Schrader

Cabernet Sauvignon CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Oakville, Napa Valley

2013

Vintage

Varietal

Cabernet Sauvignon

ABV

Peak 2020-2040

Where it is, June 2026

At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2020-2040).

In 2026, the Schrader CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 sits six years into its peak drinking window, which extends through 2040. This is one of the sweet spots: old enough for complexity to emerge, young enough that primary fruit still drives the experience. The CCS block's hallmark cassis and violet character are now intertwined with cedar, graphite, and the unmistakable mineral depth that only Beckstoffer To Kalon delivers. Tannins have integrated fully, the acidity provides lift, and the 2013 vintage's near-perfect growing conditions have preserved both the power and the precision that define this wine. Collectors have fourteen years of peak drinking ahead, but 2026 offers a compelling entry point.

Related vintages

The ‘13 Cabernet Sauvignon CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard.

A perfectly balanced To Kalon Cabernet now six years into a twenty-year peak, showing the CCS block's trademark precision of cassis, violet, and pencil-lead minerality in flawless equilibrium.

Drinking window

The arcYou are here · at peak, 2026

Tasting note

Deep, opaque ruby-purple with a barely perceptible garnet edge. The nose opens with complex layering: fresh cassis, dark cherry, violet, lead pencil, and cedar intertwine with a characteristic To Kalon minerality that no other Napa site replicates. On the palate, the wine is full yet precise, with seamlessly integrated tannins and brilliant acidity that lift the dark fruit through a long, lingering finish. Dried herbs and graphite emerge on the mid-palate, and the finish sustains for a remarkable duration. The 2013 vintage delivered both power and refinement in perfect equilibrium, and Schrader captured it completely.

The 2013 vintage

The 2013 Napa Valley growing season stands among the finest of the decade, marked by a mild winter, warm spring, and an extended summer with gradual, even ripening. There were no heat spikes, no fire events, and minimal disease pressure, allowing the Beckstoffer To Kalon vineyard to ripen with exceptional balance of sugar, acid, and tannin. Yields were slightly below average, which concentrated flavors without sacrificing freshness. Wine Spectator gave 2013 Napa a near-perfect vintage rating, noting the wines' combination of opulence and structure. For the CCS block of To Kalon, which already produces some of the most minerally and precise Cabernet Sauvignon in California, the 2013 conditions meant the vintage joined 2012, 2007, and 2002 as one of the property's finest expressions.

About Schrader

Fred Schrader established his eponymous label in the mid-1990s with a singular focus: making definitive expressions of Beckstoffer To Kalon vineyard in Oakville. Working with winemaker Thomas Brown, who built a reputation across multiple cult Napa labels, Schrader produces multiple single-block designates from this legendary vineyard, each with a distinct personality. The CCS designation comes from upper-slope blocks that produce the label's most structured and age-worthy wines, defined by the block's distinctive minerality. Production is tiny, allocation-only, and demand consistently outstrips supply, earning 100-point scores from multiple critics across multiple vintages.

From the cellar: pair with

Dry-Aged Prime Ribeye with Bone Marrow Butter

The CCS full body, dense tannins, and graphite minerality create the ideal framework for dry-aged beef. Fat and deep umami amplify both partners while the acidity cuts through the richness.

Braised Short Ribs with Black Truffle

Cassis, cedar, and pencil-lead notes harmonize precisely with braised short rib caramelized depth, while black truffle earthy intensity echoes the To Kalon mineral signature.

Aged Pecorino or Manchego Cheese

Crystalline texture and savory, nutty character in aged hard cheese provide textural contrast to dense tannins while amplifying the dark spice and dried herb mid-palate notes.

Service & cellaring

Serving Temp: 62-65F (17-18C)
Decanting: Decant one hour in 2026. Six years into its peak, this wine has developed complexity but retains youthful structure. An hour in a wide-mouthed decanter allows the CCS signature cassis and graphite to fully express, softening the wine's structural frame without losing the tension that makes it remarkable. If drinking within the next five years, extend decanting to 90 minutes.
Cellar Storage: 55F (13C), 65% humidity, bottle on its side.

Track this bottle Read the Oakville 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 should I open the 2013 Schrader CCS?

Right now is ideal. In 2026, this wine has completed its integration phase and entered peak drinking. Six years of bottle age have resolved the tannins and allowed the CCS block distinctive minerality to emerge fully. The peak window extends through 2040, giving fourteen years of prime drinking ahead.

How does the 2013 Schrader CCS differ from the Old Sparky designate?

The CCS block sits on higher-elevation, rockier soils within Beckstoffer To Kalon, producing wines of greater structural precision and mineral tension compared to Old Sparky opulent, fruit-driven character. The 2013 CCS shows a lead-pencil and graphite minerality that is its signature.

How long can I still cellar the 2013 Schrader CCS?

The peak window runs through 2040 and the hard decline horizon is 2049. Cellaring through the mid-2030s is entirely reasonable and likely to reveal additional complexity. Beyond 2040, the wine enters a slower-declining phase where primary fruit gives way to dried fruit and leather.

What is Beckstoffer To Kalon and why does it matter?

Beckstoffer To Kalon is a historic vineyard in Oakville, Napa Valley, originally planted in the 1860s. Andy Beckstoffer licenses the name to select premium producers including Schrader, Opus One, and Far Niente. The soils are a distinctive mix of Bale clay loam over gravel and alluvial deposits, producing wines of unique mineral depth and concentration.