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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.5 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 30 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by RockinCabs on 11/15/2023 flawed bottle: I am going to say that this was a bit oxidized. Slight strawberry note on opening, brown sugar and the herb and lavender signatures were all there under the oxidized patina. Unfortunately after about 40-minutes open it was seeming quite oxidative and done. (460 views) | | | Tasted by Wineson on 5/8/2022 & rated 88 points: Over the hill. (1133 views) | | | Tasted by wynlvr on 12/2/2017 & rated 92 points: Well balanced with beautiful flavor. (3657 views) | | | Tasted by bestdamncab on 7/27/2016 & rated 97 points: 5 Cabernet Sauvignons tasted from the 1980s. Nose of black cherry, black currants, cassis and plum, same on the palate, elegant, terrific tasting, got better and better throughout dinner that lasted for 3 hours, big body, rich fruit, good acid, flavorful and long on the finish and what an aftertaste, made you want another taste. My #1 of 5, Two second place votes and another first place vote.
1984 Caymus Estate
1985 Spottswoode
1987 Beringer Private Reserve
1987 Silver Oak Alexander Valley
1987 Chateau Montelena (5029 views) | | | Tasted by DaleW on 3/25/2016: Sporting some VA, some brett, and a little TCA, no thanks (5031 views) | | | Tasted by Neil.L on 12/25/2015: Unfortunately corked. Very brown and very sour. (4932 views) | | | Tasted by Papies on 12/13/2015 & rated 91 points: We could not resist but ordering this as we are lovers of well aged, old school Napa.
Definitely this wine is past its peak but it's beautifully aged, has still a spice, liquorice undertone, the fruit is well evolved but it is there inthebackground and has a nice earthy profile. One needs to like old wines to enjoy this.91 and drink now. (4717 views) | | | Tasted by cooberp on 8/16/2014 & rated 89 points: Served from a dispenser at Hedonism wines, so this might not have been 100% fresh. Pretty nice nose of ripe currants and a bit of cedar, but the palate is empty/watery most of the way down. A nice jolt of flavor on the finish is partial redemption. (4080 views) | | | Tasted by levinml on 7/4/2014 & rated 93 points: Given expectations that this would be reasonably over-the-hill, this was a real surprise. I thought it was in perfect resolution, with tannins virtually gone but fruit not flabby at all. Flavors had lots going on so it wasn't like drinking raisin juice. Definitely wouldn't wait any longer, but if properly stored, this is a treat. (2990 views) | | | Tasted by awineo on 12/3/2012 & rated 91 points: Last one. Still good, but the fruit was pretty much gone. Tasted more like an old bordeaux. Don't think I will keep Spottswoods this long again. (4741 views) | | | Tasted by BFG on 2/15/2012: Unfortunately, well over the hill. Recent bottles that I've had have been very good, but not this one. Probably wasn't properly stored during its lifetime. (5071 views) | | | Tasted by Iroyston on 7/4/2011: Already Over the hill. Vinegary.
(5499 views) | | | Tasted by tooch on 11/23/2010 flawed bottle: Cooked. (4804 views) | | | Tasted by tooch on 11/23/2010 flawed bottle: Another cooked bottle! (4933 views) | | | Tasted by Hodby on 7/23/2010 & rated 87 points: Medium red-garnet. Very mature nose of eucalyptus, earthy ripe plum, leather, olives. Mouth feel is watery, no tannin and negligible acidity. Flavored of plum, green bell pepper and bay leaf, finishes with a dollop of mint. Drink up. Bottle #4 of four. (3574 views) | | | Tasted by Forest Creek on 3/3/2010 & rated 90 points: A mature Cali cabernet, with good acidity, smooth tannins and a hint of fruit. It's what I hope to get with a 25 year old bottle. Still had excellent color. Time to drink though. (3890 views) | | | Tasted by rmalloy on 12/29/2009 & rated 92 points: Powerful notes of truffles, tapenade, eucalyptus, zingy cherries, minerals, tobacco. Noticeable tannins are almost gone and the mouthfeel is thin. Clearly on the descent, but still very intriguing. (3823 views) | | | Tasted by gutt22 on 12/16/2009: 13.2% alcohol. From magnum. At its peak. A beautiful wine, filled with classic Napa Cabernet notes on the nose: black currant, tobacco, cedary spice, and dried flowers. On the palate, pretty fruit that isn't tired, although it is mature. A dried edge to the currant fruit, and the secondary, earthy notes on this wine are fantastic. A gentle wine in the mouth, plush and graceful, with impeccable balance. The acidity is still kicking, and the tannins have fully resolved, giving this a terrific finish. Such a treat to drink Cab that has aged so beautifully. A- (3830 views) | | | Tasted by ricknat1 on 6/13/2009 & rated 87 points: Tasted at the Acker BYOB. Massive fruit, but sweet and unstructured (3486 views) | | | Tasted by Zweder on 11/22/2008 & rated 90 points: Regular dinner group (@ JvT Mature Bordeaux.): Beautiful mature bouquet. A lot of very ripe, maybe even overripe fruits. Soft bitterness. An excellent wine. Mature but with enough power to keep it interesting. (4387 views) | | | Tasted by bestdamncab on 3/3/2007 & rated 94 points: Tasting of four 1985 Cabernet Sauvignon, second place. Lovely rich dark red cherry fruit on the nose, more of the same on the palate, long finish, hints of tar on the finish and aftertaste after ninety minutes into the tasting. Very lovely wine, slightly passed its peak, will hold for four more years or so. (1732 views) | | | Tasted by pmh on 11/4/2005: A bit over the hill (5063 views) | | | Tasted by steffenpelz on 3/4/2005 & rated 91 points: 1985 California Cab Tasting: Another very nice, impeccable wine. Extremely focused fruit with very nice hints of eucalyptus and mint. Pretty nose and long finish. (7334 views) | | | Tasted by rjonwine@gmail.com on 1/24/2004 & rated 89 points: Tasty, nice structure, burnished palate; medium finish (2983 views) | | | Tasted by buckeye76 on 4/18/2003 & rated 94 points: RICH FRUIT IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR, BLACKCURRENTS, BLACK CHERRIES AND RASPBERRIES WITH A TOUCH OF LICORICE IN THE NOSE. MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH. (874 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, Vertical Tasting of Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon (Jun 2016) (6/1/2016)
(Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (6/10/2014)
(Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon St Helena Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (10/20/2006)
(Spottswoode, Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Red) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and JancisRobinson.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Spottswoode Producer websiteCabernet SauvignonCabernet Sauvignon is probably the most famous red wine grape variety on Earth. It is rivaled in this regard only by its Bordeaux stablemate Merlot, and its opposite number in Burgundy, Pinot Noir. From its origins in Bordeaux, Cabernet has successfully spread to almost every winegrowing country in the world. It is now the key grape variety in many first-rate New World wine regions, most notably Napa Valley, Coonawarra and Maipo Valley. Wherever they come from, Cabernet Sauvignon wines always seem to demonstrate a handful of common character traits: deep color, good tannin structure, moderate acidity and aromas of blackcurrant, tomato leaf, dark spices and cedarwood.
Used as frequently in blends as in varietal wines, Cabernet Sauvignon has a large number of common blending partners. Apart from the obvious Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the most prevalent of these are Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere (the ingredients of a classic Bordeaux Blend), Shiraz (in Australia's favorite blend) and in Spain and South America, a Cabernet – Tempranillo blend is now commonplace. Even the bold Tannat-based wines of Madiran are now generally softened with Cabernet SauvignonUSAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Napa Valley Napa Valley Wineries and Wine (Napa Valley Vintners)Napa ValleySt. Helena |
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