2018 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon
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| Type of Wine | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | USA |
| Region | |
| Appellation | |
| Winery | |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Grape | |
| Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (14.5%) |
| Drink window | 2024 - 2045 |
In stock
12 items available
Description
Located on the western edge of St. Helena in Napa Valley, the Spottswoode estate terroir is ideal for viticulture. The alluvial clay loam of the Sulphur Creek range provides excellent drainage while cool ocean breezes flow between Spring Mountain and the
Mayacamas range allows the fruit to ripen evenly. Originally established in 1882, Spottswoode Estate has an impressive history in Napa Valley. Managed by second-generation sisters Beth Novak Milliken and Lindy Novak,
the 42 hectares are mainly planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, with small blocks of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Sauvignon Blanc. Read more under the tab/link Winery
The Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon is full, ripe and rich without being overbearing. It has an energetic and bold expression of violets, lavender and cassis mixed with dark chocolate, cherries, plums and graphite. The Spottswoode has a maddening finish with an attractively soft, dusty loamy texture. A wine that will happily be cellared for a few more years to fully mature. The wine has received unanimously very high scores.
FACT: The wine is in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you come to pick up the wine you will also receive a nice discount. We are almost next to the highway with plenty of parking. Click here for address
"Young and powerful with a polished palate, the dark fruits and fine tannins continue to integrate. Pretty anise, Christmas spices, savory licorice, sagebrush, and chalky minerals. Burly tannins provide ample grip, and a presence of cooling acidity brings a welcome sensation of freshness and lift. This wine will only continue to blossom in the bottle" Quintessential Spottswoode.
Wine Advocate , Joe Czerwinski
Tasted blind, in a lineup that included vintages back to 2010, a barrel sample of Spottswoode's 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon stood out as being one of the most exciting efforts. Full-bodied, ripe and rich without being overbearing, it delivers concentrated black cherry and cassis fruit framed by supple, velvety-textured tannins. It's long on the finish, with an attractively soft, dusty-loamy texture and no overt signs of a fire-troubled Napa vintage. 98–100 points (September 15, 2022)
The Wine Independent , Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, tasted as a barrel sample, has 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot in the blend. Deep garnet-purple in color, it springs with notes of cedar chest, cinnamon toast, and black cherry preserves, leading to a core of blackcurrant pastilles, potpourri, and mocha. Medium-bodied, and big on flavors, the palate delivers mouth-coating black fruits with a rock-solid structure of firm tannins and lively acidity, finishing long. 96–98+ points (September 28, 2022)
JebDunnuck.com , Jeb Dunnuck
Tasted out of bottle, the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate showed beautifully, and it's certainly in the top handful of wines in the vintage. Offering beautiful red, blue, and black fruits as well as notes of tobacco, violets, and chalky minerality, it has medium to full-bodied richness, ripe, high-quality tannins, and outstanding length. It doesn't show any signs of smoke taint and is a beautiful, incredibly impressive effort in the vintage that I suspect will evolve gracefully for two decades. 96 points (February 16, 2023)
Ken's Wine Guide , Ken Hoggins
This midnight purple colored Cabernet Sauvignon from Spottswoode opens with a black currant and black cherry bouquet with hints of violet, eucalyptus, and cigar box. On the palate, this wine is medium plus bodied with integrated medium acidity. The mouthfeel is well-balanced, finessed, velvety, and seamless. The flavor profile is black currant and blackberry blend with notes of stony minerality and black cherry. We also detected hints of black tea, oak, and black raspberry. The finish is dry, and its refined dusty mild tannins are sustained nicely before they drift off. 97 points (February 9, 2023)
Specifications
| Type of Wine | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | USA |
| Region | Californie |
| Appellation | Napa Valley |
| Winery | Spottswoode |
| Grape | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Drinking as of | 2024 |
| Drinking till | 2045 |
| Alcohol % | 14.5 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 98 |
| Vinous rating | 99 |
| Tasting Profiles | Donker fruit, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Tannines, Vol |
| Drink moments | Barbecue, Cadeau!, Lekker luxe, Met vrienden, Open haard, Romantisch |
Professional Reviews
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 97+
Reviewed by:
Joe Czerwinski
Release Price:
NA
Drink Date:
2025 - 2045
Clearly a stupendous effort but just far too young at this stage, Spottswoode's 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon boasts a concentrated, velvety core of black cherries, cassis and dusty loam, then supports it with hints of cedar and toasted oak. It's full-bodied, rich and youthfully intense, with a long, compelling finish that just won't quit. Give it a few more years, and it may indeed reach the perfection my predecessor predicted for it.
This was my first visit to Spottswoode, an impeccably manicured and historic property on the western outskirts of St. Helena that dates back to 1882. The modern-day Spottswoode story dates back to 1972, when Mary and Jack Novak moved north from Southern California and purchased the house and 30 acres of adjacent property. Fifteen adjoining acres were added the following year, and planting grapevines commenced, taking place in 1973 and 1975. Today, there are 37.5 planted acres, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon.
In the first few years, grapes were sold to other producers, but Tony Soter came on board in 1982 as the founding winemaker. He was succeeded by Pam Starr (1992–1996), Rosemary Cakebread (1997–2005) and Jen Williams (2006–2009). The winery was built in 1999; prior to that, the wines were made offsite, with vineyard management brought in-house in 2003. The vineyards have been farmed organically since 1985 and certified organic since 1992. Replanting took place in stages, with portions of the vineyard replaced in 1991, 1993, 1997 and 1998. Biodynamic principles are applied (Demeter-certified), with great attention paid to regenerative soil practices, including rotating cover crops. Along the edges of the vineyards and even embedded within are several insectariums of flowering plants, to promote biodiversity, plus nesting boxes for swallows, bluebirds and birds of prey. The first Certified B Corporation winery in Napa, Spottswoode has been recognized with the Robert Parker Green Emblem for sustainability since it was first awarded.
Current winemaker and vineyard manager Aron Weinkauf joined the team in 2006 and took over winemaking in 2011, so it was interesting to get his thoughts on an 11-year vertical of the estate Cabernet Sauvignon, which was presented blind by Weinkauf and Beth Novak Milliken, the winery's president and CEO. Not knowing which vintage was which made it impossible to be biased by vintage reputation, but certain wines still stood out. I found the 2013 disappointing for its closed, overly tannic nature, while Weinkauf said, "It's always had more tannins than any other vintage. This is probably the best it's tasted in years." As I've tasted better bottles in the past, owners of it may want to let it sleep several more years before pulling a cork and hope that initial reviews were more accurate than this impression. The other slight disappointment was the 2017, which again seemed less richly fruited than normal and slightly green and astringent. I suspect it's simply at an awkward stage in its evolution.
On the positive side, probably most notable was the brilliant showing of the yet-to-bottled 2020 (scheduled to occur near the end of August 2022). Picking wrapped up the day before the Glass Fire started, said Weinkauf. All the 2020 vintage talk has focused on the risk of smoke taint, but this beautiful wine is the product of a fairly warm vintage, one without dramatic heat spikes. The 2011, from a cool, much-maligned vintage, showed tremendous finesse and complexity. My favorite of the bottled wines was the 2012, a gloriously seductive and complete effort that is drinking well now, and it should continue to do so for another two decades.
In addition, we tasted two vintages of the Sauvignon Blanc, which combines fruit from Sonoma and Napa, and the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Lyndenhurst, which includes approximately 40% estate fruit and 60% purchased fruit, largely from growers in St. Helena, Oak Knoll and Atlas Peak. That wine was previously reviewed on November 30, 2021 (93 points), and as my impressions were largely consistent with that review, I've not bothered to repeat it.
In summary, although I found more vintage variation among the estate Cabernet than my predecessor here at RPWA, I think some of that can be attributed to the format of the blind vertical tasting, which, in retrospect, seemed to emphasize the differences between the wines. I should point out that despite that, there is a strong, continuous stylistic thread woven throughout. The wines emphasize balance and elegance over sheer power and ripeness, with restrained alcohol levels, silky tannins and a complex but subtle interweaving of gentle herbal nuances with fruit that ranges from cherry and black cherry through cassis. Having participated on two occasions in the Cape Mentelle International Cabernet Tasting, where the Spottswoode wine has been presented blind in the company of 19 other world-class efforts, I will unequivocally state that Spottswoode belongs on that same stage with such international luminaries as Ornellaia, Cos d'Estournel and Cullen's Diana Madeline.
Published: Sep 15, 2022
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Vinous
99
Drinking Window
2026 - 2048
From: The 2019 Napa Valley Cabernets: A Deep Dive (Jan 2022)
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is stunning, just as it was last year. A dark, ample, brooding Cabernet, the 2018 offers up the essence of black cherry, plum, mocha, spice, graphite, leather and incense. The 2018 has shut down considerably since I tasted it last year. That won't be a problem in a few years' time, but today the 2018 is decidedly brooding. Even so, it shows tremendous finesse and tons of pure breed. It is without question one of the epic, present-day wines for the estate.
- By Antonio Galloni on October 2021
99
Drinking Window
2024 - 2043
From: Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Parts 1 & 2 (Jan 2021)
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon soars out of the glass with stunning intensity. A powerful, regal wine, the 2018 possesses off the charts richness and layers of flavor that build into a dizzying crescendo of aromas, flavors and textures. Bittersweet chocolate, mocha, spice and licorice accents are laced into a core of dark red cherry and plum fruit. The 2018 is a magical wine. That's all there is to it.
- By Antonio Galloni on February 2021
Two thousand eighteen will very likely go down as one of the all-time great vintages at Spottswoode. The signs of an ascent into the stratosphere have been evident on a number of visits with proprietor Beth Novak Milliken and winemaker Aron Weinkauf. In 2018, both Cabernets are superb. The Spottswoode Cabernet is spellbinding, while the Lyndenhurst offers plenty of 2018 magic at a more accessible price.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Exclusive Content
Sign in to unlock professional wine reviews from world-renowned critics
Wijnhuis
Founded in 1882, Spottswoode Estate is distinguished by the pre-Prohibition Victorian home depicted on our wine label. Spottswoode was baptized in 1910 by Mrs. Albert Spotts and later acquired by Mary and Jack Novak in 1972. Mary released Spottswoode's first Cabernet Sauvignon in 1982, exactly one hundred years after the estate was founded.
Today, Mary's daughter Beth Novak Milliken manages the winery and daughter Lindy Novak is the winery's marketing ambassador. Every year Spottswoode releases an Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and an Estate Sauvignon Blanc. In addition, Spottswoode produces a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon called Lyndenhurst, a double appellation Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc, and a limited edition Field Book Syrah. Committed to producing wines with integrity that faithfully reflect their grape origins, Spottswoode wines are best known for their refined elegance, balance and classic structure.
Our family has been growing wine grapes on our historic Spottswoode estate since 1972 and making our own wines since 1982. As custodians of our land, we strive for an elegant, balanced and age-appropriate style that captures the character of the vintage and the complexity of our legendary estate vineyard.
Spottswoode Estate in Napa Valley dates back to 1882, but it wasn't really until 1972 when Jack and Mary Novak took over the historic St. Helena estate. The qualities of the wines then began to reach the top level. Some even argue that their wine adventure and success came about by accident. The fact is, however, that they wanted a more rural life for their family, which consisted of two adults and five children. So they moved from San Diego to Spottswoode Estate and planted Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in the estate's vineyards. They had now become winemakers, selling their Cabernet Sauvignon and Saugvignon Blanc to Heitz, Duckhorn, Robert Mondavi and Caymus. All very iconic names in California's wine mecca.
After Jack's death in 1977, Mary devoted herself to winemaking and would become one of the foremost winemakers in Napa Valley. Especially when she chose to produce her own Cabernet Sauvignon wine from the spectacular Spottswoode vineyards. In 1982 she hired winemaker Tony Soter to help her make high quality wine. The rest is beautiful history wrapped in high scores.
Located on the western edge of St. Helena at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains, Spottswoode's terroir is ideal for growing fine wine grapes. The alluvial clay loam of the Sulfur Creek fan provides excellent drainage, while the cool sea breeze passing through the gap between Spring Mountain and the Mayacamas Mountains slowly ripens the fruit.
The forty-two hectares are mainly planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, with small blocks of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Sauvignon Blanc. They have been growing grapes organically since 1985 and the vineyard was certified organic (CCOF) in 1992. The roles of winemaking and vineyard management are integrated at Spottswoode, and the individual attention paid to each vineyard block contributes to the wines' consistent quality and unique characteristics.
Located on the western edge of St. Helena in Napa Valley, the Spottswoode estate terroir is ideal for viticulture. The alluvial clay loam of the Sulphur Creek range provides excellent drainage while cool ocean breezes flow between Spring Mountain and the
Mayacamas range allows the fruit to ripen evenly. Originally established in 1882, Spottswoode Estate has an impressive history in Napa Valley. Managed by second-generation sisters Beth Novak Milliken and Lindy Novak,
the 42 hectares are mainly planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, with small blocks of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Sauvignon Blanc. Read more under the tab/link Winery
The Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon is full, ripe and rich without being overbearing. It has an energetic and bold expression of violets, lavender and cassis mixed with dark chocolate, cherries, plums and graphite. The Spottswoode has a maddening finish with an attractively soft, dusty loamy texture. A wine that will happily be cellared for a few more years to fully mature. The wine has received unanimously very high scores.
FACT: The wine is in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you come to pick up the wine you will also receive a nice discount. We are almost next to the highway with plenty of parking. Click here for address
"Young and powerful with a polished palate, the dark fruits and fine tannins continue to integrate. Pretty anise, Christmas spices, savory licorice, sagebrush, and chalky minerals. Burly tannins provide ample grip, and a presence of cooling acidity brings a welcome sensation of freshness and lift. This wine will only continue to blossom in the bottle" Quintessential Spottswoode.
Wine Advocate , Joe Czerwinski
Tasted blind, in a lineup that included vintages back to 2010, a barrel sample of Spottswoode's 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon stood out as being one of the most exciting efforts. Full-bodied, ripe and rich without being overbearing, it delivers concentrated black cherry and cassis fruit framed by supple, velvety-textured tannins. It's long on the finish, with an attractively soft, dusty-loamy texture and no overt signs of a fire-troubled Napa vintage. 98–100 points (September 15, 2022)
The Wine Independent , Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, tasted as a barrel sample, has 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot in the blend. Deep garnet-purple in color, it springs with notes of cedar chest, cinnamon toast, and black cherry preserves, leading to a core of blackcurrant pastilles, potpourri, and mocha. Medium-bodied, and big on flavors, the palate delivers mouth-coating black fruits with a rock-solid structure of firm tannins and lively acidity, finishing long. 96–98+ points (September 28, 2022)
JebDunnuck.com , Jeb Dunnuck
Tasted out of bottle, the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate showed beautifully, and it's certainly in the top handful of wines in the vintage. Offering beautiful red, blue, and black fruits as well as notes of tobacco, violets, and chalky minerality, it has medium to full-bodied richness, ripe, high-quality tannins, and outstanding length. It doesn't show any signs of smoke taint and is a beautiful, incredibly impressive effort in the vintage that I suspect will evolve gracefully for two decades. 96 points (February 16, 2023)
Ken's Wine Guide , Ken Hoggins
This midnight purple colored Cabernet Sauvignon from Spottswoode opens with a black currant and black cherry bouquet with hints of violet, eucalyptus, and cigar box. On the palate, this wine is medium plus bodied with integrated medium acidity. The mouthfeel is well-balanced, finessed, velvety, and seamless. The flavor profile is black currant and blackberry blend with notes of stony minerality and black cherry. We also detected hints of black tea, oak, and black raspberry. The finish is dry, and its refined dusty mild tannins are sustained nicely before they drift off. 97 points (February 9, 2023)
| Type of Wine | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | USA |
| Region | Californie |
| Appellation | Napa Valley |
| Winery | Spottswoode |
| Grape | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Drinking as of | 2024 |
| Drinking till | 2045 |
| Alcohol % | 14.5 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 98 |
| Vinous rating | 99 |
| Tasting Profiles | Donker fruit, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Tannines, Vol |
| Drink moments | Barbecue, Cadeau!, Lekker luxe, Met vrienden, Open haard, Romantisch |
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 97+
Reviewed by:
Joe Czerwinski
Release Price:
NA
Drink Date:
2025 - 2045
Clearly a stupendous effort but just far too young at this stage, Spottswoode's 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon boasts a concentrated, velvety core of black cherries, cassis and dusty loam, then supports it with hints of cedar and toasted oak. It's full-bodied, rich and youthfully intense, with a long, compelling finish that just won't quit. Give it a few more years, and it may indeed reach the perfection my predecessor predicted for it.
This was my first visit to Spottswoode, an impeccably manicured and historic property on the western outskirts of St. Helena that dates back to 1882. The modern-day Spottswoode story dates back to 1972, when Mary and Jack Novak moved north from Southern California and purchased the house and 30 acres of adjacent property. Fifteen adjoining acres were added the following year, and planting grapevines commenced, taking place in 1973 and 1975. Today, there are 37.5 planted acres, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon.
In the first few years, grapes were sold to other producers, but Tony Soter came on board in 1982 as the founding winemaker. He was succeeded by Pam Starr (1992–1996), Rosemary Cakebread (1997–2005) and Jen Williams (2006–2009). The winery was built in 1999; prior to that, the wines were made offsite, with vineyard management brought in-house in 2003. The vineyards have been farmed organically since 1985 and certified organic since 1992. Replanting took place in stages, with portions of the vineyard replaced in 1991, 1993, 1997 and 1998. Biodynamic principles are applied (Demeter-certified), with great attention paid to regenerative soil practices, including rotating cover crops. Along the edges of the vineyards and even embedded within are several insectariums of flowering plants, to promote biodiversity, plus nesting boxes for swallows, bluebirds and birds of prey. The first Certified B Corporation winery in Napa, Spottswoode has been recognized with the Robert Parker Green Emblem for sustainability since it was first awarded.
Current winemaker and vineyard manager Aron Weinkauf joined the team in 2006 and took over winemaking in 2011, so it was interesting to get his thoughts on an 11-year vertical of the estate Cabernet Sauvignon, which was presented blind by Weinkauf and Beth Novak Milliken, the winery's president and CEO. Not knowing which vintage was which made it impossible to be biased by vintage reputation, but certain wines still stood out. I found the 2013 disappointing for its closed, overly tannic nature, while Weinkauf said, "It's always had more tannins than any other vintage. This is probably the best it's tasted in years." As I've tasted better bottles in the past, owners of it may want to let it sleep several more years before pulling a cork and hope that initial reviews were more accurate than this impression. The other slight disappointment was the 2017, which again seemed less richly fruited than normal and slightly green and astringent. I suspect it's simply at an awkward stage in its evolution.
On the positive side, probably most notable was the brilliant showing of the yet-to-bottled 2020 (scheduled to occur near the end of August 2022). Picking wrapped up the day before the Glass Fire started, said Weinkauf. All the 2020 vintage talk has focused on the risk of smoke taint, but this beautiful wine is the product of a fairly warm vintage, one without dramatic heat spikes. The 2011, from a cool, much-maligned vintage, showed tremendous finesse and complexity. My favorite of the bottled wines was the 2012, a gloriously seductive and complete effort that is drinking well now, and it should continue to do so for another two decades.
In addition, we tasted two vintages of the Sauvignon Blanc, which combines fruit from Sonoma and Napa, and the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Lyndenhurst, which includes approximately 40% estate fruit and 60% purchased fruit, largely from growers in St. Helena, Oak Knoll and Atlas Peak. That wine was previously reviewed on November 30, 2021 (93 points), and as my impressions were largely consistent with that review, I've not bothered to repeat it.
In summary, although I found more vintage variation among the estate Cabernet than my predecessor here at RPWA, I think some of that can be attributed to the format of the blind vertical tasting, which, in retrospect, seemed to emphasize the differences between the wines. I should point out that despite that, there is a strong, continuous stylistic thread woven throughout. The wines emphasize balance and elegance over sheer power and ripeness, with restrained alcohol levels, silky tannins and a complex but subtle interweaving of gentle herbal nuances with fruit that ranges from cherry and black cherry through cassis. Having participated on two occasions in the Cape Mentelle International Cabernet Tasting, where the Spottswoode wine has been presented blind in the company of 19 other world-class efforts, I will unequivocally state that Spottswoode belongs on that same stage with such international luminaries as Ornellaia, Cos d'Estournel and Cullen's Diana Madeline.
Published: Sep 15, 2022
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Vinous
99
Drinking Window
2026 - 2048
From: The 2019 Napa Valley Cabernets: A Deep Dive (Jan 2022)
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is stunning, just as it was last year. A dark, ample, brooding Cabernet, the 2018 offers up the essence of black cherry, plum, mocha, spice, graphite, leather and incense. The 2018 has shut down considerably since I tasted it last year. That won't be a problem in a few years' time, but today the 2018 is decidedly brooding. Even so, it shows tremendous finesse and tons of pure breed. It is without question one of the epic, present-day wines for the estate.
- By Antonio Galloni on October 2021
99
Drinking Window
2024 - 2043
From: Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Parts 1 & 2 (Jan 2021)
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon soars out of the glass with stunning intensity. A powerful, regal wine, the 2018 possesses off the charts richness and layers of flavor that build into a dizzying crescendo of aromas, flavors and textures. Bittersweet chocolate, mocha, spice and licorice accents are laced into a core of dark red cherry and plum fruit. The 2018 is a magical wine. That's all there is to it.
- By Antonio Galloni on February 2021
Two thousand eighteen will very likely go down as one of the all-time great vintages at Spottswoode. The signs of an ascent into the stratosphere have been evident on a number of visits with proprietor Beth Novak Milliken and winemaker Aron Weinkauf. In 2018, both Cabernets are superb. The Spottswoode Cabernet is spellbinding, while the Lyndenhurst offers plenty of 2018 magic at a more accessible price.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Exclusive Content
Sign in to unlock professional wine reviews from world-renowned critics
Founded in 1882, Spottswoode Estate is distinguished by the pre-Prohibition Victorian home depicted on our wine label. Spottswoode was baptized in 1910 by Mrs. Albert Spotts and later acquired by Mary and Jack Novak in 1972. Mary released Spottswoode's first Cabernet Sauvignon in 1982, exactly one hundred years after the estate was founded.
Today, Mary's daughter Beth Novak Milliken manages the winery and daughter Lindy Novak is the winery's marketing ambassador. Every year Spottswoode releases an Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and an Estate Sauvignon Blanc. In addition, Spottswoode produces a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon called Lyndenhurst, a double appellation Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc, and a limited edition Field Book Syrah. Committed to producing wines with integrity that faithfully reflect their grape origins, Spottswoode wines are best known for their refined elegance, balance and classic structure.
Our family has been growing wine grapes on our historic Spottswoode estate since 1972 and making our own wines since 1982. As custodians of our land, we strive for an elegant, balanced and age-appropriate style that captures the character of the vintage and the complexity of our legendary estate vineyard.
Spottswoode Estate in Napa Valley dates back to 1882, but it wasn't really until 1972 when Jack and Mary Novak took over the historic St. Helena estate. The qualities of the wines then began to reach the top level. Some even argue that their wine adventure and success came about by accident. The fact is, however, that they wanted a more rural life for their family, which consisted of two adults and five children. So they moved from San Diego to Spottswoode Estate and planted Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in the estate's vineyards. They had now become winemakers, selling their Cabernet Sauvignon and Saugvignon Blanc to Heitz, Duckhorn, Robert Mondavi and Caymus. All very iconic names in California's wine mecca.
After Jack's death in 1977, Mary devoted herself to winemaking and would become one of the foremost winemakers in Napa Valley. Especially when she chose to produce her own Cabernet Sauvignon wine from the spectacular Spottswoode vineyards. In 1982 she hired winemaker Tony Soter to help her make high quality wine. The rest is beautiful history wrapped in high scores.
Located on the western edge of St. Helena at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains, Spottswoode's terroir is ideal for growing fine wine grapes. The alluvial clay loam of the Sulfur Creek fan provides excellent drainage, while the cool sea breeze passing through the gap between Spring Mountain and the Mayacamas Mountains slowly ripens the fruit.
The forty-two hectares are mainly planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, with small blocks of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Sauvignon Blanc. They have been growing grapes organically since 1985 and the vineyard was certified organic (CCOF) in 1992. The roles of winemaking and vineyard management are integrated at Spottswoode, and the individual attention paid to each vineyard block contributes to the wines' consistent quality and unique characteristics.