The Oakville AVA is a two-mile-wide stretch of Napa Valley and was granted American Viticultural Area status only in 1993. Today it boasts just about 5,000 acres of grapevines and more than 70 producers and growers whose wines are among some of the foremost Cabernet Sauvignon and red blends in the world.
Oakville takes its name from the dense oak forests that surround it and because it is at the geographic center of Napa Valley it was once a water stop for steam trains that ran up and down the Napa Valley Railroad Company’s rails. Grapes planted in the the Oakville AVA receive ample sunlight, a constant cycle of morning fog and cooling influences from San Pablo Bay, and an influx of warmer air from San Joaquin Valley to the east. In the Vaca Range on the east side of the area, elevations rise to 1,400 feet and receive sun late in the day, while vineyards in the Mayacamas Mountains on the west side ascend to a more moderate 500 feet and benefit from afternoon shade. The AVA boasts a variety of soils that include alluvial, sedimentary, and volcanic. This allows for a diverse array of flavor and tannin profiles within the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc grown here. Here are some of the best wines from the AVA to drink right now.
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Bevan Cellars 2021 Tench Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Napa Valley California
We’ve had a few dinners with winemaker Russell Bevan and besides being extremely funny and a great guest and host, he’s a knowledgeable and passionate winemaker. He is well known for receiving over twenty perfect scores of 100 points for wines he has crafted. His 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is made from grapes grown in the Tench Vineyard and has aromas of cassis, blueberry, black plum, and crushed violet petals. It has flavors of black currant, blueberry, ripe black cherry, milk chocolate, and black plum with a strong backbone of minerality and pleasantly grippy tannins. Generous in the mid palate, it has bright acidity, and the finish just goes on for days.
Buy Now: $210
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Avinodos 2019 Two Barrel Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Napa Valley California
Founded in 2012 by Dan Dexter and Lorn Brambilia, Avinodos is roughly translated from Spanish as “to wine two.” Today it is run by Dan and his wife Julie, and they feel that they’re part of a new generation of winemakers that bring renewed passion to the already iconic status of Napa Valley wines. We think their 2019 Two Barrel Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon lives up to this vision. It has ethereal ripe black and red fruit aromas with a whiff of cherry tobacco in the bouquet. It is voluptuous on the mid palate with flavors of cherry, cassis, blueberry, and black raspberry with nicely balanced acidity and silky-smooth tannins.
Buy Now: $68
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Far Niente 2021 Benson Vale Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Napa Valley California
The name for this winery originates from real estate tycoon John Benson who founded Far Niente in 1880. He purchased 216 acres with the intention of growing grapes to make raisins, but a few years later he decided to make wine instead. This 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon is produced in collaboration with consulting winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown and Far Niente winemaker Nicole Marchesi. It spent 20 months in French oak and has aromas of vanilla, black cherry, and a whiff of brown baking spices. Generous in the mouth, it has polished tannins and flavors of black currant, black plum, blueberry pie, and red raspberry. Drink now or hold a decade or two.
Buy Now: $500
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Earth Shine Wines 2022 Sangiovese Game Farm Vineyard Oakville Napa Valley California
A rarity in Napa Valley, this tasty wine is made from grapes grown on Sangiovese vines that have been farmed by the Vyborny Family for decades. In our opinion it’s a nice midpoint between Old World and New World because the family’s dry, rocky soils and Napa sunshine concentrate the flavors of this Italian born variety. Aged for just about two years in French and Hungarian oak it has aromas of black raspberry, red plum, and toasted hazelnuts with flavors of dark ripe fruits including cassis and black plum. The tannins are smooth, and the acidity is well balanced.
Buy Now: $82
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Frias Family Vineyard 2022 Prado Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Napa Valley California
Manny and Maria Frias purchased 100 acres in Napa’s Spring Mountain District in 1977 and planted five acres of vines which was enough to release their first commercial wine in 1987. Today they have 13 acres of hillside vineyards planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and they source fruit from the Oakville and Yountville AVAs. Their sons Manny and Fernando continue the family tradition along with winemaker Todd Heth. Frias Family Vineyard Prado 2022 has a complex bouquet of blueberry pie, saddle leather, black raspberry, and cassis that transform to flavors of black plum, ripe cherry, and black olive tapenade on the palate. The tannins are soft and smooth, and the acidity is very nicely integrated.
Buy Now: $175
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Roots Run Deep 2021 Hypothesis Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Napa Valley California
Mark Albrecht founded Roots Run Deep in 2005 with the single goal of producing unparalleled wines from the Napa Valley and to that end he sources grapes from some of the best vineyards in Oakville, St. Helena, Rutherford, and Mt. Veeder. Winemaker Macario Montoya has done a great job with Oakville fruit from the Money Road Vineyard in the 2021 edition of Hypothesis. It is aged for 18 months in French oak barrels and has heady aromas of black raspberry, red plum, and black cherry that transform into flavors of black fruit compote, pencil lead, and just a light touch of saddle leather in the finish.
Buy Now: $75
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Double Diamond Wines 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Napa Valley California
Double Diamond Wines has one of the true dream teams of Napa Valley at its helm with master sommelier Jason Smith and esteemed winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. Smith passed the Court of Master Sommeliers at the tender age of 27 and worked at NYC’s 21 Club, Aspen’s the Little Nell, and Chicago’s Charlie Trotter’s restaurant. After attending the University of Virginia, Brown began his winemaking career in Napa Valley at Turley Cellars. Their Double Diamond 2022 Oakville Cab is simply delicious. Aged in 54 percent new French oak and 46 percent second use oak it has aromas of cedar plank, blackberry, and a whiff of eucalyptus that lead to juicy flavors of black raspberry jam, black plum, cocoa powder, and a touch of pencil lead in the finish. Drink now or age for up to 20 years.
Buy Now: $90
