Illustration: Cabernet Sauvignon grapes under the chamber's light

Illustrations: the crop under the chamber’s light, and how it arrives (packaging render).

Packaging render

Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Oakville · Napa Valley, California · United States

Napa's warm, even, near-perfect drought year.

A critics' year: its standing is published consensus.

$185per 6 kg crate · $245 after harvest

0% reserved · 120 of 120 leftPlants at 70% · closes 7 December 2026

Nothing is owed unless this lot reaches 70% reserved by 7 December 2026. If it doesn't, your reservation is released.

An early, dry, steady season with no heat spikes at the wrong moment. 2013 was hailed by critics as one of the finest vintages for Napa Cabernet.

205
days replayed

15 Mar – 5 Oct

20.0°
mean temperature

6° to 40°

2041
degree-days of heat

warmth accumulated

80 mm
rain

13 mm in the final weeks

12.5 h
sun a day

estimated from the reanalysis

13.7°
day–night swing

in the final weeks

55
mol/m² of light a day

calculated

What this weather does to the fruit.

Five readings from the recorded season, each against the band the crop does best in (painted green on the dial). The meanings are what growers and agronomists expect of weather like this, not a tasting note.

Heat over the season · hot

A hot year: riper, rounder and richer, with acidity running lower.

Day–night swing while ripening · wide

Cool nights after warm days keep acidity and aroma while sugar builds — the signature of a classic year.

Rain in the last 45 days · dry

A dry finish: water is held back and flavour concentrates.

Sunlight · brilliant

Light builds colour, skin ripeness and sugar.

Days above 36° · marked

Repeated heat stress: growth stalls and fresh flavours can scorch.

The season, as it happened.

15 March 2013 to 5 October 2013, recorded daily at 38.44°, -122.40° (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo historical archive). Choose a chapter to mark it on the paper.

Point at the paper to read any day. Arrow keys step a day.

Air temperature, day high to night low · °C2–44
Rain, given as water at the roots · mm0–16
Daily light · mol/m² · calculated0–77
Peak UV · index · calculated0–11
Humidity · %6–100
Soil temperature, top 7 cm · °C11–32
Soil water · m³/m³0.12–0.39
AprMayJunJulAugSeptOct

Burgundy ink: the recorded day. Blue: rain. The dashed line is where the chamber is today. Light and UV are calculated from the recorded sunshine.

The ground, and what stands in for it.

In Oakville
Gravelly alluvial fans washed down from the Mayacamas, warm and well-drained.
In the chamber
Moderate everything, warm root zone, and irrigation that tapers hard in the final weeks.
The ledger: every day and the chamber’s settings for it (205 days)
DayDateHigh °CLow °CRH %Rain mmSun hLight hDLIPPFDUVSoil °CSoil water→ Water L/m²→ Mist min
115 Mar24.39.2660.08.311.735.08314.815.427%3.1—
216 Mar24.08.4620.011.611.844.710555.615.627%4.1—
317 Mar21.58.3580.011.611.845.710775.715.226%3.7—
418 Mar20.37.1670.09.011.835.78385.014.125%2.9—
519 Mar19.69.0694.96.011.925.65984.113.826%7.110
620 Mar14.810.0876.22.311.912.62932.712.333%7.212
721 Mar19.56.9650.011.812.048.211196.112.932%3.5—
822 Mar20.17.2400.011.812.051.311866.212.630%4.3—
923 Mar20.65.8490.011.812.147.811036.212.929%3.8—
1024 Mar22.08.0670.011.812.149.511376.313.928%3.8—
1125 Mar18.35.8750.811.812.146.010536.112.927%4.1—
1226 Mar18.87.2760.011.912.241.79505.812.927%3—
1327 Mar16.28.8820.17.112.223.15254.112.727%1.9—
1428 Mar18.210.3861.66.212.322.35064.113.327%3.33
1529 Mar24.29.2730.011.712.348.110856.515.127%3.9—
1630 Mar20.911.8771.410.212.443.89856.215.827%4.73
1731 Mar18.711.68814.29.412.433.97595.314.436%16.628
181 Apr18.19.5850.810.212.432.87335.314.036%3.2—
192 Apr20.910.1800.012.212.546.710416.614.734%3.5—
203 Apr22.88.5780.09.812.544.39836.414.932%3.5—
214 Apr17.310.7899.16.312.623.45174.413.936%10.818
225 Apr17.211.7820.710.612.632.47155.414.635%3.1—
236 Apr18.611.4810.29.512.630.96785.314.634%2.6—
247 Apr17.110.3792.09.712.732.87175.514.033%4.54
258 Apr20.47.4500.012.612.757.512547.613.832%4.8—
269 Apr24.410.6360.012.612.856.512297.616.030%5.6—
2710 Apr28.612.1500.012.612.854.911917.618.429%5.6—
2811 Apr25.211.5540.012.612.956.412197.818.428%5—
2912 Apr25.010.4620.012.712.957.112317.917.427%4.8—
3013 Apr24.510.2570.012.712.954.611737.717.426%4.8—
3114 Apr22.69.9490.012.713.058.212458.016.625%5.2—
3215 Apr16.76.9540.012.813.056.712098.013.925%4.3—
3316 Apr19.97.2350.012.913.159.212608.114.224%5.1—
3417 Apr21.49.8310.012.913.160.512838.215.323%5.5—
3518 Apr25.49.1410.012.913.159.112498.316.123%5.2—
3619 Apr27.511.3580.013.013.257.612148.217.922%5.3—
3720 Apr28.112.3460.013.013.260.312678.419.621%5.6—
3821 Apr29.912.6480.013.113.360.212618.520.221%5.5—
3922 Apr31.515.1430.013.213.360.712678.521.220%5.9—
4023 Apr29.815.6190.013.413.363.613248.621.519%7.7—
4124 Apr27.911.2440.013.313.462.112918.719.219%5.6—
4225 Apr21.89.1650.013.113.459.012228.616.819%4.7—
4326 Apr26.18.1660.013.313.460.312458.717.318%5.1—
4427 Apr28.210.0640.013.313.561.012578.818.718%5.3—
4528 Apr30.811.8610.013.613.561.112558.820.518%5.6—
4629 Apr32.915.5470.013.613.661.512598.922.617%6.1—
4730 Apr31.215.2300.013.613.664.213119.023.017%7.3—
481 May31.618.3140.013.713.665.113269.023.916%8.8—
492 May32.915.6180.013.713.764.213059.123.316%7.3—
503 May33.314.3300.013.713.764.613099.123.816%6.4—
514 May31.614.4370.013.813.761.712489.122.716%6.7—
525 May19.512.7691.212.013.834.46946.418.416%4.22
536 May20.913.1716.412.513.835.17066.517.519%9.313
547 May20.811.6720.313.413.842.68547.317.222%3.8—
558 May21.011.9740.09.013.943.78767.516.922%3.6—
569 May24.210.7700.013.913.960.812159.118.121%5—
5710 May28.111.7660.013.913.963.012559.319.720%5.6—
5811 May31.212.7620.013.714.060.612049.121.219%5.7—
5912 May30.313.2590.013.914.064.512799.521.919%6.1—
6013 May30.513.7560.013.914.064.312739.522.318%6.2—
6114 May30.513.7530.013.914.163.812609.522.517%6.3—
6215 May26.812.6510.014.014.162.112249.321.017%6—
6316 May22.813.5600.012.914.156.211068.819.516%5.1—
6417 May23.810.9560.014.014.265.812929.718.616%5.7—
6518 May28.19.8550.014.014.265.312789.719.516%6.2—
6619 May30.813.9390.014.014.267.513209.822.116%6.5—
6720 May32.518.1270.014.014.267.313139.823.515%7.6—
6821 May24.812.9400.014.014.368.213289.821.215%6.9—
6922 May22.49.7370.014.014.368.913399.918.315%6.2—
7023 May23.29.2450.014.014.367.713139.918.315%5.8—
7124 May24.910.3440.014.014.368.113199.919.115%6.1—
7225 May25.710.2530.014.014.465.312649.819.115%5.9—
7326 May24.613.0610.014.014.465.612679.819.415%5.8—
7427 May19.611.8720.46.014.429.25636.017.215%3.2—
7528 May25.914.1650.012.014.457.911159.119.415%5.2—
7629 May27.213.8510.014.014.465.812669.920.515%6.3—
7730 May29.112.9410.014.014.568.1130810.121.515%6.6—
7831 May34.813.0380.014.014.568.1130610.123.615%6.7—
791 Jun36.815.8370.014.014.565.012459.826.014%7.2—
802 Jun33.616.7420.014.014.567.3128810.026.014%6.9—
813 Jun27.514.2570.014.114.567.3128610.022.914%6.2—
824 Jun24.711.9610.014.114.666.4126810.020.414%5.6—
835 Jun27.911.7640.014.114.666.6127110.020.414%5.8—
846 Jun30.812.4620.014.114.663.912189.821.514%5.9—
857 Jun37.013.8560.014.114.667.1127810.124.614%6.7—
868 Jun37.717.4540.014.014.666.4126210.026.014%6.8—
879 Jun23.314.4740.014.014.655.410529.021.114%4.5—
8810 Jun18.814.1772.26.914.629.45596.118.315%4.74
8911 Jun27.311.9640.014.114.666.9127110.120.216%5.8—
9012 Jun30.411.9510.014.214.669.6132110.221.616%6.9—
9113 Jun29.613.8370.014.214.769.7132210.222.715%6.8—
9214 Jun31.416.8330.014.214.768.8130310.223.715%7.1—
9315 Jun28.413.2530.014.214.768.5129810.222.715%6.4—
9416 Jun32.214.4410.014.214.768.6129810.223.515%7.4—
9517 Jun27.915.5480.014.214.768.8130210.222.714%6.9—
9618 Jun23.913.4550.014.214.768.5129610.220.614%6.3—
9719 Jun26.012.1470.014.214.769.0130510.320.614%6.5—
9820 Jun28.713.6440.014.314.768.8130210.222.114%6.7—
9921 Jun30.715.0430.014.314.768.8130110.223.214%6.6—
10022 Jun33.215.4450.014.214.768.0128710.224.414%7.1—
10123 Jun21.416.3712.08.014.733.26286.621.015%5.24
10224 Jun18.115.1865.30.914.714.32704.018.019%6.711
10325 Jun19.416.0926.00.014.78.81673.017.823%712
10426 Jun26.817.3800.012.014.748.09098.321.224%4.2—
10527 Jun33.616.8660.014.314.765.6124310.023.922%6.3—
10628 Jun36.819.4550.014.314.767.0127010.126.721%7.4—
10729 Jun39.520.3390.014.314.768.0129010.229.219%7.8—
10830 Jun38.220.2470.014.314.668.0129010.229.318%7.5—
1091 Jul39.019.2480.014.314.667.4127910.129.417%7.1—
1102 Jul34.621.4540.014.214.662.111799.628.916%6.5—
1113 Jul36.418.4560.014.014.661.111619.527.816%6.4—
1124 Jul40.121.3450.014.314.664.412259.829.915%8—
1135 Jul29.318.6510.014.314.667.5128610.126.715%6.6—
1146 Jul28.614.8640.014.314.665.412469.923.915%5.9—
1157 Jul30.214.3630.014.314.665.812559.923.315%6—
1168 Jul30.813.7580.014.314.667.1128210.123.515%6.2—
1179 Jul34.314.1520.014.314.567.7129510.124.914%6.7—
11810 Jul30.215.8570.014.314.567.7129510.124.614%6.4—
11911 Jul28.413.6630.014.214.566.012659.922.614%5.9—
12012 Jul29.013.6640.014.214.565.912639.922.514%5.9—
12113 Jul32.013.5580.014.214.567.3129310.023.514%6.4—
12214 Jul30.814.1570.014.214.468.2131210.023.714%6.4—
12315 Jul26.113.3640.014.114.466.212759.921.714%5.7—
12416 Jul25.012.5670.014.014.463.912339.720.514%5.3—
12517 Jul30.314.4630.013.914.465.312619.822.514%6—
12618 Jul32.613.2580.014.114.467.513059.923.414%6.5—
12719 Jul34.114.5590.014.014.365.612719.824.514%6.5—
12820 Jul34.315.0600.013.914.363.712369.624.814%6.3—
12921 Jul31.214.8600.013.914.363.812409.623.814%6—
13022 Jul29.914.9590.012.414.355.410798.822.914%5.4—
13123 Jul29.217.9530.010.814.246.99168.023.714%4.9—
13224 Jul34.116.3520.013.814.261.311989.425.114%6.3—
13325 Jul31.617.0560.013.814.261.812119.425.014%6.1—
13426 Jul30.815.2610.013.814.263.112399.523.514%5.9—
13527 Jul29.514.6630.013.814.161.112029.322.914%5.6—
13628 Jul29.013.7660.013.814.162.212269.422.214%5.6—
13729 Jul25.013.5710.013.414.158.911639.120.714%4.9—
13830 Jul28.913.9670.012.914.059.811849.121.714%5.3—
13931 Jul28.213.5640.013.314.062.212349.321.814%5.7—
1401 Aug29.014.2560.013.714.064.312799.522.414%6—
1412 Aug30.914.2550.013.713.964.312809.523.114%6.1—
1423 Aug29.713.7620.013.513.961.412269.222.714%5.6—
1434 Aug27.313.8670.013.213.960.312089.121.714%5.2—
1445 Aug27.612.9640.013.213.861.712389.221.214%5.4—
1456 Aug25.112.2670.013.213.853.610788.420.014%4.5—
1467 Aug22.913.4720.013.313.855.311168.619.514%4.4—
1478 Aug25.913.8690.013.113.759.512038.920.514%5—
1489 Aug25.913.6710.013.013.757.311618.720.414%4.9—
14910 Aug27.313.3690.013.013.758.411878.820.714%5.1—
15011 Aug29.614.3660.013.113.658.111848.721.714%5.4—
15112 Aug29.513.4640.013.213.660.012268.822.114%5.5—
15213 Aug33.713.6560.013.313.660.712438.923.414%6—
15314 Aug33.414.6540.013.413.561.412628.924.314%6.2—
15415 Aug32.316.4620.013.213.559.712308.724.614%5.9—
15516 Aug33.117.8620.013.013.458.112018.625.314%5.8—
15617 Aug35.016.5550.013.113.457.311878.525.714%5.9—
15718 Aug37.417.1530.012.513.457.611968.427.114%5.9—
15819 Aug34.519.6530.012.713.347.89957.526.914%5.1—
15920 Aug31.317.2600.012.913.355.911678.225.114%5.5—
16021 Aug29.615.9590.912.813.354.911508.123.414%6.1—
16122 Aug27.514.5680.012.813.255.811738.222.114%5—
16223 Aug29.614.9640.012.813.255.111628.122.814%5.2—
16324 Aug29.714.6590.012.213.155.611758.122.814%5.5—
16425 Aug26.915.2660.012.813.154.211497.922.414%4.9—
16526 Aug29.614.6630.012.713.156.311978.022.614%5.2—
16627 Aug31.914.6590.012.713.057.112188.123.314%5.6—
16728 Aug30.315.6670.012.713.054.811737.823.414%5.2—
16829 Aug30.316.8690.012.712.951.911147.523.614%4.9—
16930 Aug34.816.2570.012.612.955.111877.825.314%5.6—
17031 Aug31.016.2540.012.612.955.512007.824.814%5.6—
1711 Sept28.616.6600.212.212.841.99096.523.614%4.6—
1722 Sept28.418.2670.012.412.851.011087.323.714%4.9—
1733 Sept28.414.4630.012.412.754.411887.522.414%5.2—
1744 Sept29.614.1630.012.412.754.011817.522.414%5.2—
1755 Sept30.113.8550.012.312.654.011877.422.714%5.5—
1766 Sept34.515.0440.012.312.654.211957.324.314%5.2—
1777 Sept35.619.6350.012.212.653.711877.325.814%5.7—
1788 Sept36.116.7470.012.112.551.311397.025.814%5.1—
1799 Sept35.717.2510.012.112.551.011367.026.014%5.4—
18010 Sept27.816.0670.012.012.448.310796.723.314%4.4—
18111 Sept26.016.4730.012.012.444.29906.322.114%3.9—
18212 Sept29.916.6680.012.012.446.710506.522.914%4.4—
18313 Sept32.015.8640.012.012.348.911036.623.614%4.8—
18414 Sept30.114.8630.012.012.350.111346.622.914%4.8—
18515 Sept28.214.7670.012.012.249.411226.522.114%4.7—
18616 Sept30.013.5650.012.012.249.111206.522.414%4.7—
18717 Sept27.614.8560.012.012.148.511106.422.114%4.9—
18818 Sept30.714.8410.012.012.149.811436.422.614%5.1—
18919 Sept32.615.1440.012.012.149.411396.322.914%4.8—
19020 Sept25.412.0700.012.012.044.510295.920.814%4—
19121 Sept19.914.48310.86.512.023.45444.019.020%12.822
19222 Sept23.711.2690.012.011.945.310555.918.724%3.8—
19323 Sept27.713.2620.012.011.945.810715.820.523%4.2—
19424 Sept26.015.0630.011.911.846.410895.820.521%4.6—
19525 Sept21.412.6530.011.911.840.19455.318.721%4—
19626 Sept24.512.5380.011.811.846.310945.719.020%4.5—
19727 Sept25.812.9340.011.811.745.610825.619.319%4.5—
19828 Sept27.414.1500.011.811.743.710415.419.618%4.2—
19929 Sept22.115.0830.55.111.618.04303.219.118%2.3—
20030 Sept21.015.3871.95.711.615.83782.919.220%3.44
2011 Oct26.110.0620.011.611.543.410445.218.620%3.5—
2022 Oct25.912.5540.011.611.543.310475.219.319%4.2—
2033 Oct23.212.2310.011.511.543.510555.119.018%5.5—
2044 Oct26.816.4190.011.511.443.610615.021.118%6.7—
2055 Oct28.312.9240.011.511.443.410605.021.017%4.5—
Download the chamber recipe (CSV)