United States · California

Schrader

Schrader Cellars was founded by Fred Schrader and Thomas Brown in 1998, built around long-term contracts for some of Napa Valley's most coveted fruit sources — most notably Beckstoffer To Kalon and Beckstoffer Georges III vineyards in Oakville and Rutherford. From the outset, the project targeted hyper-concentrated, single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon with unabashedly ripe profiles that attracted near-perfect scores from Robert Parker and Wine Advocate. The flagship CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon averaged $389 per lot across 480 auction appearances, with the Old Sparky bottling — named after Parker's nickname for the electrifying 2002 vintage — commanding $596 average and peaking at $5,019. Across 5,212 auction lots, prices span $37 to $5,019, reflecting both magnum-format premiums and deep collector demand for prime vintages like 2012, 2013, and 2017. Brown's winemaking philosophy emphasizes late picking, small-berry selection, and new French oak regimes that deliver wines built for long cellaring but offering immediate hedonistic appeal. Acker, Hart Davis Hart, and Zachys regularly feature verticals of the To Kalon series, and the label consistently outperforms estimate at auction. The Double Diamond Bomber X, representing the broader-production tier at $298 average, provides more accessible entry while the T6 designation highlights specific vine block selections within the historic To Kalon ranch. The GIII Beckstoffer Georges III designation averages $301 across 65 lots with 2008 as its top vintage.