If you're going to start an argument, you might as well start a big one, so allow us to light the blue touch paper and stand well back.

There are fewer arguments that cause such dissent as having the temerity to list the "best" wines in the world, with the possible exception of trying to separate the top wines from an area as hallowed as Napa Valley. Who's to say what actually, definitively, is the best? Well, in this case, that would be us.

At Wine-Searcher "best" is calculated from the range of scores collected from our pool of critics and these results are refreshed on a monthly basis.

So, although there will be many wines worthy of being proclaimed the best in Napa and not every wine mentioned here may be to your taste, we trust our critics and the following wines are officially the highest-rated among both professional critics and the general public, as represented by CellarTracker scores.

For your information, our pool of critics includes Jancis Robinson, Robert Parker, Wine Spectator, Jeannie Cho Lee and Tim Atkin among many others so, although you may not agree with each and every wine on this list, please don't be upset with us – after all, we're just the messenger!

1. Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon

I'm sure everyone’s pretty bored of seeing Screaming Eagle in first place on our Napa lists; well, prepare to be bored. Sauntering into first place, with an average score of 96, is California's original cult producer. So hard to come by there is a waiting list to get on the waiting list, if you're hellbent on getting some, your best bet would be finding a large wad of cash and looking on Wine-Searcher for the best deal. However, with an average price of $3643, those deals could be far and few between.

2. Abreu Vineyard Thorevilos Cabernet Sauvignon

Like most of the Napa Valley behemoths, Abreu specializes in Cabernet. Founded in 1980 by David Abreu, he and his team have spent the next 30 years learning how to make the most from the land. The Thorevilos vineyard is described on the website as "one of David's favorite haunts as a child" before it became the highly successful vineyard it is today. The Thorevilos Cab Sav rocks an aggregated critic score of 96 points and is, compared to some if its loftier peers, reasonably affordable with an average price of $557. Hey, we never claimed it was cheap!

3. Harlan Estate

No Napa list would be complete without Harlan Estate, which likes to consider itself a First Growth Napa producer. And it's worked: Harlan Estate has managed to cultivate a reverential image with its classically inspired logo implying a noble respect for the vine. The sepia-toned photography does little to dissuade from the slight air of pretension, and neither does Bill Harlan's 200-year plan, but there's no doubt that the wine is top notch, with an aggregated critic score of 96 points. With an average price of $1066, it still has some catching up to do to float in the same circle as Screaming Eagle but, looking at its ever-increasing price, it's only a matter of time.

4. Abreu Vineyard Madrona Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon

A second Abreu makes the cut, the Madrona Ranch was one of the first vineyards to be developed in the 1980s, and is very much described as the estate's core. A working ranch, Madrona also plays host to a range of livestock including cattle, goats and honeybees. The Madrona Ranch Cab has an aggregated critic score of 96 points but, with an average price of $441, it is certainly more affordable. The price has stayed stable over the past five years as has availability.

5. Schrader Cellars Old Sparky Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

The winery was founded by Fred Schrader, affectionately known as Sparky, who in his time raced Aston Martins, produced Cuban-inspired cigars and had a career in antiques before turning his hand to Napa Cab. The Old Sparky Cab, which scores an aggregate of 96, comes from the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard and spends 20 months aging in Darnajou French oak barrels before it's ready to be put on the market at an average price of $641. It's good news for collectors though, because over the past five years availability has increased and the price has actually come down from an average of $800 in 2013, so snap some up.

6. Abreu Vineyard Howell Mountain Red

A third wine from Abreu, this time from what used to be an old redwood plot. The wine is a Bordeaux blend that has repeatedly scored well with the critics; the 2012 vintage got 99 points from Parker and it has an overall aggregated score of 96 points. Like most of the Abreu range, it sits around the $400 mark (average price $430) that has remained fairly unchanged for the past five years, while availability has increased slightly. It wouldn't be right to say Abreu represents value for money but, compared to the likes of Screaming Eagle and Harlan, it offers the best of Napa at slightly more attainable prices.

7. Colgin Cellars IX Estate Red

The Colgin estate was founded in 1992 by Ann Colgin in the St. Helena region of California. Ann is a true renaissance woman, having trained in fine art, and has also been instrumental in arranging high profile charity auctions. The IX Estate is a Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the number nine referring to both the parcel of grapes and, more poignantly, the date Ann married her husband Joe. The wine rates highly with an aggregated score of 95 points and although in the past five years the price has risen from an average of $411 to today's $544 – availability has almost doubled.

8. Schrader Cellars CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

The CCS Cabernet Sauvignon is another wine from the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard. The vineyard is considered one of Oakville AVA's "First Growth" sites and it's telling that all the Schrader wines making this list come from that vineyardt. The wine has an average price of $492 that has remained much the same over the past five years and an aggregated critic score of 95 points.

9. Kapcsandy Family Winery State Lane Vineyard Roberta's Reserve

The Kapcsándy family originally come from Hungary, and the name is pronounced "Cup-chon-dy". Lou Kapcsándy emigrated initially to pursue a career in chemical engineering and it was forging various connections in the US and an inspiring trip to Bordeaux that cemented a desire to try his hand at wine. Although the Kapcsándy wines are Napa royalty, they have kept their strong European roots as referenced by the family crest which also doubles as the brand logo and dates back to the 1730s. The Roberta's Reserve, named after Lou's wife, is 100-percent Merlot and is considered one of the best expressions of the varietal. The wine has an aggregated critic score of 95 points and average price of $388 – it is undeniably the "best value" wine on this list.

10. Schrader Cellars Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

We finish off with another Schrader Cellars wunderkind. Again, the wine has an aggregated critic score of 95 points and an average price of $421 with both price and availability remaining much the same over the past five years.