Hundred Acre

Wraith Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley

2014

Vintage

Varietal

Cabernet Sauvignon

ABV

15%

Peak 2021-2042

Where it is, July 2026

At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2021-2042).

In 2026, Hundred Acre Wraith Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 sits five years into its twenty-one-year peak window, which opened in 2021 and extends through 2042. At this early stage of the peak arc, the wine is at its most primary and concentrated: the full fruit density and extraordinary texture that Hundred Acre's single-vineyard Wraith site produces in the finest Napa vintages are fully on display in 2026, with minimal secondary or tertiary development yet to soften or complicate the wine's powerful primary expression. The 2014 growing season was one of the finest of the drought era, delivering early-harvest warm dry conditions and a beautiful vintage that Wine Spectator described as consistently excellent with power, depth, and extra aromatic range, and in 2026 those vintage qualities translate to a wine of formidable concentration and precision. The ink-black color still shows its vivid purple rim five years into peak, a visual confirmation that this is a wine still in the early portion of its development arc with sixteen years of continued peak drinking ahead. Explore the [Napa Valley wine region guide](/wines/region/napa-valley) or the [Cabernet Sauvignon varietal page](/wines/varietal/cabernet-sauvignon), and compare with [Hundred Acre Wraith 2013](/wines/hundred-acre/wraith-cabernet-sauvignon/2013) for an additional vintage of the same Wraith vineyard expression.

The ‘14 Wraith Cabernet Sauvignon.

Five years into peak, Hundred Acre Wraith 2014 delivers ink-black concentration: blackberry, espresso, mocha, and a distinctive rocky minerality from one of the finest early-drought Napa vintages.

Drinking window

The arcYou are here · at peak, 2026

Tasting note

Hundred Acre Wraith Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 pours ink-black with a vivid purple rim that signals five years of peak development in a wine of extraordinary primary concentration, the color of a Napa Cabernet that has barely begun its transition from the fully primary expression it carried at release toward the more evolved character it will develop over the next sixteen years of peak drinking. The nose is a spectacular expression of concentrated, single-vineyard Napa Cabernet at its primary apex: the blackberry jam, dark cherry, cocoa, espresso, and mocha cream notes that define the Wraith vineyard's signature aromatic profile in this vintage are fully present and fully dominant in 2026, carrying the deep fruit density and warmth that the 2014 growing season's early-harvest, warm-dry conditions built into the fruit. Beneath this primary aromatic richness, a distinctive rocky mineral dimension adds complexity and a sense of place that lifts the wine above one-dimensional fruit concentration: this is not simply a massive Napa Cabernet, but a massive Napa Cabernet with geological specificity. The palate is massive and densely textured in the way that ultra-concentrated single-vineyard Napa Cabernet can be, but what distinguishes the 2014 Wraith is its sense of vibrancy and inner tension: the considerable fruit purity of the early-drought growing season gives the wine a lift and precision that makes its density feel focused rather than heavy, and the finish extends for an extraordinary length driven by the wine's mineral backbone.

The 2014 vintage

The 2014 growing season across Napa Valley followed an unusual winter pattern: heavy rains in February and March provided the vines with a significant early moisture boost, though not sufficient to break the multi-year drought that had been building since 2012. From that point, warm, dry conditions dominated through the growing season, culminating in an early harvest that extracted maximum fruit concentration from vines that had benefited from the winter moisture while building intensity through the warm summer and autumn. Wine Spectator rated 2014 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at 95 points Classic, describing a beautiful vintage with consistent quality showing power and depth along with extra aromatic range and a distinct signature. For ultra-concentrated single-vineyard sites like the Wraith vineyard, the 2014's combination of winter rain and warm-dry growing season produced wines of both extraordinary density and aromatic complexity, distinguishing the finest 2014 Napa Cabernets from the single-dimensionally powerful drought-year expressions that lacked the early vine preparation that February and March moisture provided.

About Hundred Acre

Hundred Acre is an ultra-premium Napa Valley estate founded by Jayson Woodbridge, producing Cabernet Sauvignon from a small number of exceptional single-vineyard sites using an approach of extreme selectivity and low-intervention winemaking designed to capture each site's specific character at maximum concentration. The Wraith vineyard is one of the estate's primary single-site bottlings, producing wines of extraordinary density, blackberry-dominant fruit concentration, and a distinctive rocky mineral character that comes from the specific terroir of the site. Hundred Acre wines receive extended maceration, aging in new French oak, and meticulous sorting to maximize the intensity that each vineyard's specific geology and microclimate can produce in favorable vintages. The result is one of Napa Valley's most collected ultra-premium tier wines, with Wraith routinely achieving scores in the high 90s from major critics and trading at prices that place it among the valley's top-tier single-vineyard bottlings.

From the cellar: pair with

Dry-aged porterhouse with bone marrow butter

The 2014 Wraith's massive density and concentrated blackberry-espresso fruit demand the richest, most assertive beef preparations; the bone marrow butter's fat content and the porterhouse's minerality from dry-aging are the natural structural match for this level of Napa concentration at five peak years.

Wild boar ragu with pappardelle

The wine's extraordinary fruit density and espresso-mocha complexity align with the deep gamey richness of wild boar; the long-cooked ragu's intensity and the pappardelle's richness meet the wine's concentration on equal terms while the dish's savory depth draws out the rocky mineral dimension.

Double-cream aged gouda with dark cherry preserve

At five peak years the Wraith is primarily fruit-driven and benefits from richest dairy fat counterweight; the aged Gouda's caramel-crystalline texture softens the massive tannic structure while dark cherry preserve bridges the wine's blackberry-jam aromatic register.

Service & cellaring

Serving Temp: 63-66F (17-19C)
Decanting: Decant 2-3 hours in 2026. At five peak years, the wine requires substantial air to fully open its aromatic complexity; the initial closed impression gives way to the full blackberry, espresso, and mineral register after extended decanting. Serve at the warmer end of the Cabernet range to allow the full body its proper expression.
Cellar Storage: 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, bottle on its side.

Track this bottle Read the Napa Valley guide

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.

Frequently Asked

When is the ideal time to drink Hundred Acre Wraith 2014?

In 2026, the Wraith 2014 sits five years into a twenty-one-year peak window, making this the early-concentration stage of a wine with sixteen years of further peak drinking ahead. The wine is fully accessible and extraordinary in 2026, showing primary blackberry-espresso concentration and rocky minerality at their most vivid. Those who prefer the most concentrated, primary-fruit expression should open bottles now through 2030; those who prefer more evolved, secondary character should hold until 2030 to 2035.

How long should I decant Hundred Acre Wraith 2014?

Decant Hundred Acre Wraith 2014 for two to three hours in 2026. At five peak years, the wine's extraordinary density and concentration require substantial air to fully open its aromatic complexity; the initial impression that a wine of this scale gives in the first minutes of glass contact gives way to the full blackberry, espresso, and mineral register after extended decanting. Serve at 63 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit, or 17 to 19 Celsius.

What makes the Wraith vineyard distinctive?

The Wraith vineyard is one of Hundred Acre's estate single-vineyard sites, distinguished from the broader Napa Cabernet landscape by the rocky mineral character that sits beneath the fruit concentration. This rocky minerality, which comes from the specific geological composition of the Wraith site, gives the wine an architectural complexity that distinguishes it from richness-only Napa Cabernets: the mineral dimension provides inner tension and a sense of place that persists as the wine evolves through its twenty-one-year peak window.

How does the 2014 compare to other Hundred Acre Wraith vintages?

The 2014 stands as one of the finest expressions of the Wraith vineyard in the drought era, benefiting from the unique combination of February-March rain and warm-dry growing conditions that Wine Spectator rated at 95 Classic. Compared to the published 2013 vintage on Cellared, the 2014 is in a slightly earlier stage of peak development but reflects the same site character of extraordinary density and rocky minerality. Both vintages reward patient cellaring as much as immediate appreciation, though the 2014 is fully accessible and rewarding in 2026.