Odette Estate
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Stags Leap District
2013
Vintage
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV
Where it is, June 2026
At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2020-2040).
In 2026, the Odette Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 is firmly within its peak drinking window, which runs from 2020 through 2040. Thirteen years of age have worked favorably on this earthy, complex wine: the firm and gripping tannins noted at release have softened into a structured but approachable texture, the aromatic complexity of cassis, turned earth, dried tobacco, and violet has deepened considerably with secondary development, and the iron-laced minerality threading through the palate has become one of the wine's most compelling characteristics. In 2026, the 2013 is a wine of notable depth and seriousness, expressing the benchmark quality of what Wine Spectator rated 97 Classic and called a practically flawless growing season. The earliest Napa harvest in 25 years, beginning in August, delivered concentrated fruit without heat damage. With 14 years of peak remaining through 2040, there is ample time to enjoy this wine at full maturity without urgency.
The ‘13 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.
Odette's 2013 Reserve Cabernet is at peak in 2026, a benchmark Napa vintage marked by cassis, iron-laced minerality, and the structure of a wine built for decades of development.
Drinking window
Tasting note
The 2013 Odette Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is an earthy, complex wine that announces itself as something different from the more precise, aromatic 2014. Cassis leads the nose but is quickly joined by turned earth, dried tobacco, and a floral lift of violet that together create an aromatic profile of unusual complexity and depth. A thread of iron-laced minerality runs through both nose and palate, a distinctive characteristic of the Stags Leap District's volcanic soils expressing themselves fully in the 2013's cool, moderate growing season. On the palate, dark plum, cedar, and dried blackberry accompany the primary cassis, giving the wine more layers than a single-fruit profile could achieve. At 13 years of age, the tannins that were firm and gripping at release have softened considerably into a structured but approachable framework that confirms what the wine promised from the start: built for the long haul, rewarding patience as much as early drinking. The finish is long, precise, and mineral-driven with impressive persistence and a trailing note of black tea.
The 2013 vintage
The 2013 vintage in Napa Valley earned a Wine Spectator score of 97 Classic, described as a practically flawless growing season with moderate temperatures throughout and no heat spikes or rain, producing wines that brim with fruit and structure as a no-brainer benchmark. The 2013 harvest was the earliest in 25 years, beginning in August, a timing that reflected accumulated warmth from an ideal growing season rather than any urgency to pick before rain. Moderate temperatures through the entire season preserved natural acidity while extended hang time concentrated fruit and developed aromatic complexity. The result was a benchmark vintage balancing opulent fruit with structural depth. For the Stags Leap District and Odette's Reserve program, the 2013 growing conditions amplified the volcanic soil's natural mineral expression, delivering a wine of notable earthy complexity alongside the vintage's characteristic fruit concentration.
About Odette Estate
Odette Estate launched with the 2012 vintage as part of the PlumpJack Group's Napa Valley portfolio, occupying a single vineyard site in the Stags Leap District with distinctive volcanic and alluvial soils. The 2013 was the estate's second vintage, produced from young vines that were already beginning to express the iron-rich mineral character that has become Odette's signature. The Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon program sources from select blocks chosen for aromatic complexity and structural integrity, with winemaking decisions calibrated to reflect each vintage's character rather than impose a uniform house style. The combination of cool-climate Stags Leap volcanic soils, careful block selection, and a commitment to structured elegance over immediate opulence distinguishes Odette from shinier Napa estates and makes the Reserve program one of Napa's most compelling arguments for age-worthiness from a young estate.
From the cellar: pair with
Prime rib with bone marrow butter and horseradish
The wine's firm structure, cassis depth, and iron-laced minerality have the power to match prime rib richness, while bone marrow butter amplifies the wine's earthy turned-earth complexity and the horseradish provides contrast to the mineral finish.
Braised short ribs with red wine and root vegetables
The 2013's earthy complex profile of cassis, tobacco, and cedar aligns naturally with slow-braised beef, where collagen richness integrates with the wine's structured tannins over the course of a long dinner.
Dark chocolate with dried blackberry and espresso
The wine's dried blackberry, cassis, and iron-mineral finish creates an effective pairing with dark chocolate and espresso, where each amplifies the other's bitterness and fruit depth in a complementary dynamic.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 60-65F (15-18C)
- Decanting
- Decant 1.5-2 hours in 2026. The 2013 is more structured and tannic than the 2014 and benefits from extended aeration to reveal the full aromatic complexity of cassis, turned earth, dried tobacco, and violet. Serve within 3-4 hours of decanting.
- Cellar Storage
- 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, bottle on its side.
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 Stags Leap District
Frequently Asked
When is the best time to drink the 2013 Odette Reserve Cabernet?
The 2013 Odette Reserve is at peak in 2026 within its 2020 to 2040 drinking window, with 14 years of prime remaining. The wine has been at peak since 2020 and in 2026 shows the full complexity of a mature Stags Leap District Cabernet with integrated tannins and deepened aromatic development. Those who prefer structure and earthiness should open bottles now; those who prefer maximum tertiary complexity may find the 2030 to 2035 range the most compelling as the primary cassis transitions toward dried fruit and mineral depth.
How does the 2013 Odette compare to the 2014?
The 2013 and 2014 are fascinating siblings from back-to-back benchmark Napa vintages with very different personalities. The 2013 is earthier, more complex, and more structurally gripping, from a season rated 97 Classic and described as practically flawless. The 2014, rated 95 Classic, is more intellectually precise and aromatic, defined by extra aromatic range. Both are at peak in 2026, but the 2013 rewards those who prefer earthy, mineral, tobacco-inflected Napa Cabernet while the 2014 rewards those who prize aromatic elegance and precision.
How long should I decant the 2013 Odette Reserve?
Decant for 1.5 to 2 hours in 2026. The 2013 is more structured and tannic than the 2014, with firm tannins that benefit from extended aeration to reveal the full aromatic complexity of cassis, turned earth, dried tobacco, and violet. Unlike the more immediately approachable 2014, the 2013 rewards patience with the decanter. Serve within 3 to 4 hours of decanting for the optimal window of expression at full aromatic development.
What food pairs best with the 2013 Odette Reserve?
The 2013's earthy complex profile with cassis, tobacco, and iron-laced minerality calls for preparations of similar depth and richness: prime rib with bone marrow butter, braised short ribs, or bison ribeye are ideal. The firm structure and mineral finish mean this wine handles very rich, fatty preparations without losing its character. For a simpler pairing, aged hard cheese or dark chocolate with dried blackberry mirrors the wine's most distinctive flavors directly.
Where can I learn more about the 2013 Napa vintage and Stags Leap District?
The Napa Valley regional guide at /wines/region/napa-valley covers the Stags Leap District's history and sub-appellation character, including the volcanic soils that give Odette's 2013 its distinctive iron-laced minerality. The Cabernet Sauvignon varietal hub at /wines/varietal/cabernet-sauvignon provides context for the grape across California. The Schrader CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon 2013 in this collection is another benchmark from the same practically flawless vintage, offering direct comparison.