Napa Cabernet is built for 15–25 years in exceptional vintages. The 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2021 stand out as the benchmark years of the decade. Avoid the 2017 and 2020 at the top end due to wildfire smoke.
Year-by-year quality
| Vintage | Quality |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Very Good |
| 2023 | Outstanding |
| 2022 | Outstanding |
| 2021 | Exceptional |
| 2020 | Good |
| 2019 | Outstanding |
| 2018 | Very Good |
| 2017 | Good |
| 2016 | Outstanding |
| 2015 | Exceptional |
| 2014 | Exceptional |
| 2013 | Outstanding |
| 2012 | Outstanding |
| 2011 | Good |
| 2010 | Very Good |
Is your Napa Valley ready to drink?
Vintage quality is the starting point. Check the drinking window for a specific bottle — no account required.
Check a Napa Valley wine — freeNapa Valley vintages — questions answered
Which Napa Valley vintages are best?
The standout Napa Valley vintages in this chart are 2021, 2015, 2014. These are the years that reward the longest cellaring — see the year-by-year breakdown for how every vintage from 2010 to 2024 rates.
How long should I cellar a Napa Valley wine?
Napa Cabernet is built for 15–25 years in exceptional vintages. The 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2021 stand out as the benchmark years of the decade. Avoid the 2017 and 2020 at the top end due to wildfire smoke.
Is my Napa Valley wine ready to drink now?
Vintage quality is only the starting point — readiness also depends on the producer, the wine's style, and how it has been stored. Use our free drinking-window checker for a personalised readiness assessment of any specific Napa Valley wine.
SOURCES & FRESHNESS
Vintage-chart methodology follows the industry standard set by Wine Spectator — Vintage Charts · verified 2026-07-09. The Quality ratings above are Saignée's own editorial synthesis of collector and critic consensus, not a transcription of any single publication's scores.
Last updated: 2026-07-09