It was only a matter of time before someone went ahead and classified California Cabernet along the lines of the 1855 Classification in Bordeaux, or the Langton’s classification of Australian wine.
That someone, or at least the latest someone, is Simon Woods of Wine International. He has put together a tiered classification (First through Fifth growths, plus some additional classifications such as “Top Non-Napa Wines”) based on wines that are below 1000 cases in production and which have been available on the market since 1999. Like the two classifications mentioned above, wines are ranked based on their historic ability to command consistently high prices.
Here’s his list.
First Growths ($300 and higher):
Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Bryant Family Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Dalla Valle Maya, Napa Valley (also Cabernet Sauvignon) Grace Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Colgin Herb Lamb Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (also Tychson Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon; Cariad) Harlan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (also The Maiden) Blankiet Estate Paradise Hills Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Abreu Madrona Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa ValleySecond growths ($175 ” $300):
Barbour Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Schrader Beckstoffer Cabernet, Napa Valley David Arthur Elevation 1147 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District, Napa Valley Pride Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Napa Valley (also Claret Reserve) Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Araujo Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (also Altagracia) Gemstone, Yountville, Napa Valley Bond Vecina, Napa Valley (also St Eden; Melbury; The Matriarch) Peter Michael Cabernet Sauvignon Les Pavots, Knight’s Valley Beringer Bancroft Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (also the Cabernets from Chabot Vineyard; St Helena Home Vineyard)Check out the full article for the rest of the listings.
