Hundred Acre's low-yield viticulture. The 2013 vintage's unusual freshness for a wine of this power is present and compelling: an acidity that provides a backbone preventing the near-syrupy density from becoming heavy, and the resulting aromatic complexity is both powerful and precise. On the palate, the texture is lavishly generous with a concentrated mid-palate density that carries crème de cassis, licorice root, and charred oak to a finish of extraordinary length. At year six of its peak, the tannins have begun resolving from their initial firmness but remain present, and the wine will reward further patience: the most complex expression of the 2013 Wraith is likely still five to ten years away for serious cellars that can hold to the mid-2030s.
The 2013 vintage
The 2013 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon vintage is rated 97 Classic by Wine Spectator in one of the most effusive vintage assessments in recent California history, describing the growing season as practically a flawless growing season, with moderate temperatures throughout and no heat spikes or rain. The 2013 season saw the earliest harvest in twenty-five years, beginning in August, but Indian summer conditions allowed growers to pick individual blocks at optimal ripeness through late October without the pressure of incoming rain or heat events that force premature harvesting. The combination of moderate temperatures throughout the growing cycle, ideal harvest weather, and the flexibility to pick at optimal ripeness produced wines that Wine Spectator calls a no-brainer benchmark: wines brimming with both fruit and structure in a balance that the extremes of Napa's climate rarely produce simultaneously. For Hundred Acre, these conditions allowed the estate's naturally low-yield, high-extraction viticulture to produce a wine of exceptional precision alongside its characteristic dark concentration.
About Hundred Acre
Hundred Acre was founded by Jayson Woodbridge around a philosophy of extreme viticulture: very low yields, intensive canopy management, and parcel-level selection from a small number of high-altitude or specially positioned Napa Valley estate vineyard blocks. The Wraith is one of Hundred Acre's signature single-vineyard expressions, produced from a designated estate block with Jayson Woodbridge's characteristic approach of extended maceration, intensive extraction, and maturation in 100 percent new French oak to produce wines of maximum concentration and aromatic depth. Hundred Acre sits at the ultra-luxury end of Napa Valley's collector market, producing limited quantities of individual vineyard wines with collectibility and aging potential that places it alongside the most sought-after California Cabernet Sauvignon labels. The distinctive dark, brooding style that defines the Wraith is a direct reflection of Woodbridge's preference for power and density as a design philosophy rather than balance and restraint.
From the cellar: pair with
Dry-aged Wagyu rib-eye with bordelaise reduction and bone marrow
The Wraith 2013's near-syrupy fruit density and firm, resolving tannin structure demand the fat content and protein intensity of dry-aged Wagyu; the bordelaise reduction echoes the wine's blackberry and espresso register while the bone marrow richness provides the counterweight to absorb the tannin load.
Braised short rib with dark chocolate mole and roasted corn
The 2013 Wraith's bittersweet chocolate and espresso aromatic register finds a natural counterpart in a dark mole sauce; the braised short rib's collagen richness and the roasted corn's sweetness provide both fat and a structural counterpoint to the wine's charred oak and licorice finish.
Aged Manchego with black cherry conserve and marcona almonds
At year six of its peak, the Wraith 2013's concentrated dark fruit and charred oak character create a compelling pairing with aged Manchego's crystalline, buttery texture; the cherry conserve mirrors the wine's cassis register while the marcona almonds echo the espresso and smoked note on the finish.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 63-66F (17-19C)
- Decanting
- Decant for 2 to 3 hours. At year six of its peak with partially resolving but still present tannin structure, the Wraith 2013 requires extended air exposure to open its aromatic layers fully. Pour into a wide-bowl decanter, allow 2 to 3 hours of air, and serve at 63 to 66F for the optimal expression of the blackberry, dark chocolate, and espresso aromatic profile. The wine will continue evolving in the glass for another hour or two after service.
- Cellar Storage
- 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, horizontal storage.
The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.
More from Napa Valley
- 2023Bella Union Cultivist
Merlot/Malbec/Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc/Petit Verdot · Peak 2027-2035
- 2023Familiar Air Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon · Peak 2028-2040
- 2023OVID Experiment M2.3
Merlot · Peak 2028-2038
- 2023Schrader Cabernet Sauvignon Old Sparky Beckstoffer To Kalon
Cabernet Sauvignon · Peak 2030-2049
Frequently Asked
Is the Hundred Acre Wraith Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 ready to drink now?
In 2026, the Wraith 2013 is at year six of a twenty-one-year peak window and drinking well: the 2013 vintage's exceptional structure and Hundred Acre's characteristic extraction have begun integrating, and Wine Spectator's drink recommendation is Drink or Hold. Those opening in 2026 will find a wine of considerable aromatic pleasure with the dark fruit, chocolate, and espresso complexity fully accessible, though the most refined expression of the tannin structure is likely five to ten years away for serious cellars.
How long should I decant the Hundred Acre Wraith Cabernet Sauvignon 2013?
Decant for 2 to 3 hours. At year six of its peak with partially resolving but still present tannin structure, the Wraith 2013 requires extended air exposure to open its aromatic layers fully. Pour into a wide-bowl decanter and allow 2 to 3 hours of air before service at 63 to 66F. Even with extended decanting, the wine's natural concentration means it will continue evolving in the glass for another hour or two after service.
How long can I cellar the Hundred Acre Wraith Cabernet Sauvignon 2013?
The peak window runs through 2041 and the hard decline date is 2050, giving collectors fifteen years of remaining prime drinking and a long tail beyond. Wine Spectator rates the 2013 Napa vintage 97 Classic, calling it a no-brainer benchmark with wines that brim with fruit and structure, and for Hundred Acre's extraction-focused viticulture this structural foundation supports genuine cellaring potential through the mid-2030s and beyond. The most complex drinking window for the 2013 is likely 2028 to 2038.
What makes the 2013 vintage exceptional for Hundred Acre Wraith?
Wine Spectator rates the 2013 Napa Valley Cabernet vintage 97 Classic, describing it as practically a flawless growing season with moderate temperatures, no heat spikes or rain, and the earliest harvest in twenty-five years, calling it a no-brainer benchmark. For Hundred Acre's extraction-focused viticulture, 2013's moderate temperatures were especially valuable: the cool-to-moderate season allowed the estate's naturally low-yield vines to achieve full phenolic ripeness without the heat-compressed tannin structure that very hot Napa vintages can produce, giving the Wraith an unusual combination of maximum concentration and structural precision.
What distinguishes Hundred Acre from other ultra-luxury Napa Cabernet producers?
Hundred Acre occupies the highest level of Napa's collector market, with Jayson Woodbridge's distinctive approach of intensive, low-yield viticulture from specific estate vineyard blocks, extended maceration, and maturation in 100% new French oak producing wines of maximum concentration and aromatic intensity. Where some ultra-luxury producers favor balance and restraint, Hundred Acre leans into power and density as a design philosophy, producing wines that are among the most extracted and aromatic in California. The Wraith is the estate's single-vineyard expression that most directly embodies this approach of dark, concentrated, brooding Napa Cabernet.