One of the nicest aged cabs I have ever had. This was still so well balanced with an enjoyable complexity. Soft yet with enough dark fruit and tannins to allow it to dance on your palate for minutes. We shared this with good friends with a love for aged cabs and they were in awe with it too.
I have one more bottle of this vintage. Let’s see if I can let it rest a few more years before opening and see where it is then.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2 hrs decant:dark red; fruity notes of Bing cherry, plum, nose has dark chocolate and a little chemical/polish like finish. The fruit in the body is soft, complex and carries the wine across the palate to the medium long finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
What a treat to share this with Mark and Carol. My first Spottswoode. This instantly takes me back to the Napa cabs of the 70s and early 80s. Deep, dark, virile with tremendous fruit, balance and length. Great finish. I picked up on the small dollop of Cabernet franc that was added to the mix. Surprisingly youthful, and probably deserves a higher rating given that it stood up against a group of much younger wines. I believe that Parker considers this to be on the highlights of the 2003 vintage, which has often been overshadowed by the preceding two vintages and subsequent ‘05 and ‘06
Second bottle of this one from the auction lot.....decanted for about 1 hour prior to going back into the bottle for our dinner with Mr/Mrs Franken Berry at Townsend EPX. The nose is exquisite from the start. Floral, cedar, berry fruit and followed on the palate by all of that. Red fruited to start off but deepens and darkens over dinner. Classy with a capital C. More traditional in Napa lingo. Dry and with a long finish. Not Cult-ish in the least. Enjoyed by all......glad to have two more bottles to enjoy over the next few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2023 Napa in the City: Gala Dinner (The Pool in NYC): We had another 2003 this night that was a total monster. I remember this was a hot vintage most everywhere in the world and Napa was no different. And yet this wine had great elegance and finesse while still keeping that signature Napa blue and black fruit. It was really tasty even today (although clearly with a lot of potential for continued aging). Made by Rosemary as well who worked at Spottswoode from 1997 (?) though 2012.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Last 2 days of 2022 Naples-palooza; 12/30/2022-12/31/2022 (Casa Mark1npt): The third of my top 3 wines of the weekend. This was a backup bottle from Mark's cellar (like we really needed a backup bottle, geesh I can't believe how many bottles we finished). Surprisingly great on Pnp. Still ripe red fruits and graphite, very smooth. Much more going on than just fruit but my notes at this point in the evening can't do it justice! Such a quality wine full of intensity and complexity.
A late addition to this evening's festivities, by moi......pnp'd, and enjoyed by all over the next 2 hours. Classic Old World Napa feel to it and the palate backs that up. Red fruited, smooth and perfectly balanced. Balance is the key here along with the great Napa fruit. Surprisingly, it did not need anywhere near the decant that others here have said it needed. Just a beautiful wine from start to finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
17x Spottswoode (2x SB, 5x Lyndenhurst, 10x Estate Cab): Ten vintages of the flagship Estate Cabernet Sauvignon side-by-side. What makes these Spottswoode wines great is their weightless structure and feel as well as the absence of the excess ripeness or extraction that can be found in some Napa Cult Cabs. These wines are still distinctively Napa and not Bordeaux-esque but definitely on the more elegant, finesse-driven side of the spectrum. Still, not all vintages masked the alcohol perfectly. The best wines were the structured 2013 (96pts), followed by magical 2012 and a very promising 2020 (both 95pts).
TN: Dark, intense nose full of ripe dark fruit, herbs and crushed rocks but mainly fruit. Slight heat. On the palate this is dense yet super elegant, satin like texture, herbs, dark berries and some minty hints. Some earth notes. No tertiary aroma. Good weight from start to finish. Overall quite good but probably not the most complex one. 93/94
Decanting: Opened 6 hours prior to the tasting. Quickly double decanted 3 hours prior to the tasting which seemed fine.
Spottswoode tasting (Widder (Meilen ZH)): Spottswoode tasting with proprietor Beth Novak-Milliken with 10 vintages Spottswoode, 5 vintages Lyndenhurst, 2 vintages Sauvignon Blanc. All bottles were opened at 15.00 and briefly decanted for the event which started at 19.00. Main observations were: i/ The flagship Spottswoode was typically light and elegant for a Napa Cab with 2013 being the wine-of-the-night (closely followed by 2014, 2019 and 2020, ii/ the Lyndenhurst tends to be rather extracted and lacking mid-palate presence, although the 2019 broke this rule and was towering over the rest. Brief history, snippets from Beth and complete list of wines included in the tasting story.
Tasting note: A ripe black currant and cassis fruit with notable aging notes of earth and dried leaves revealing the maturity, but still sufficiently primary to be fresh. There was also herbal complexity of eucalyptus and mint. Good intensity and decent amount of spice adds an interesting focal point. Similarly, the palate was mature but with freshness in the fruit, in good balance and softly textured. The aromatics are dense with substance. Beth pointed out that this vintage only included Cab and Franc and mentioned that this vintage was great going into bottle, but then went in a long slumber is just now slowing coming back. Indeed, this did not seem closed and felt fully alive and kicking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This magnum (which came directly from Spottswoode) was a major disappointment - very little fruit, no aromatics and rough on the palate. In short, it was missing everything that I have come to love about Spottswoode.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fruity nose with some notes of mushrooms. The medium body wine delivered a smooth, easy-drinking palette with good fruits, some spices, and soft-soft tannin. While the finish was unexpectedly short, it was a very enjoyable wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Crimson in color. 14.1% ABV Stunning nose of red and black fruits, smoke and graphite. Rich, plush and full bodied. Opulent and well balanced. Blackberries, black currants, creme de cassis and plums on the palate. The finish is exceptionally long and seamless with gritty tannins. Just an absolutely delicious Cabernet Sauvignon. Best over the next 2-4 years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was my corona virus special wine for a dinner I cooked at home and shared by hand delivering portions to friends (the dinner, not the wine). For th two of us, this wine was a real highlight. Wish I had enough bottles to distribute along with dinner. It shows you why we keep cellars. The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is light sediment in the bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Now that I can no longer afford to buy them, I've finally figured out Spottswoode cabernets. I'm guessing this would have come across as dull and flat five or six years ago. Right now, it's absolutely spectacular. It has everything you would want in a red wine and then some. Drink now or hold for God-only-knows how long.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The "Drink by 2012" is way off base. Most recent previous bottle was tasted five years ago, and it was just coming into its prime. This one bordered on spectacular. Had everything I look for in a cabernet - great nose, plush, rich texture, and a terrific finish. Perfect balance with no rough edges, but still sufficient backbone. Sleek, polished, and sophisticated. Just when I'm beginning to question the wisdom of buying and cellaring wines that I really can't afford, something like this comes along to dispel that notion. Wow!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The first Californian cab I really love. Not a fruit bomb. Tastes like liquid velvet. Not sure if this is due to the 16 year age of a difficult year since I have not tried other vintages of Spottswoode and comments of younger vintages like 2014 indicate a tightness / acidic profile. None of that here, as it has a beautiful bouquet and is smooth and tasty. Definitely a wine that is drinking well now and matches its cost profile.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 30 min, deep ruby, dark fruit, med. tannins, long finish; delicious but still quite young (more open & tasted better on day 2), hold or drink with a long decant
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
red plum color, very dense, initial aromas were red and black raspberry which evolved over an hour in a decanter to much richer earthy dark berry fruit and leather. Full bodied dense fruit on palate with a long long finish. Tannins were very soft now. This wine is in a almost perfect drinking stage now. Our experience with Spottswoode cabernet over the years would say the 2003 will last for many more years. It's delicious now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby color with viscus weight. Fresh berry and must aromas. Lush dark cherry and cranberry flavors initially followed by a very lengthy and somewhat bitter finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Velvety, round, with a nice degree of refinement. Not the big block of vanilla that we see too much in California. Definitely ready, I wouldn't wait too much to drink it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
First red on the cruise and given three hours in the decanter. Beautiful wine. Still semi-young in appearance with a deep purplish ruby red core and a touch of garnet on the edges. Complex nose with layers of cassis, dark spices, purple floral notes, tons of dark cocoa, and a touch of aged characteristics like forest floor. Heavy tannins (7/10) and full bodied. Well integrated and rounded. Layered palate with dark cocoa, soft dark fruits, plums, sweet spices and cinnamon. Long and lingering finish. Excellent wine with rib eyes. Drink till 2025.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
40th Anniversary Magnum Party; 6/3/2017-6/4/2017 (R&D's): From magnum, leftover from the prior night. Aromas of florals, plum, red fruit and coffee. Flavors of red and black fruits and vanilla with a candied red fruit quality in the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
TWE LUNCHEON: 2/3/17... Bring a wine you will be "proud of"
'83 margaux: beautiful wine, mature but not over the hill, great aromatics, dried fruit, cranberries, decent acidity (94)
'09 kistler elizabeth: my wota, wow - deftly balanced fruit and acid, bright but powerful and somehow not overdone, sweet and tart fruit, cherries/cranberries, long finish (96)
'10 Dumol PN Finn: delicious but overshadowed by Kistler, lighter style and less midpalate fruit (93)
'01 Janasse VV: a bit over the hill, w/ some alcohol coming thru over the fruit but still delicious (92)
'01 Spottwoode Mag: more savory notes, group liked this better than '03 but i liked '03 (94)
'03 Spottswood Mag: more coffee/chocolate notes, slightly darker fruit profile - i preferred this over the '01 (95)
'02 Insignia: longer finish than the spottswoode's, better midpalate fruit (96)
'07 Les Pavots: a touch overdone, overripe, oaky compared to others although half the group loved this wine as their favorite, to me bottom of the cab lineup (92)
'97 Shafer HSS: corked!
overall, all great wines. the group generally liked the Kistler, '01 spottswoode, "02 Insignia and Pavots the best.
In a good place now, not sure I'd wait much longer; sure will get different, though not sure it's going to get better. I liked this well enough, insofar as the purity is the key driver for me. But the overall build, it's not really something that gets me excited any longer. It was enjoyed by all, though to varying degrees, as I said. Not something I would seek out (unlike the vintages from the decade that preceded this).
Aerated in decanter 90 minutes; served non-blind.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Perfect cork. Decanted for just 30 minutes. Medium ruby with black fruits and cedar. Drinking well right from the start. Fully mature but will keep for a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tuesday Night Double Blind $40+ (Alpharetta, GA): Black core with thin crimson rim; Bordeaux like nose, slight weediness, Cabernet, red currants, plumper, oak, chocolate; creamy oak on the palate, blackberry, menthol, seamless, fleshy, fine tannin, higher alcohol, sexy mouthfeel, blueberry, plush; very good though I'd like a touch more integration of the oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Too jammy and ripe for my liking. Nose of cassis syrup. Full bodied, with some grippy tannins remaining and bright acidity. Long finish, though quite sweet. 14.1% abv.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had this at the end of a night filled with vodka and IPA's. Wow, was this a nice change up. Only had a glass after I aerated the bottle into a Riedel small Cabernet decanter. I don't remember exactly what I was tasting but this vintage of Spottswoode continues to impress and get better every time I go back to it. I would love to find more. This is in a great spot right now even after a quick aeration and super short time in decanter. Drink up!!
My score may be a little high because I love Spottswoode and was already pretty under the influence while tasting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2 hours in decanter, poured back in bottle and drank 2 hours later. This responded very well to the extra air time and is in a very nice place right now. Still has a few years left but if you have time to give it enough air it's not going to get any better in my opinion.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Spottswoode Cabernets usually strike me as flawless but unexciting, but this one was an exception. Youthful, complex, and delicious. Terrific body and finish. Probably just now approaching its peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I really like Spottswoode, and this just continues to reaffirm my taste. Not sure why or how I got a single bottle of the 2003 and wish I had more. Can't describe the various flavors and textures but has an the same profile as other Spottswoodes I've had over the last couple years. In perfect balance, so no need to wait. Likely to get better, too. Anyone want to make some trades?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was rather curious about this wine given the "drink by 2018" opinions. Well......I can't say that this is a good opinion at all. After drinking this bottle, I can tell you that this wine will be plenty OK in 2018 as long as you've been cellaring this one correctly --- this wine will probably hold its own until 2022 or 2024 although at present it is starting to show some signs of age. Isn't this how Napa Cabs are supposed to be enjoyed!!! The wine was uncorked and bottle decanted for about 30 minutes. Initial pour is a clear but dark crimson red. Nose on the glass is a deep aged blackberry cassis with an earthy sting. The entry on the palate is very dark and deep, with an undertone of forest floor and age. More blackberry is on the front. The mid-palate is consistent with a mildly tart black cherry and some kiwi fruit with a very mild acidic sting, but the base is all aged black cherry in the middle. Lots of subtle nuances are present here in the middle. An herbal presence comes out at some point to play. Some earthy tones came out although nothing really came out to rule or dominate. The finish was rather soft, showing fine tannin integration. The finish has some pepper to it, although not as strong as I'd expect a younger vintage of this wine to have. Probably a good 20 second finish. There was some grit sediment on the neck after this one was carefully poured and consumed throughout the night. I actually think that this is the perfect time to be drinking this one, so if you have a few of this one I'd certainly start drinking on it now. I don't expect much to change with its presentation in the next 1-2 years, but in 4-5 years this one is going to start sliding gracefully downhill.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
took a while to open up but once it did was delicious. great body, nice tannins and fruit forward. didnt finish the whole bottle. second night it was disappointing,
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I opened this too early. It really needs another 3-4 years to show its best, but what's present at this stage is extremely promising. The rich dark fruit is bigger-boned than in the more graceful (and nearly perfect) '02, but this is a terrific effort for the vintage. If you must drink it now, give it a long decant first.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is aging beautifully. Plenty of youthfulness yet getting more complex each year. Deep garnet color, dark cherry, herbs, anise aromas, dense cherry, dark berry fruit, tannins integrated, acidity in perfect balance, lengthy smooth finish. An elegant wine for sure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The wine looks Inky colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Black currant (cassis), and Fig. It tastes like Black currant (cassis), and Toast. The body is Medium/Full. The wine has Polished texture. The wine finishes Medium.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark garnet; smokey, tobacco, berry and cedar nose; mid-body; balanced; berries and jam; decent tannins, starting to soften. w/any good cut of beef, grilled or with lighter sauces.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful, gracefully maturing wine ..... Typical Spottswoode. Dark purple, maychung the dark fruit nose and opening. Understated and seamless. Strong fruit for a 10-year-old, progressing to a long smooth finish. Tannins are present, but in the background of this smooth Cab. Perfect now, and enough left to suggest promise for 10 more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A Spottswoode tasting at the Lodge at Torrey Pines was the setting for the sampling of this wine, which was not disappointing. While a formal note was not made, it can be said that it has wonderful fruit, excellent structure and good complexity at this point. It will provide pleasure for another decade or more. Very nice! Drink now-12/22.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful wine @ Blackfish. Great nose of dark fruit, some vanilla and earth and licorice. The tannins were smooth and the finish long with tastes of dark cherries, licorice and some oak. Not in your face but a lot of finesse.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Auction Napa Valley Celebration in Chicago (L2O - Chicago IL): Ultra ripe black plum aromas with hints of cedar and liqueur. Similarly intense and ripe fruit on palate, easy to enjoy in its style, but to me this was very "2003" and this wan't my preferred style of Cabernet. Certainly enough structure and substance to age well, perhaps this will pick up grace with time in cellar. Others liked this a lot more than I did tonight, and I can certainly understand that preference.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for an hour, aromas of dark red fruit and some oak. Complex, beautiful wine that was layered with dark cherry, plums and and some oak. It was gorgeously satiny with a long finish. Great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Took this to dinner with friends prior to the Guns N Roses concert. It was very good. Right square in the middle of its drinkability window. Nice open fruit. Good Cali Cab fruit. Open from the start. Not closed down. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very dark in color with aromas of dark fruit and some tobacco. In the glass with a decant full bodied with dark cherries, plums and some tobacco with very smooth tannins and a long finish. Very good wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From magnum. Opened up and poured a little off the top, letting the rest of the bottle sit for a few hours. Still showing quite young and vibrant with blackberry, mocha, and a bit of a roasted bell pepper note on the nose. Wonderful texture and balance on the palate with nicely focused dark fruits and a soft, medium length finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Warm, dark red berries on the nose and palate accompanied by very soft tannins that somewhat lose their structure into a long finish. I also noted cedar and saddle leather. Didn't wow me as much as my high expectations.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Following a political event, we headed to the best Italian restaurant in town. What a festive evening. Great food. Excellent service, and a rich and wonderful wine to make the Holidays sing. This wine has really come into its own. Big, rich, and full of flavor. Held its own with the rich Italian feast.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I wasn't sure what to expect because I read the group cellar tracker's (the hive's) tasting notes and it seemed all over the board - they were on one side of the fence or the other. I was on the side that enjoyed the wine, but I could see why it confused many who have tasted it. This wine really needed a partner (in my case - filet) to show itself properly. And my filet had a slight char to it that really made the wine's fruit come alive and show better balance. But sipping on it before the steak arrived I found it less appealing, as if the fruit was masked by the tannins, oak and structure, where the charring counteracted it. I recommend an hour or so of decanting and a good charred steak with this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very ripe, sweet, and supple tannins, full blown, in your face forward style. Not a wine for fans of elegant and reserve style. That said, I could not stop sipping this big beauty, supple, smooth, and balanced, big and brash, with dark cherry flavors and long vanilla oak finish. Complemented our steaks perfectly. Would love to try a more desirable vintage from this estate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was afraid that this would be less than par for a wine of this price and lineage, and yes, I was correct. Lets face it -- 2003 really sucks as a vintage. When you're looking for wine to share with your sub-par friends, pull out the 03's. They are truly a notch below. This wine was no exception. This wine is not very good. Bland, with only a hint of fruit, and mostly forgettable. I am kind of disappointed that I have two more -- I will be sure to drink them on ordinary days with ordinary people. There is nothing extraordinary or interesting in this year of this wine. Please, if you love your friends, pull out something to impress them, and skip this wine this year -- save it for an average Tuesday night at home.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mardi Gras 2008 (Casa Jay & Teresa's): Tried a taste about 3 hours before served. Offered nice black fruits, cassis, cherry, plum, with nice dusty tannins and a warm spice element. Not too heavy on the oak and had nice acidity towards the finish. When served, not decanted, it really fleshed out. The tannins were a little coarse and the acidity really kicked up. Tobacco and cedar also came forward. Very nice wine, and I'm sure it will hold for many years to come.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is an extremely powerful wine. If I had a bottle, I'd wait about 5 years before thinking about drinking it. Much more muscular then most Cali cabs. But it seems to need time to flesh out. The aromatics on this ware astounding. 91-94
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
very elegant wine. Big cherry nose with a bit of alchohol. No alchohol present in the mouth with more red fruits and a deliciously juicy finish. Very good for a tough vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Unbelievably ripe and soft, silk in the mouth. Nose was not impressive, but the wine itself was very, very good. Somewhat one dimensional in that there was no complexity to make you think it will be a blockbuster in 10 years, but a great pairing with the dinner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wines and BBQ (Claus B): Spootswoode 03.. ouch.. very young, tons of alcohol and warmth showing. Need structure, need freshness, need edge, need precision. And where is the fruit? I own this wine myself but starting to wonder if this will ever come around.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Inaugural (Blind) Tasting, Puget Sound Tasters Club. (Tacoma, WA.): The Spottswoode was the group disappointment. JM, who brought the wine actually noted that this wine was his least favorite of the night. Slightly sweet (JM noted this tasted very zin-like) with oaky notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A nice cabernet. Good depth and richness, but not as good as some of the earlier Spottlswoode’s. I would not buy more, alothough it is a very nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Big fan of Spottswoode cab and this vintage does not disappoint. Young and bold, this is a ripe, aromatic, and plump wine. Aromas/flavors of blackberry, black cherry, violet, spice and cocoa. Fine grained tannins provide the balance to the big fruit to create a rich, juicy mouthfeel. Long, lingering finish that ends with a touch of sweet oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
4/1/2024 - Sheldog wrote: 96 Points
One of the nicest aged cabs I have ever had. This was still so well balanced with an enjoyable complexity. Soft yet with enough dark fruit and tannins to allow it to dance on your palate for minutes. We shared this with good friends with a love for aged cabs and they were in awe with it too.
I have one more bottle of this vintage. Let’s see if I can let it rest a few more years before opening and see where it is then.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/9/2023 - vinojones wrote: 90 Points
ADDENDUM approx 30 min after first note, in a more typical cab glass the wine showed medicinal character, less sweetness and more tannic finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/9/2023 - vinojones wrote: 93 Points
2 hrs decant:dark red; fruity notes of Bing cherry, plum, nose has dark chocolate and a little chemical/polish like finish. The fruit in the body is soft, complex and carries the wine across the palate to the medium long finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2023 - Franken Berry Likes this wine: 95 Points
What a treat to share this with Mark and Carol. My first Spottswoode. This instantly takes me back to the Napa cabs of the 70s and early 80s. Deep, dark, virile with tremendous fruit, balance and length. Great finish. I picked up on the small dollop of Cabernet franc that was added to the mix. Surprisingly youthful, and probably deserves a higher rating given that it stood up against a group of much younger wines.
I believe that Parker considers this to be on the highlights of the 2003 vintage, which has often been overshadowed by the preceding two vintages and subsequent ‘05 and ‘06
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/3/2023 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 95 Points
Second bottle of this one from the auction lot.....decanted for about 1 hour prior to going back into the bottle for our dinner with Mr/Mrs Franken Berry at Townsend EPX. The nose is exquisite from the start. Floral, cedar, berry fruit and followed on the palate by all of that. Red fruited to start off but deepens and darkens over dinner. Classy with a capital C. More traditional in Napa lingo. Dry and with a long finish. Not Cult-ish in the least. Enjoyed by all......glad to have two more bottles to enjoy over the next few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2023 - debrawco Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wonderful wine. Delicate and well-balanced. Decanted but no air time. Drank beautifully.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/10/2023 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
2023 Napa in the City: Gala Dinner (The Pool in NYC): We had another 2003 this night that was a total monster. I remember this was a hot vintage most everywhere in the world and Napa was no different. And yet this wine had great elegance and finesse while still keeping that signature Napa blue and black fruit. It was really tasty even today (although clearly with a lot of potential for continued aging). Made by Rosemary as well who worked at Spottswoode from 1997 (?) though 2012.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2022 - Decanting Queen wrote: 96 Points
Last 2 days of 2022 Naples-palooza; 12/30/2022-12/31/2022 (Casa Mark1npt): The third of my top 3 wines of the weekend. This was a backup bottle from Mark's cellar (like we really needed a backup bottle, geesh I can't believe how many bottles we finished). Surprisingly great on Pnp. Still ripe red fruits and graphite, very smooth. Much more going on than just fruit but my notes at this point in the evening can't do it justice! Such a quality wine full of intensity and complexity.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/31/2022 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 96 Points
A late addition to this evening's festivities, by moi......pnp'd, and enjoyed by all over the next 2 hours. Classic Old World Napa feel to it and the palate backs that up. Red fruited, smooth and perfectly balanced. Balance is the key here along with the great Napa fruit. Surprisingly, it did not need anywhere near the decant that others here have said it needed. Just a beautiful wine from start to finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2022 - Cailles wrote: 93 Points
17x Spottswoode (2x SB, 5x Lyndenhurst, 10x Estate Cab): Ten vintages of the flagship Estate Cabernet Sauvignon side-by-side. What makes these Spottswoode wines great is their weightless structure and feel as well as the absence of the excess ripeness or extraction that can be found in some Napa Cult Cabs. These wines are still distinctively Napa and not Bordeaux-esque but definitely on the more elegant, finesse-driven side of the spectrum. Still, not all vintages masked the alcohol perfectly. The best wines were the structured 2013 (96pts), followed by magical 2012 and a very promising 2020 (both 95pts).
TN: Dark, intense nose full of ripe dark fruit, herbs and crushed rocks but mainly fruit. Slight heat. On the palate this is dense yet super elegant, satin like texture, herbs, dark berries and some minty hints. Some earth notes. No tertiary aroma. Good weight from start to finish. Overall quite good but probably not the most complex one. 93/94
Decanting: Opened 6 hours prior to the tasting. Quickly double decanted 3 hours prior to the tasting which seemed fine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/8/2022 - sirpat00 wrote: 94 Points
Spottswoode tasting (Widder (Meilen ZH)): Spottswoode tasting with proprietor Beth Novak-Milliken with 10 vintages Spottswoode, 5 vintages Lyndenhurst, 2 vintages Sauvignon Blanc. All bottles were opened at 15.00 and briefly decanted for the event which started at 19.00. Main observations were: i/ The flagship Spottswoode was typically light and elegant for a Napa Cab with 2013 being the wine-of-the-night (closely followed by 2014, 2019 and 2020, ii/ the Lyndenhurst tends to be rather extracted and lacking mid-palate presence, although the 2019 broke this rule and was towering over the rest. Brief history, snippets from Beth and complete list of wines included in the tasting story.
Tasting note:
A ripe black currant and cassis fruit with notable aging notes of earth and dried leaves revealing the maturity, but still sufficiently primary to be fresh. There was also herbal complexity of eucalyptus and mint. Good intensity and decent amount of spice adds an interesting focal point. Similarly, the palate was mature but with freshness in the fruit, in good balance and softly textured. The aromatics are dense with substance. Beth pointed out that this vintage only included Cab and Franc and mentioned that this vintage was great going into bottle, but then went in a long slumber is just now slowing coming back. Indeed, this did not seem closed and felt fully alive and kicking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2021 - Labrador Does not like this wine: 65 Points
This magnum (which came directly from Spottswoode) was a major disappointment - very little fruit, no aromatics and rough on the palate. In short, it was missing everything that I have come to love about Spottswoode.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2021 - ocwineo Likes this wine: 94 Points
This magnum shared by 6 people-everyone was impressed with thus rich,layered impeccably balanced wine-tabbacco and rich black cherry flavors dominated
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/28/2020 - eatdrinkrepeat Likes this wine: 90 Points
Fruity nose with some notes of mushrooms. The medium body wine delivered a smooth, easy-drinking palette with good fruits, some spices, and soft-soft tannin. While the finish was unexpectedly short, it was a very enjoyable wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/15/2020 - ocwineo Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still going stronge-ample fruit with medium tannins A well balanced elegent wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2020 - tomlee wrote: 95 Points
Crimson in color. 14.1% ABV Stunning nose of red and black fruits, smoke and graphite. Rich, plush and full bodied. Opulent and well balanced. Blackberries, black currants, creme de cassis and plums on the palate. The finish is exceptionally long and seamless with gritty tannins. Just an absolutely delicious Cabernet Sauvignon. Best over the next 2-4 years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2020 - colima wrote: 95 Points
This was my corona virus special wine for a dinner I cooked at home and shared by hand delivering portions to friends (the dinner, not the wine). For th two of us, this wine was a real highlight. Wish I had enough bottles to distribute along with dinner. It shows you why we keep cellars.
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is light sediment in the bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2019 - Night Train Likes this wine: 96 Points
Now that I can no longer afford to buy them, I've finally figured out Spottswoode cabernets. I'm guessing this would have come across as dull and flat five or six years ago. Right now, it's absolutely spectacular. It has everything you would want in a red wine and then some. Drink now or hold for God-only-knows how long.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2019 - Night Train Likes this wine: 95 Points
The "Drink by 2012" is way off base. Most recent previous bottle was tasted five years ago, and it was just coming into its prime. This one bordered on spectacular. Had everything I look for in a cabernet - great nose, plush, rich texture, and a terrific finish. Perfect balance with no rough edges, but still sufficient backbone. Sleek, polished, and sophisticated. Just when I'm beginning to question the wisdom of buying and cellaring wines that I really can't afford, something like this comes along to dispel that notion. Wow!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2019 - eszencia Likes this wine:
Luscious & well integrated. Offering a melody of sensations on the tongue with each sip. It should continue to hold up for a while.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2019 - tciguy wrote: 96 Points
The first Californian cab I really love. Not a fruit bomb. Tastes like liquid velvet. Not sure if this is due to the 16 year age of a difficult year since I have not tried other vintages of Spottswoode and comments of younger vintages like 2014 indicate a tightness / acidic profile. None of that here, as it has a beautiful bouquet and is smooth and tasty. Definitely a wine that is drinking well now and matches its cost profile.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2018 - Sonoma Duck Likes this wine: 94 Points
Medium ruby, nice nose of cedar and rich mulch. Drinking very well right now at age 15. Nice long finish. Unfortunately just one bottle left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2018 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for 30 min, deep ruby, dark fruit, med. tannins, long finish; delicious but still quite young (more open & tasted better on day 2), hold or drink with a long decant
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2018 - Schwarzer Hund Likes this wine:
red plum color, very dense, initial aromas were red and black raspberry which evolved over an hour in a decanter to much richer earthy dark berry fruit and leather. Full bodied dense fruit on palate with a long long finish. Tannins were very soft now. This wine is in a almost perfect drinking stage now. Our experience with Spottswoode cabernet over the years would say the 2003 will last for many more years. It's delicious now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2017 - davidspieker wrote: 90 Points
Dark ruby color with viscus weight. Fresh berry and must aromas. Lush dark cherry and cranberry flavors initially followed by a very lengthy and somewhat bitter finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2017 - Neil.koffler@gmail.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2017 - ocwineo Likes this wine: 92 Points
Vibrant with Good fruit ceder and tabbacco on the palete my guess is this wine will be good for another 5 years
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/6/2017 - elbill Likes this wine: 93 Points
Velvety, round, with a nice degree of refinement. Not the big block of vanilla that we see too much in California. Definitely ready, I wouldn't wait too much to drink it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2017 - MJohnsen83 wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful wine. Great now and should be consumed during the next few years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2017 - Millennial Drinkers Likes this wine: 95 Points
First red on the cruise and given three hours in the decanter. Beautiful wine. Still semi-young in appearance with a deep purplish ruby red core and a touch of garnet on the edges. Complex nose with layers of cassis, dark spices, purple floral notes, tons of dark cocoa, and a touch of aged characteristics like forest floor. Heavy tannins (7/10) and full bodied. Well integrated and rounded. Layered palate with dark cocoa, soft dark fruits, plums, sweet spices and cinnamon. Long and lingering finish. Excellent wine with rib eyes. Drink till 2025.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2017 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 92 Points
Mid-dark garnet, brick edges; Napa Cabernet nose; mint, berries, oak; mid-body; balanced; fine fruit; getting elegant; long smooth finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2017 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
40th Anniversary Magnum Party; 6/3/2017-6/4/2017 (R&D's): From magnum, leftover from the prior night. Aromas of florals, plum, red fruit and coffee. Flavors of red and black fruits and vanilla with a candied red fruit quality in the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/3/2017 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
40th Anniversary Magnum Party; 6/3/2017-6/4/2017 (R&D's): From magnum. Bouquet of red plum, chocolate, coffee and currants. The palate mirrors the bouquet. Velvety texture. Medium tannins and finish. Excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2017 - bonedoc wrote:
TWE LUNCHEON: 2/3/17... Bring a wine you will be "proud of"
'83 margaux: beautiful wine, mature but not over the hill, great aromatics, dried fruit, cranberries, decent acidity (94)
'09 kistler elizabeth: my wota, wow - deftly balanced fruit and acid, bright but powerful and somehow not overdone, sweet and tart fruit, cherries/cranberries, long finish (96)
'10 Dumol PN Finn: delicious but overshadowed by Kistler, lighter style and less midpalate fruit (93)
'01 Janasse VV: a bit over the hill, w/ some alcohol coming thru over the fruit but still delicious (92)
'01 Spottwoode Mag: more savory notes, group liked this better than '03 but i liked '03 (94)
'03 Spottswood Mag: more coffee/chocolate notes, slightly darker fruit profile - i preferred this over the '01 (95)
'02 Insignia: longer finish than the spottswoode's, better midpalate fruit (96)
'07 Les Pavots: a touch overdone, overripe, oaky compared to others although half the group loved this wine as their favorite, to me bottom of the cab lineup (92)
'97 Shafer HSS: corked!
overall, all great wines. the group generally liked the Kistler, '01 spottswoode, "02 Insignia and Pavots the best.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/7/2017 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
In a good place now, not sure I'd wait much longer; sure will get different, though not sure it's going to get better. I liked this well enough, insofar as the purity is the key driver for me. But the overall build, it's not really something that gets me excited any longer. It was enjoyed by all, though to varying degrees, as I said. Not something I would seek out (unlike the vintages from the decade that preceded this).
Aerated in decanter 90 minutes; served non-blind.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2016 - Sonoma Duck Likes this wine: 92 Points
Perfect cork. Decanted for just 30 minutes. Medium ruby with black fruits and cedar. Drinking well right from the start. Fully mature but will keep for a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/11/2016 - Rezy13 Likes this wine:
Tuesday Night Double Blind $40+ (Alpharetta, GA): Black core with thin crimson rim; Bordeaux like nose, slight weediness, Cabernet, red currants, plumper, oak, chocolate; creamy oak on the palate, blackberry, menthol, seamless, fleshy, fine tannin, higher alcohol, sexy mouthfeel, blueberry, plush; very good though I'd like a touch more integration of the oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2016 - Rezy13 wrote: flawed
Tuesday Night Blind Tasting $70+ (Roswell, GA): Corked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2016 - bdgale Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened up quite nicely after about an hour of decanting. I'm a Spottswoode fan and this reinforced my opinion.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/8/2015 - DRob Likes this wine:
Much more fruit than I expected, plummy and soft, very little tannin. Never a tannic monster, but less than anticipated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2015 - DrakkarNoir wrote:
Too jammy and ripe for my liking. Nose of cassis syrup. Full bodied, with some grippy tannins remaining and bright acidity. Long finish, though quite sweet. 14.1% abv.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2015 - curtr Likes this wine:
Ready now, yet not the depth of some of the better years of this wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2015 - Superjack29 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Had this at the end of a night filled with vodka and IPA's. Wow, was this a nice change up. Only had a glass after I aerated the bottle into a Riedel small Cabernet decanter. I don't remember exactly what I was tasting but this vintage of Spottswoode continues to impress and get better every time I go back to it. I would love to find more. This is in a great spot right now even after a quick aeration and super short time in decanter. Drink up!!
My score may be a little high because I love Spottswoode and was already pretty under the influence while tasting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2015 - Superjack29 wrote: 95 Points
2 hours in decanter, poured back in bottle and drank 2 hours later. This responded very well to the extra air time and is in a very nice place right now. Still has a few years left but if you have time to give it enough air it's not going to get any better in my opinion.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2015 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great balance of fruit and structure
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2014 - Night Train Likes this wine: 92 Points
Spottswoode Cabernets usually strike me as flawless but unexciting, but this one was an exception. Youthful, complex, and delicious. Terrific body and finish. Probably just now approaching its peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/4/2014 - levinml wrote: 95 Points
I really like Spottswoode, and this just continues to reaffirm my taste. Not sure why or how I got a single bottle of the 2003 and wish I had more. Can't describe the various flavors and textures but has an the same profile as other Spottswoodes I've had over the last couple years. In perfect balance, so no need to wait. Likely to get better, too. Anyone want to make some trades?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2014 - mflesh Likes this wine: 93 Points
I was rather curious about this wine given the "drink by 2018" opinions. Well......I can't say that this is a good opinion at all. After drinking this bottle, I can tell you that this wine will be plenty OK in 2018 as long as you've been cellaring this one correctly --- this wine will probably hold its own until 2022 or 2024 although at present it is starting to show some signs of age. Isn't this how Napa Cabs are supposed to be enjoyed!!! The wine was uncorked and bottle decanted for about 30 minutes. Initial pour is a clear but dark crimson red. Nose on the glass is a deep aged blackberry cassis with an earthy sting. The entry on the palate is very dark and deep, with an undertone of forest floor and age. More blackberry is on the front. The mid-palate is consistent with a mildly tart black cherry and some kiwi fruit with a very mild acidic sting, but the base is all aged black cherry in the middle. Lots of subtle nuances are present here in the middle. An herbal presence comes out at some point to play. Some earthy tones came out although nothing really came out to rule or dominate. The finish was rather soft, showing fine tannin integration. The finish has some pepper to it, although not as strong as I'd expect a younger vintage of this wine to have. Probably a good 20 second finish. There was some grit sediment on the neck after this one was carefully poured and consumed throughout the night. I actually think that this is the perfect time to be drinking this one, so if you have a few of this one I'd certainly start drinking on it now. I don't expect much to change with its presentation in the next 1-2 years, but in 4-5 years this one is going to start sliding gracefully downhill.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2013 - bobwire wrote: 93 Points
took a while to open up but once it did was delicious. great body, nice tannins and fruit forward. didnt finish the whole bottle. second night it was disappointing,
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2013 - EMTAME wrote: 94 Points
I opened this too early. It really needs another 3-4 years to show its best, but what's present at this stage is extremely promising. The rich dark fruit is bigger-boned than in the more graceful (and nearly perfect) '02, but this is a terrific effort for the vintage. If you must drink it now, give it a long decant first.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2013 - Schwarzer Hund Likes this wine:
This wine is aging beautifully. Plenty of youthfulness yet getting more complex each year. Deep garnet color, dark cherry, herbs, anise aromas, dense cherry, dark berry fruit, tannins integrated, acidity in perfect balance, lengthy smooth finish. An elegant wine for sure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2013 - Pnate Likes this wine: 92 Points
Blackberry and fig with a smooth finish. Liked the 2001 better and waiting another year before drinking the 2004. I would drink in the next year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2013 - davidspieker wrote: 91 Points
Dark garnet color. Aromas of blackberry, cedar and tobacco. Consistent flavors with ripe fruit and plush texture. Soft tannins with lengthy finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2012 - Flemboy Likes this wine: 94 Points
The wine looks Inky colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Black currant (cassis), and Fig. It tastes like Black currant (cassis), and Toast. The body is Medium/Full. The wine has Polished texture. The wine finishes Medium.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2012 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark garnet; smokey, tobacco, berry and cedar nose; mid-body; balanced; berries and jam; decent tannins, starting to soften. w/any good cut of beef, grilled or with lighter sauces.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2012 - EJKIII wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful, gracefully maturing wine ..... Typical Spottswoode. Dark purple, maychung the dark fruit nose and opening. Understated and seamless. Strong fruit for a 10-year-old, progressing to a long smooth finish. Tannins are present, but in the background of this smooth Cab. Perfect now, and enough left to suggest promise for 10 more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2012 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 93 Points
A Spottswoode tasting at the Lodge at Torrey Pines was the setting for the sampling of this wine, which was not disappointing. While a formal note was not made, it can be said that it has wonderful fruit, excellent structure and good complexity at this point. It will provide pleasure for another decade or more. Very nice! Drink now-12/22.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/15/2012 - EyeDoc wrote: 93 Points
In full stride. Drink or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2012 - emf Likes this wine:
Beautiful wine @ Blackfish. Great nose of dark fruit, some vanilla and earth and licorice. The tannins were smooth and the finish long with tastes of dark cherries, licorice and some oak. Not in your face but a lot of finesse.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2012 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Auction Napa Valley Celebration in Chicago (L2O - Chicago IL): Ultra ripe black plum aromas with hints of cedar and liqueur. Similarly intense and ripe fruit on palate, easy to enjoy in its style, but to me this was very "2003" and this wan't my preferred style of Cabernet. Certainly enough structure and substance to age well, perhaps this will pick up grace with time in cellar. Others liked this a lot more than I did tonight, and I can certainly understand that preference.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2011 - Raintree Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted for two hours. Hints of cherry and cigar smoke. Alcohol is a little hot. Lacks complexity and finish for the price point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2011 - emf Likes this wine:
Decanted for an hour, aromas of dark red fruit and some oak. Complex, beautiful wine that was layered with dark cherry, plums and and some oak. It was gorgeously satiny with a long finish. Great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2011 - A&C wrote: 91 Points
Took this to dinner with friends prior to the Guns N Roses concert. It was very good. Right square in the middle of its drinkability window. Nice open fruit. Good Cali Cab fruit. Open from the start. Not closed down. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2011 - Stevieboy wrote: 96 Points
Opened this bottle and let it sit for about 20 minutes before first tasting.
First taste was tight and harsh. Somewhat bitter.
Decanted and waited another half hour before the next taste. Much better! Oak and cherry were really coming out.
Another half hour before the next taste and this bottle was delicious!!
Wow! What a great bottle. This was fantastic after an hour and a half of decanting. Can't wait for the next bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/26/2011 - Winodude1234 wrote: 89 Points
Disappointed to say the least. Had high expectations based on the community reviews.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2011 - emf Likes this wine:
Very dark in color with aromas of dark fruit and some tobacco. In the glass with a decant full bodied with dark cherries, plums and some tobacco with very smooth tannins and a long finish. Very good wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2011 - Rob MacKay wrote: 92 Points
From magnum. Opened up and poured a little off the top, letting the rest of the bottle sit for a few hours. Still showing quite young and vibrant with blackberry, mocha, and a bit of a roasted bell pepper note on the nose. Wonderful texture and balance on the palate with nicely focused dark fruits and a soft, medium length finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2011 - gmcg wrote: 92 Points
Great color and clarity opening up in my decanter. Nice fruit on the nose and wonderful balance. Sorry it was my last bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2010 - Winecigar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely color and nose. Was drinking quite nicely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2010 - nfafoglia wrote: 90 Points
Earthy, bell pepper nose. Tannins have softened. Medium-bodied, soft red fruit. A bit dry on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2010 - emf Likes this wine:
This wine is drinking really well now. Lots of dark red fruit on the nose and in the glass with softening tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2010 - nycebo wrote: 87 Points
Warm, dark red berries on the nose and palate accompanied by very soft tannins that somewhat lose their structure into a long finish. I also noted cedar and saddle leather. Didn't wow me as much as my high expectations.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2010 - txcabfan wrote:
Exceptional.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2009 - A&C wrote: 93 Points
Following a political event, we headed to the best Italian restaurant in town. What a festive evening. Great food. Excellent service, and a rich and wonderful wine to make the Holidays sing. This wine has really come into its own. Big, rich, and full of flavor. Held its own with the rich Italian feast.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2009 - Baeyens Cellars wrote: 92 Points
I wasn't sure what to expect because I read the group cellar tracker's (the hive's) tasting notes and it seemed all over the board - they were on one side of the fence or the other. I was on the side that enjoyed the wine, but I could see why it confused many who have tasted it. This wine really needed a partner (in my case - filet) to show itself properly. And my filet had a slight char to it that really made the wine's fruit come alive and show better balance. But sipping on it before the steak arrived I found it less appealing, as if the fruit was masked by the tannins, oak and structure, where the charring counteracted it. I recommend an hour or so of decanting and a good charred steak with this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2009 - ptelgenh wrote: 90 Points
nice bottle during a tough vintage. noticable but plesent oak, dried sage and cherries with firm tannins. would be nice with a filet. Drink now
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/7/2009 - wineotim wrote: 93 Points
Very ripe, sweet, and supple tannins, full blown, in your face forward style. Not a wine for fans of elegant and reserve style. That said, I could not stop sipping this big beauty, supple, smooth, and balanced, big and brash, with dark cherry flavors and long vanilla oak finish. Complemented our steaks perfectly. Would love to try a more desirable vintage from this estate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/17/2009 - Cleric wrote: 72 Points
Did not care for this. It had no taste no structure. I let breath for hour and did not improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/18/2009 - A&C wrote: 88 Points
I was afraid that this would be less than par for a wine of this price and lineage, and yes, I was correct. Lets face it -- 2003 really sucks as a vintage. When you're looking for wine to share with your sub-par friends, pull out the 03's. They are truly a notch below. This wine was no exception. This wine is not very good. Bland, with only a hint of fruit, and mostly forgettable. I am kind of disappointed that I have two more -- I will be sure to drink them on ordinary days with ordinary people. There is nothing extraordinary or interesting in this year of this wine. Please, if you love your friends, pull out something to impress them, and skip this wine this year -- save it for an average Tuesday night at home.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2008 - JScott wrote: 92 Points
Really very complete, with a Margaux-like berry midsection and tobacco component. Very approachable now but should hold for 10+ years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2008 - EyeDoc wrote: 93 Points
never fails to deliver even in mediocre vintages. This remains one of the better 03s.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/16/2008 - Phin wrote: 93 Points
3 hour decant. Agree with "jjclips2" notes below.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/21/2008 - pakabear wrote: 92 Points
No formal notes, but I remember the alcohol being very noticeable on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2008 - rloomis wrote: 90 Points
woodfire stove ash, clay oven. smoky blackberry. very dark and dense, complex and long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2008 - jjclips2 wrote: 92 Points
Mardi Gras 2008 (Casa Jay & Teresa's): Tried a taste about 3 hours before served. Offered nice black fruits, cassis, cherry, plum, with nice dusty tannins and a warm spice element. Not too heavy on the oak and had nice acidity towards the finish. When served, not decanted, it really fleshed out. The tannins were a little coarse and the acidity really kicked up. Tobacco and cedar also came forward. Very nice wine, and I'm sure it will hold for many years to come.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2008 - hutch wrote: 92 Points
This is an extremely powerful wine. If I had a bottle, I'd wait about 5 years before thinking about drinking it. Much more muscular then most Cali cabs. But it seems to need time to flesh out. The aromatics on this ware astounding. 91-94
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2008 - WineForRob wrote: 93 Points
very elegant wine. Big cherry nose with a bit of alchohol. No alchohol present in the mouth with more red fruits and a deliciously juicy finish. Very good for a tough vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/4/2007 - BlakeWarnerWine wrote: 94 Points
Fruity and smooth cab with some good structure. The wine exhibited few if any tannins will little time to decant...a great choice with filet mignon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2007 - napaJ6 wrote: 93 Points
Unbelievably ripe and soft, silk in the mouth. Nose was not impressive, but the wine itself was very, very good. Somewhat one dimensional in that there was no complexity to make you think it will be a blockbuster in 10 years, but a great pairing with the dinner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2007 - bevort wrote:
Wines and BBQ (Claus B): Spootswoode 03.. ouch.. very young, tons of alcohol and warmth showing. Need structure, need freshness, need edge, need precision. And where is the fruit? I own this wine myself but starting to wonder if this will ever come around.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/19/2007 - yotaiwan wrote: 95 Points
sweet, tannined, very nice fragrance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2007 - GLD wrote: 92 Points
great great smooth wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/15/2007 - goofy Yno wrote: 95 Points
this is a great wine. very young but with all the right components. tremendous fruits, good acid, tanninins and a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2007 - lopezn wrote: 89 Points
Inaugural (Blind) Tasting, Puget Sound Tasters Club. (Tacoma, WA.): The Spottswoode was the group disappointment. JM, who brought the wine actually noted that this wine was his least favorite of the night. Slightly sweet (JM noted this tasted very zin-like) with oaky notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2006 - beachnic wrote: 90 Points
Not really too my liking. Too wimpy and not interesting. I'm being generous with my score. I like more fruit, Tannins etc.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/4/2006 - EyeDoc wrote: 94 Points
Super wine. One of the better '03's I have had.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2006 - GolferChris wrote: 94 Points
Wine Spectator Grand Tasting (Marriott Hotel, San Francisco, CA): Beautiful and elegant effort. Aromas and flavors of black cherry, blackberry, licorice and violets. Sweet supple tannins that are well integrated. Long, lucious finish lasting 40+ seconds.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2006 - GolferChris wrote: 94 Points
Napa Valley Vintner's Big Nightlife Napa Valley Magnum Tasting Party (San Francisco, CA): Really a fan of their house style - elegant and rich. Aromas and flavors of black cherry, blackberry, licorice and violets. Sweet, round tannins that give a regal mouthfeel. Long 40+ second finish, leaves you begging for another glass.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2006 - bdenuyl wrote: 92 Points
A nice cabernet. Good depth and richness, but not as good as some of the earlier Spottlswoode’s. I would not buy more, alothough it is a very nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2006 - GolferChris wrote: 94 Points
Big fan of Spottswoode cab and this vintage does not disappoint. Young and bold, this is a ripe, aromatic, and plump wine. Aromas/flavors of blackberry, black cherry, violet, spice and cocoa. Fine grained tannins provide the balance to the big fruit to create a rich, juicy mouthfeel. Long, lingering finish that ends with a touch of sweet oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment