Beautiful purity of cassis and blackcurrant. Great structure with great black fruit. Medium plus body. Long some complexity. Drinking now but will be better in 10.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The 2012 was no slouch, but suffered for being served next to the excellent 2013. Dark plum, cocoa, blackberry, tobacco and some garden vegetable notes. Overall a heavier oakier representation of the vineyard, which held it back a bit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Terrific cornucopia of blackberry, blueberry and black currant fruit with excellent complexity. Notes of chocolate, tobacco and graphite with a nice spice on the finish. Needs a full hour to properly decant to not only enjoy all its flavors but you taste the richness of the fruit.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Purple to the rim. Cherries on the nose. Some fruit up front but seems closed down with tannins and is somewhat bitter at the finish a 20 second finish but really fealing the tannins. This is the worst showing for this wine for me
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank with family over Costco A5 Kobe so should have been great match, but frankly I was disappointed. Decanted over an hour. Still good, just not as awesome as I would have expected. Maybe it's me
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: From magnum. A bit muted nose. On the palate this shows expressive black and blue berries, herbs, crushed rocks, some violets. With time seductive nutty notes and the fruit gets more precise. Cool and fresh, light and on the weightless side of things without any excess and without loosing intensity. A great success but the 2013 in the next glass, although less complex today, is even more elegant.
Decanting: Opened 6 hours prior to the tasting. Quickly double decanted 3 hours prior to the tasting. Could have used one or the other hour in the decanter.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
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: From Magnum. Very intense fruit of ripe red and black currant and classis bonbon. Marginally Port-like also, in fact. A few aging notes of leather. This came across as less sweet and more settled than other vintages. The palate was firmly structured with nice balance and a juicy fruit, but could have done with a splash more acidity. The finish had an ok-length but was somewhat uninspiring. Beth noted the blend was approximately 85% Cab, 10% Franc, 5% PV.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
CAI Cotillon dinner. Opened beautifully after 6 hour decanting. Bold & powerful. Even more rich & smooth 20 hrs later. Can certainly hold out another 5-10 years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
One hour decant. I bought two bottles from a reseller and neither were as great as past bottles of Spottswoode so maybe there was a problem with heat or cold or who knows. Dark black fruits. Wine didn’t have the fullness and flavor layers I would expect. Finish was medium and so was mouth feel. It was still enjoyable with Beef Wellington but not in the 95+ range I would expect from this wine.
The wine was Double Decanted (DD) for 8 hours then poured into a decanter for an additional 90+ minutes before being consumed. Stemware used was Grassl 1855 paired with Flannery Dry Aged Tomahawk and Porthouse.
The color was dark purple. The aromas were of red and dark fruits and spices. The palate was of red and dark cherries, plum, allspice, pepper and cocoa. The wine is medium to full bodied with medium acidity and medium(-) tannins that were smoothed out with the fat in the steaks.
The wine was delicious and paired well with the marblization of the steaks. It may have just entered its early drinking window with plenty of life left. Drink now with a good decant or cellar for several more years. Patience will definately be rewarded but no shame in opening one early with the proper aeration.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2 hour decant at restaurant but needed much more time. Has the bones to keep evolving so hold if possible as just starting to get into its prime drinking window.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The bottle received a very thorough decanting and then aired for a couple of hours before serving. The wine and cork were in good shape. the wine was delicious and may have benefitted from even more air time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
After reading prior notes, decided a short decant (45 min) might be in order. Just a lovely nose, fresh cut flowers, floral perfume, red mostly brambly fruit, hint of charcoal. The palate gave very little, plenty of stiff tannic structure and tart acidic cherries holding this back. I think a longer decant is wiser. Great texture and mouthfeel, at 10 years, this feels young. Far more tannins than most ‘12s of the floor fruit variety and far less secondary development than anticipated. 91 for now.
Decided two hour total decant and tried again. At that point, the nose showed a bit of forest floor, spice, and black and red berry fruit. This is picked up a significant amount of weight in the tannins have integrated very nicely, gone is the heavy-handed structure of before, replaced by a backbone of elegance.
On the palate, red tart cherry, cinnamon stick, the ‘I don’t know what it is but it’s Spottswoode’ note, elegant and light across the palate. This has many years left, try again in 2024 earliest.
I wish I would’ve trusted my gut and gone with a two hour decant from the get-go but lesson learned this is a lovely 94 points and frankly would do very well with food after a two hour decant. This is not big and bold this is bold and beautiful. Room for improvement with more time sideways or a longer decant.
This is definitely a PnP. Was good right out of the bottle, other notes nailed it when they said the wine is very linear, gets to where it going in a hurry. Unfortunately we then slow ox'd it for 2 hours prior to drinking and it became soft to the point it was way too soft. This does not have the stuffing for a decant at this point, just pop and drink it as quickly as you can.
Decanted 45 minutes. Wine is soft and smooth. Wife loved it more than me. I would have loved this better a year or two ago with more tannin and structure. My last bottle I’ll PnP. Unless you like soft tertiary flavors I’d drink up now. This wine is in the plateau phase for sure. Maybe this was some bottle variation because I thought the wine would be more bold and structured.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Yielding from PnP. Truffle, cassis, some barnyard that quickly flew by and then, a first for me, coco-powder. Goes so well with those slightly sandy tannins. What a treat. Doesn't get flabby. Stays in one place, balance good and a long aftertaste with the slightest of green. Holds the alcohol without problems. Good wine.
Nose of black fruit and blackberry with rubber notes and perhaps a note of Brett. Black fruit, black figs, brown sugar, and layers of damp earth and granite with peppery notes, wet slate, and dried thyme and dried parsley. Fluffy tannins on the finish with blackberry, light smoke, notes of ham and mint on an oak frame.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cocoa, cassis, red fruits, subtle cigar box, wet fall leaves and crushed nuts with interesting honeysuckle and jasmine notes. Gorgeous body and structure with grippy, chalky tannins. Easily many years to go, yet singing right now.
p.s. snake river charcoal filets with roasted cauliflower and a Waldorf salad
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A prime example of everything that is great about California Cabernet. Nose promises great things, with cassis, garrigue, allspice. Full bodied and leggy, with a delicious stony minerality. Perfect balance. Drinking young, no visible signs of the almost 10 years in bottle. Wish I had a few more of these!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Day 1 : Upon decanting, 11:30 PM, I had the pleasant aromas of Christmas times past tickle my mind. Christmas tree, holly, cookies and candies. First taste was a little hot, had fine, yet young tannins, they are in need of more aging. The wine is in a sleeping stage today. Still obviously a pure, precise expressions, though muted slightly at this time. The oak integration is done and with a deft touch. At no point is the oak over done, it constantly appears in a complementary role. This wine needs 6-8 more years before it is approachable, IMHO!
After 2 1/2 hours from decant: Nose is still vague with a slight trace of blueberry. Palate is still a little hot, with a pronounced flavor of blueberries. Tannins are very fine and velvety though still gripping. Very drying finish at this time. It is not at a stage for delivering pleasure to the consumer. Revisited after 8 + hrs: mellowed and approachable but less flavorful, tired and flat. Defiantly needs 6 - 8 more years in the cellar, may revisit in 2026.
Nine years from vintage, the 2012 Spottswoode is open for business. It's currently drinking very easily thanks to its softened tannins and midweight character. The usual red fruits and flowers from this site are present, as are coffee, laurel, and graphite. For me, what's missing is just the tannic bite of a year like 2013 or 2015 and the full pivot to tertiary flavor development. The latter will come in time. If that's your jam, give it another 3-5 years of bottle age and drink well into the 2030s.
Drank bottle that had been coravin'd in November (I think). Not sure if it impacted wine, but not the usual mind blower that I expected. Drank over two nights and just never seemed to open up. Maybe it was me.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A very good, but probably not quite great, wine. Tasted at open but it needed a 2 hour decant before it started to shine.
Full bodied, very ripe, booming finish in the third hour. Paired beautifully with a ribeye. Others have described the flavors and aromas nicely; I'll emphasize that the minerality was particularly pleasant.
Everything is there but it isn't quite integrated enough for me to score at blockbuster levels - just slightly disjointed, and the finish is impressive but a little bit sweet. Nitpicking here - probably would hold, but certainly no shame in drinking now with a decant.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pitch dark colour, nose of cassis, smoooooth velvety nose. Quite rich and ripe on palate with deep fruit and oak, definite oak infused finish. As I sip this I reflect that it is a bit overworked and this prevents some of the graphite that I got on the 2010 to show up, the fruit and oak is nearly overwhelming. Still, this is not as blowsy as the 2015, if you are looking for positives. Not sure Spottswoode has found a worthy successor to the 2010 since that great wine and I feel the style is moving to please certain high scoring critics.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This rich and expansive Cabernet is drinking well right now, with incredible fruit but a lack of precision that keeps it from being even better. Dark red in color; full in body; intriguing aromas of boysenberry, espresso, charcoal, and pencil lead. Flavors of blueberry, sour cherry, menthol, and anise, with a sweet and lingering finish that carries some grainy tannin. Blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. 14.1% alcohol.
This reminded me of a 2012 VHR I had a few weeks ago, since the fruit in the Spottswoode seemed similarly blown out (more than I expected). I think this will settle down with another year or two, but I wouldn't be in a rush to open it. Kind of syrupy on second day. Here's hoping this finds another gear in 2022 or later.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Must decant to aerate and due to sediment. Dark fruits still show but more earthy and leather characteristics come through. 30 second finish that ends with slight tobacco and floral notes. Very good wine and will leave other mag sit for a while
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose is restrained compared to the 2010 but elegant herbs and some red fruit, currants, sage, youthful. Tastes are integrated and elegant, tannins are smooth. Lighter body than the 2010- still substantial, but there is a distinct difference from the other vintage. Expanded nicely after opening. Long finish. Ready to drink now. Good fruit still and showing more of a fruit expression than the leather and meats of the 2010.
Tasted side by side with the 2010.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Well made but lacking a bit in expression. Needs a decant for sure as it started to open up after a couple hours. Solid but still probably needs some time
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had this blind next to the 13 and 17 vintages. This was slow ox'd for about 4 hours before the first sip. Somewhat surprisingly, this seemed a bit more rustic than the 2013. Blind, I guessed this was the 13. Lots of eucalyptus, menthol and tobacco, complemented by blackberries and deep mineral driven flavors. It is still very powerfully built, with strong but refined tannins, a complete mid palate and a long powerful finish. The acid appeared a bit higher in this bottle over the others, and the fruit has started to get more drowned out by the tertiary notes of mushrooms and leather. Lots of life left, and for the old world lovers this stands to only get better.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I’ve had this wine two years ago and it was a stunner (97 points) thanks to lots of fresh blue fruits and minerality and a fresh, elegant structure. Today it didn‘t work that well and showed less expressive and layered but also because I perceived it a tad sweeter, probably as it was served between an old world Pinot Noir and a Bordeaux from 2012. Not the best decision. Still, a highly enjoyable wine which probably isn‘t in is very best phase right now.
TN: Dark and blue fruits, some violets on the nose. Nicely precise, medium- expressive. Medium dense palate, good intensity and precision displaying blue fruits, cassis, hints of floral aromas and slight hints of tobacco. Not the stunning, creamy, sexy yet subtle and harmonious wine as the last bottle but still with a very fine structure and good acidity. A tad too sweet finish.
Decanting: Not decanted. As said above, I would wait a few years. If you open a bottle today, I would give it at least 3 hours in the decanter.
A beautiful wine with room to improve with age. Decanted for 2 hours. Rich plum nose. There are plums, black cherries and tobacco on the palate. Firm tannins, could afford to soften a bit. Nice acidity, great balance. Finishes long with dark fruits and sharp spice. Kept improving in the glass. Real elegance here. Needs 3 to 5 years to peak, will hold long after that.
Only my second ever Spotteswood and loved it. I really enjoy Napa cabs but I am evolving away from the massive jammy fruit bombs and so this was such a treat. Everything in balance. Not overly tannic and fruit nicely restrained. Red / blue fruit notes, fresh and not jammy, good acidity. Long length. Just a pleasure to drink and a beautifully well made wine.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Color: nearly opaque ruby Nose: red fruit (cranberry/stawberry) with violet and rose Palate: medium body; very fruity; lightly concentrated with medium acidity. The structure is solid with high tannins that soften the mouth feel and are well integrated with an intense fruity finish with a hint of vanilla that lingers for several minutes. This is quite good. (15+25+22+32=94...but it likely gets better with age)
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cherry to the rim. Red berries up front lots of fruit still tannins to resolve. Medium body with tannins still to resolve Coming along nicely but will be better in a couple of years
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
tasted along many 2012's (HA Ark and FFB, Realm, Solari, Kathryn Hall, Shafer HSS, Cakebread, and others)- this came across as restrained with savory notes. never a blockbuster, and best after it's 10th birthday in my experience.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for two hours, purple and blue fruits, some savory notes, ripe but not over the top. Even with decant, still young and a bit premature. Wait a few years. 94+?
Decanted for about 2 hours before taking it to a steak dinner. Wine had a muted nose which was confirmed on first taste. The wine seemed closed and unexpressive which I found disappointing. Texture was silky smooth and full-bodied. I believe another 2-3 years in the cellar will allow the wine to develop and become more expressive. My score might improve to a 96 then but right now I don't think the wine is worth the price.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
No formal notes - about 45 minutes into the decanter it took a nap, couldn’t taste any fruit at all, but 30 minutes later it woke up and was singing beautifully, really nicely integrated and delicious fruit and minerality. Delicious with a seared strip steak.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A good wine friend's 50th birthday. (@ PCr): Licorice and dark berries, beautiful oak, caramel and sweet spices in the bouquet. On the palate juicy dark berries, some chocolate and beautiful acidity and tannin. Very beautiful and classical wine.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A great wine and the best wine of the week among some highly reputed wines including four triple-digit Parker wines. I love young Napa wines with all their sexiness. But they can be too slutty sometimes and a tad too one-dimensional. Not this Spottswoode. So fresh, fairly complex, power but embedded in an elegant frame. What level of elegance and complexity this wine can achieve impressively showcased a bottle of the 2007 we had just a few days later (no tasting note, ended up too drunk) and back in 2007 elegance was not everybody's top priority. But I believe that the 2012 might even outshine the 2007 one day (especially if you are a Bordeaux lover).
TN: Very cool stylistic with fresh violets, blackberries, blueberries, some wet forest floor wet slate and some minty notes providing a further lift. Subtle sweetness and with time some dark bitter chocolate notes. Intense and precise aromas on the nose and palate. Medium weight, still noticeable but round tannins, very balanced and harmonious. I really love when Napa wines are so fresh, light and elegant.
Decant: PnPed at a restaurant, good from the start, improved a bit with air but no decant needed.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner with Beth Novak Milliken, Spottswoode Estate (The Library, Crown Wine Cellars, Hong Kong): Served blind amongst 13 mainly Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignons. Purple-red and totally opaque. Nose is all pencil lead and undeveloped. Palate is very round, easy and approachable but high alcohol and too young to the point of being a bit headachey. It did soften with a long time in the glass but was clearly a decade or two younger than the preceding 8 wines.
Not judged to be a properly representative bottle by Beth.
BUY Red fruit and spice, velvety texture and - based on a recent tasting spanning four decades - built for aging wonderfully. (Art. Forbes, April 30,2018)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Heady. Not the Spottswoode of 25 years ago, perhaps, though. Rich, but not a syrupy mess like Caymus. Rich and clean. I'd compare it with Dunn. A high-quality Calif Cab. What can one say beyond that?
Calif produces some lovely wines when they're not of the hyped, cloying variety (which is becoming all too frequent even among higher-end bottles) but can't make the leap to the level of depth and complexity -- not to mention longevity-- one finds in French and Italian wines...
I love Spottswoode, both the wine and the people. This bottle is no exception. Still very young, will benefit significantly with time in the bottle. This is like a young colt that hasn't been tamed. Silky tannins, velvety in the mouth. Slight heat initially on the nose that faded over time. This is an elegant wine, showing cherries and dark red fruits. Outstanding.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep ruby red. A touch of cinnamon on the nose with notes of dark cherries, almost black, with some cocoa and dark minerality. Heavy tannins (7/10) and full bodied. Black bramble berries on the palate with some spices, more red berries coming through and tons of dark gravel. Long finish. Needs some time. Drink till 2032. (92+)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Last of the blind wines this evening. Medium to deep ruby red. A bit stinky on the nose to start with some added earthiness, a little smokey and blackcurrants. Heavy tannins (7.5/10) and hidden but full bodied. Layered palate with dark berries, red currants, spices, blackberries, bitter cocoa and gravel. Rounded mouthfeel with a little bit of a gritty texture near the long and dry finish. This is a big boy wine that will benefit from a few more years in the bottle or even more. Drink till 2033.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Unbelievably refined and elegant young wine . This is very early in its drinking window but shows very well now . This has the pedigree to develop into a highly sophisticated and stellar wine . Hold . If you can .
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark purple coloring with a nice strong smell. Decanted for 3 hours, put back into the bottle and off to dinner we went. Matching fruits; blueberry blackberry and plum. Strong St. Helena notes of graphite, charcoal. A multi-layered wine with a long finish. This could have used a little more time in the decanter so it still has plenty of life left. More old school wine making.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Can't score this. Infanticide, of course. Huge, lots of flavor, all good. Hopefully will settle down and all balance, but way too soon to tell. Give this at least a couple more years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The ‘12 Spottswoode was drop-dead gorgeous with a rich display of macerated cherry and raspberry with dusty minerals and spices. With time, it became darker and earthier, lending a truly classic feel to the wine. On the palate, i found pure, silky textures with bright red fruits, sweet tannin and beautiful inner floral tones. The finish was long and impeccably balanced with prevailing bright red fruits and floral perfumes that lingered on and on. What a beautiful a wine.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
First time trying the flagship bottling from Spottswoode Estate.
Deep ruby red. Restrained on the nose with definite oak influence as well as dark red berries and sweet spices, cinnamon. Heavy tannins (8/10) and full bodied. Dark restrained fruits on the palate as well, black currants, cassis, black cherries and a touch stoney in the super long finish. Slightly dry too. This is just a baby and would not open another for another five years or so. Drink till 2033.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Purple to the rim. After a one hour decant got a beautiful nose of crushed flowers smoke and elegant black fruits. Ripe but nowhere near over done. Medium bodied and smooth with fine grained tannins. Much more accessible than I expected. This is not your typical Spottswoode in my opinion. Not as big or fleshy as normal and not the huge backbone it normally has. Delicious now and will definitely get better but I don't think this will live as long as other Spottswoodes.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had at a friends house for the Real Madrid game. Black and blue fruit with a touch of red - blackberry, blueberry, currants, and black cherry. Decent depth but I expected more in light of the ratings from Parker and Suckling - although I also realize this vintage needs more time. In addition, the fruit came across somewhat closed. Solid finish but not overly long nor deep and a little tart. Apparently it was decanted for one hour and we drank it over another three. Improved with time but it never really came around. In my opinion, this vintage needs years for the fruit to open-up which is no surprise in light of its youth and the producer. 85% cab, 10% cab franc, and 4% petit verdot. I'll refrain from rating because it's not just not ready yet but I'm surprised by all the favorable reviews. Drank next to a 2012 Janzen Beckstoffer To-Kalon cab and I thought the Janzen was quite a bit better - although the Janzen is also clearly at a better drinking point.
Drank over two days. This was not big bodied, this was not full bodied, in fact it was very light on its feet. This was very primary, this was very intense but one dimensional, not complex. Acidity was off the charts, tart, surprisingly. This was another disappointment from the '12 vintage for me.
MW Institute Sit Down Tasting 2012/2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Panel, nose of black fruit, black cherry, blackberry, and kirsch, more of the same on the palate, big body, rich fruit, lovely today, delicious, needs 3 years to peak, shows Bordeaux elegance, and a medium/long finish with small amount of harsh tannins. Beth Novak Milliken present.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Institute of Masters of Wine - 2012-13 Cabernet Sit-Down tasting (Hyatt, San Francisco): Tannic beast. Turbocharged blackcurrant with a twinkle of brown olive. Blackcurrant, blackberry, black olive, slight liquorice, blackcurrant liqueur. Slight toasted popcorn. Elevated acid. Really dense, tart dry finish. This has power, freshness, elegance, length, and complexity. Around 9.5
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Completely shut down, sound asleep. After several hours in the glass, this did show some sense of what is to come: medium bodied, black and blue fruit, bitter chocolate. Let it lay for at least five years.
Decanted for three hours. I'm in agreement with most of the notes already posted here, so I won't bore with the details. It's pleasurable now but should be better in 3-5.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ripe nose with intense liquorice, dark plum, dark chocolate, dark berries, green pepper, noticeable florality and mineral scents. Full-bodied, complex and balanced with firm tannins, medium acidity and long aftertaste. Expressive already but will benefit from another 5 years of cellaring.
It's like Napa and Margaux had a baby. Very interesting experience. Nice wine, very smooth. Enjoyable now but will be much better in 10 years. Give it at least an hour to decant.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP, served with tapas and a grilled rib eye. Dark ruby color. Floral, sweet oak, pencil, dark fruits/berries on the nose, incredibly floral. Precise, on-point, well-balanced, confident on the palate. more flowers and dark berries. doesn't hit your face like big napa cabs (the Harlan's of the world). so smooth, which is surprising for such a youngster, and it delivers a classic spottswoode finish, exhibiting long, well structured soft/round and sweet tannin. between a left bank Bordeaux and a napa cab is how this the extremely well-made St. Helena classic can be characterized. No problem nearly finishing whole bottle b/w the two of us, and the wine was increasingly better as evening went on. putting remaining bottles away for next several years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Spottswoode with Knut and James (Napa, CA): This took me completely by surprise. There’s an astonishing complexity of fruit, even within the rather narrow band of precisely ripe cabernet tones. At risk of over-poeticizing, the nose had a certain bold choreography to it. Structurally elegant, effortlessly balanced, with crystalline acidity and perfectly chewy, aggressive tannins - neither over-polished nor harsh.
Like a cleanly-made, turbo-charged Pauillac with surprisingly modest oak. Fruit driven, complicated, and incredibly persistent. I’m still tasting it now. I haven’t tasted anything better from California. Ever.
Score: Around 9.5
------------ Full Notes:
When a wine is this expensive, I almost don’t want to like it. I expected about the same quality as the $75 bottle. But holy shit! This is actually way better - the best cab I've ever tasted by a mile.
I think this is way better than the Colgin's, Maya’s of the world (no surprises there) but also better than the more restrained styles of Corison, DiConstanzo, Mt. Eden, Kathryn Kennedy.
I’m fascinated by the clean, fruit-driven style. I’m normally not that interested in fruit condition - my favorite reds (Musar, Paolo Bea) tend to be more about non-fruit character and tertiary complexity. This is by far the most complex fruit-driven wine I’ve encountered (there’s also plenty of non-fruit secondaries and other supporting players).
The nose tenderly assaults you with many shades of fruit condition, all within a small band of perfect ripeness. Slight nutty olive (painfully artisanal olives), a suggestion of super-ripe pyrazines, other slight variations on pure blackcurrant. A focused and precise kaleidoscope of fruit. Getting this precision and complexity in just fruit character is not easy. Bravo, vineyard manager, bravo.
Oak is perfectly integrated and very much in the background (60% new French barrels). There’s a touch of baking spices, but none of the overt sweetness that comes with poorly-integrated oak. Even for Bordeaux this would be a bit low in apparent oak influence.
There is earth, mostly inorganic - graphite, cedar, crushed stones. It’s a very clean style - no notes of soil or Brett.
Elegantly balanced. Think Corison with a bit more power. (14.1% alcohol). Jancis called this “turbocharged Margaux” - and I can totally see it, though having not tasted Ch. Margaux, I’ll settle for saying this is turbocharged Pauillac, in a cleaner style, with less new oak and more shades of fruit.
The tannins were perfect - still high, but neither overly polished nor harsh. Chewy and aggressive.
This was made with unique fruit, extraordinary attention to detail, and lots of effort. I don’t think I’ll soon forget this.
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
lovely stuff, potential for more....a bit tight, but it was a pop and pour. very intrigued by the potential here. black fruit, a bit overwhelmed on the mid-palate by the oak at this point.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Stylish, polished, lush and fresh, the wine has an earthy, smoke filled personality with additional nuances of licorice and sweet, ripe, blackberries. Forward with round tannins, this should drink well young and as other vintages have proved, age quite nicely.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Unlike the 2007 which was amazing almost immediately upon release, the '12 was very primary & one dimensional. Bottle was sourced direct from the winery & brought to the restaurant with about an hour decant. It was very smooth with lush fruit, but that was pretty much it. This followed an '11 & '08 red Burgundy & an '05 Nickel & Nickel. Hoping it develops secondary characteristics in time....very well made though as you would expect.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2/15/2024 - Philip67 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful purity of cassis and blackcurrant. Great structure with great black fruit. Medium plus body. Long some complexity. Drinking now but will be better in 10.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2023 - RockinCabs wrote: 94 Points
The 2012 was no slouch, but suffered for being served next to the excellent 2013. Dark plum, cocoa, blackberry, tobacco and some garden vegetable notes. Overall a heavier oakier representation of the vineyard, which held it back a bit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2023 - oncocyte wrote:
too young to score,
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2023 - Schiffy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Terrific cornucopia of blackberry, blueberry and black currant fruit with excellent complexity. Notes of chocolate, tobacco and graphite with a nice spice on the finish. Needs a full hour to properly decant to not only enjoy all its flavors but you taste the richness of the fruit.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2023 - bobh22314 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Purple to the rim. Cherries on the nose. Some fruit up front but seems closed down with tannins and is somewhat bitter at the finish a 20 second finish but really fealing the tannins. This is the worst showing for this wine for me
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2022 - levinml wrote: 92 Points
Drank with family over Costco A5 Kobe so should have been great match, but frankly I was disappointed. Decanted over an hour. Still good, just not as awesome as I would have expected. Maybe it's me
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2022 - Fosgrove Likes this wine: 97 Points
Outstanding elegant fruit, soft tannins
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2022 - Cailles wrote: 95 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: From magnum. A bit muted nose. On the palate this shows expressive black and blue berries, herbs, crushed rocks, some violets. With time seductive nutty notes and the fruit gets more precise. Cool and fresh, light and on the weightless side of things without any excess and without loosing intensity. A great success but the 2013 in the next glass, although less complex today, is even more elegant.
Decanting: Opened 6 hours prior to the tasting. Quickly double decanted 3 hours prior to the tasting. Could have used one or the other hour in the decanter.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2022 - merlotsmile Likes this wine: 96 Points
Vinminnen 12 BYOB
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
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:
From Magnum. Very intense fruit of ripe red and black currant and classis bonbon. Marginally Port-like also, in fact. A few aging notes of leather. This came across as less sweet and more settled than other vintages. The palate was firmly structured with nice balance and a juicy fruit, but could have done with a splash more acidity. The finish had an ok-length but was somewhat uninspiring. Beth noted the blend was approximately 85% Cab, 10% Franc, 5% PV.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2022 - NI1234 Likes this wine: 96 Points
CAI Cotillon dinner. Opened beautifully after 6 hour decanting. Bold & powerful. Even more rich & smooth 20 hrs later. Can certainly hold out another 5-10 years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2022 - jcasey555 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Outstanding wine drinking perfectly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/6/2022 - WineGuyDelMar Likes this wine: 92 Points
One hour decant. I bought two bottles from a reseller and neither were as great as past bottles of Spottswoode so maybe there was a problem with heat or cold or who knows. Dark black fruits. Wine didn’t have the fullness and flavor layers I would expect. Finish was medium and so was mouth feel. It was still enjoyable with Beef Wellington but not in the 95+ range I would expect from this wine.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/19/2022 - JustBreathe680 Likes this wine: 95 Points
The wine was Double Decanted (DD) for 8 hours then poured into a decanter for an additional 90+ minutes before being consumed. Stemware used was Grassl 1855 paired with Flannery Dry Aged Tomahawk and Porthouse.
The color was dark purple. The aromas were of red and dark fruits and spices. The palate was of red and dark cherries, plum, allspice, pepper and cocoa. The wine is medium to full bodied with medium acidity and medium(-) tannins that were smoothed out with the fat in the steaks.
The wine was delicious and paired well with the marblization of the steaks. It may have just entered its early drinking window with plenty of life left. Drink now with a good decant or cellar for several more years. Patience will definately be rewarded but no shame in opening one early with the proper aeration.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2022 - EM_MB Likes this wine: 93 Points
2 hour decant at restaurant but needed much more time. Has the bones to keep evolving so hold if possible as just starting to get into its prime drinking window.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2022 - Redteeth wrote:
The bottle received a very thorough decanting and then aired for a couple of hours before serving. The wine and cork were in good shape. the wine was delicious and may have benefitted from even more air time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2022 - Geaux Tigers wrote: 94 Points
First of my 2012s.
After reading prior notes, decided a short decant (45 min) might be in order. Just a lovely nose, fresh cut flowers, floral perfume, red mostly brambly fruit, hint of charcoal. The palate gave very little, plenty of stiff tannic structure and tart acidic cherries holding this back. I think a longer decant is wiser. Great texture and mouthfeel, at 10 years, this feels young. Far more tannins than most ‘12s of the floor fruit variety and far less secondary development than anticipated. 91 for now.
Decided two hour total decant and tried again. At that point, the nose showed a bit of forest floor, spice, and black and red berry fruit. This is picked up a significant amount of weight in the tannins have integrated very nicely, gone is the heavy-handed structure of before, replaced by a backbone of elegance.
On the palate, red tart cherry, cinnamon stick, the ‘I don’t know what it is but it’s Spottswoode’ note, elegant and light across the palate. This has many years left, try again in 2024 earliest.
I wish I would’ve trusted my gut and gone with a two hour decant from the get-go but lesson learned this is a lovely 94 points and frankly would do very well with food after a two hour decant. This is not big and bold this is bold and beautiful. Room for improvement with more time sideways or a longer decant.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/26/2022 - Tonythefish Likes this wine: 94 Points
See 2020 notes, and only improved - awesome and fun to drink!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2022 - msf6msf6 Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is definitely a PnP. Was good right out of the bottle, other notes nailed it when they said the wine is very linear, gets to where it going in a hurry. Unfortunately we then slow ox'd it for 2 hours prior to drinking and it became soft to the point it was way too soft. This does not have the stuffing for a decant at this point, just pop and drink it as quickly as you can.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/12/2022 - WineGuyDelMar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 45 minutes. Wine is soft and smooth. Wife loved it more than me. I would have loved this better a year or two ago with more tannin and structure. My last bottle I’ll PnP. Unless you like soft tertiary flavors I’d drink up now. This wine is in the plateau phase for sure. Maybe this was some bottle variation because I thought the wine would be more bold and structured.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2022 - sethboy23 wrote: 98 Points
Best wine of 2022. Rocket ship. Such a laser pointer wine.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2022 - Eriklainen wrote:
Yielding from PnP. Truffle, cassis, some barnyard that quickly flew by and then, a first for me, coco-powder. Goes so well with those slightly sandy tannins. What a treat. Doesn't get flabby. Stays in one place, balance good and a long aftertaste with the slightest of green. Holds the alcohol without problems. Good wine.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
12/7/2021 - kandrfairview Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great Cabernet. It's ready with 1 hour decanting.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2021 - VAGenius Likes this wine: 95 Points
Nose of black fruit and blackberry with rubber notes and perhaps a note of Brett. Black fruit, black figs, brown sugar, and layers of damp earth and granite with peppery notes, wet slate, and dried thyme and dried parsley. Fluffy tannins on the finish with blackberry, light smoke, notes of ham and mint on an oak frame.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2021 - dkentaustin Likes this wine: 95 Points
Cocoa, cassis, red fruits, subtle cigar box, wet fall leaves and crushed nuts with interesting honeysuckle and jasmine notes. Gorgeous body and structure with grippy, chalky tannins. Easily many years to go, yet singing right now.
p.s. snake river charcoal filets with roasted cauliflower and a Waldorf salad
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/8/2021 - markydecker Likes this wine: 94 Points
A prime example of everything that is great about California Cabernet. Nose promises great things, with cassis, garrigue, allspice. Full bodied and leggy, with a delicious stony minerality. Perfect balance. Drinking young, no visible signs of the almost 10 years in bottle. Wish I had a few more of these!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2021 - DWStyle Likes this wine: 93 Points
Day 1 : Upon decanting, 11:30 PM, I had the pleasant aromas of Christmas times past tickle my mind. Christmas tree, holly, cookies and candies. First taste was a little hot, had fine, yet young tannins, they are in need of more aging. The wine is in a sleeping stage today. Still obviously a pure, precise expressions, though muted slightly at this time. The oak integration is done and with a deft touch. At no point is the oak over done, it constantly appears in a complementary role. This wine needs 6-8 more years before it is approachable, IMHO!
After 2 1/2 hours from decant: Nose is still vague with a slight trace of blueberry. Palate is still a little hot, with a pronounced flavor of blueberries. Tannins are very fine and velvety though still gripping. Very drying finish at this time. It is not at a stage for delivering pleasure to the consumer.
Revisited after 8 + hrs: mellowed and approachable but less flavorful, tired and flat. Defiantly needs 6 - 8 more years in the cellar, may revisit in 2026.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
6/19/2021 - rkww Likes this wine: 95 Points
Nine years from vintage, the 2012 Spottswoode is open for business. It's currently drinking very easily thanks to its softened tannins and midweight character. The usual red fruits and flowers from this site are present, as are coffee, laurel, and graphite. For me, what's missing is just the tannic bite of a year like 2013 or 2015 and the full pivot to tertiary flavor development. The latter will come in time. If that's your jam, give it another 3-5 years of bottle age and drink well into the 2030s.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
3/13/2021 - Esmags7 Likes this wine: 90 Points
A nice bottle of wine but quite muted compared to the one I drank a few months ago.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
1/23/2021 - levinml wrote: 92 Points
Drank bottle that had been coravin'd in November (I think). Not sure if it impacted wine, but not the usual mind blower that I expected. Drank over two nights and just never seemed to open up. Maybe it was me.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2021 - Esmags7 Likes this wine: 93 Points
A very good, but probably not quite great, wine. Tasted at open but it needed a 2 hour decant before it started to shine.
Full bodied, very ripe, booming finish in the third hour. Paired beautifully with a ribeye. Others have described the flavors and aromas nicely; I'll emphasize that the minerality was particularly pleasant.
Everything is there but it isn't quite integrated enough for me to score at blockbuster levels - just slightly disjointed, and the finish is impressive but a little bit sweet. Nitpicking here - probably would hold, but certainly no shame in drinking now with a decant.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2020 - il_diavolo wrote: 92 Points
Pitch dark colour, nose of cassis, smoooooth velvety nose. Quite rich and ripe on palate with deep fruit and oak, definite oak infused finish. As I sip this I reflect that it is a bit overworked and this prevents some of the graphite that I got on the 2010 to show up, the fruit and oak is nearly overwhelming. Still, this is not as blowsy as the 2015, if you are looking for positives. Not sure Spottswoode has found a worthy successor to the 2010 since that great wine and I feel the style is moving to please certain high scoring critics.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2020 - msuwine wrote: 94 Points
This rich and expansive Cabernet is drinking well right now, with incredible fruit but a lack of precision that keeps it from being even better. Dark red in color; full in body; intriguing aromas of boysenberry, espresso, charcoal, and pencil lead. Flavors of blueberry, sour cherry, menthol, and anise, with a sweet and lingering finish that carries some grainy tannin. Blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. 14.1% alcohol.
This reminded me of a 2012 VHR I had a few weeks ago, since the fruit in the Spottswoode seemed similarly blown out (more than I expected). I think this will settle down with another year or two, but I wouldn't be in a rush to open it. Kind of syrupy on second day. Here's hoping this finds another gear in 2022 or later.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2020 - Tonythefish wrote: 93 Points
Must decant to aerate and due to sediment. Dark fruits still show but more earthy and leather characteristics come through. 30 second finish that ends with slight tobacco and floral notes. Very good wine and will leave other mag sit for a while
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2020 - Burgundy Al wrote:
The Last Dance Magnum Dinner (The Krengels - Bannockburn IL): Magnum. Lots here, nothing demure. A very good wine, even if not particularly the style that I enjoy most.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/9/2020 - AlexHop wrote: 95 Points
Nose is restrained compared to the 2010 but elegant herbs and some red fruit, currants, sage, youthful. Tastes are integrated and elegant, tannins are smooth. Lighter body than the 2010- still substantial, but there is a distinct difference from the other vintage. Expanded nicely after opening. Long finish. Ready to drink now. Good fruit still and showing more of a fruit expression than the leather and meats of the 2010.
Tasted side by side with the 2010.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2020 - beau11 wrote: 94 Points
Well made but lacking a bit in expression. Needs a decant for sure as it started to open up after a couple hours. Solid but still probably needs some time
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2020 - gteran76 Likes this wine: 92 Points
I wasn’t impressed as I was hopping.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (2)
8/30/2020 - Cristal2000 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Had this blind next to the 13 and 17 vintages. This was slow ox'd for about 4 hours before the first sip. Somewhat surprisingly, this seemed a bit more rustic than the 2013. Blind, I guessed this was the 13. Lots of eucalyptus, menthol and tobacco, complemented by blackberries and deep mineral driven flavors. It is still very powerfully built, with strong but refined tannins, a complete mid palate and a long powerful finish. The acid appeared a bit higher in this bottle over the others, and the fruit has started to get more drowned out by the tertiary notes of mushrooms and leather. Lots of life left, and for the old world lovers this stands to only get better.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2020 - Cailles wrote: 93 Points
I’ve had this wine two years ago and it was a stunner (97 points) thanks to lots of fresh blue fruits and minerality and a fresh, elegant structure. Today it didn‘t work that well and showed less expressive and layered but also because I perceived it a tad sweeter, probably as it was served between an old world Pinot Noir and a Bordeaux from 2012. Not the best decision. Still, a highly enjoyable wine which probably isn‘t in is very best phase right now.
TN: Dark and blue fruits, some violets on the nose. Nicely precise, medium- expressive. Medium dense palate, good intensity and precision displaying blue fruits, cassis, hints of floral aromas and slight hints of tobacco. Not the stunning, creamy, sexy yet subtle and harmonious wine as the last bottle but still with a very fine structure and good acidity. A tad too sweet finish.
Decanting: Not decanted. As said above, I would wait a few years. If you open a bottle today, I would give it at least 3 hours in the decanter.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/20/2020 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 94 Points
A beautiful wine with room to improve with age. Decanted for 2 hours. Rich plum nose. There are plums, black cherries and tobacco on the palate. Firm tannins, could afford to soften a bit. Nice acidity, great balance. Finishes long with dark fruits and sharp spice. Kept improving in the glass. Real elegance here. Needs 3 to 5 years to peak, will hold long after that.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/18/2020 - DonDon wrote: 95 Points
Only my second ever Spotteswood and loved it. I really enjoy Napa cabs but I am evolving away from the massive jammy fruit bombs and so this was such a treat. Everything in balance. Not overly tannic and fruit nicely restrained. Red / blue fruit notes, fresh and not jammy, good acidity. Long length. Just a pleasure to drink and a beautifully well made wine.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2020 - Siebs Cellar Likes this wine: 97 Points
Luscious fruit and velvety texture.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2020 - mhekman Likes this wine:
Color: nearly opaque ruby
Nose: red fruit (cranberry/stawberry) with violet and rose
Palate: medium body; very fruity; lightly concentrated with medium acidity. The structure is solid with high tannins that soften the mouth feel and are well integrated with an intense fruity finish with a hint of vanilla that lingers for several minutes. This is quite good.
(15+25+22+32=94...but it likely gets better with age)
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2020 - bobh22314 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Cherry to the rim. Red berries up front lots of fruit still tannins to resolve. Medium body with tannins still to resolve Coming along nicely but will be better in a couple of years
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2019 - Siebs Cellar Likes this wine: 97 Points
Fruit forward; vibrant. Medium bodied. Smooth texture.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2019 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 95 Points
Lovely wine with great balance and long finish. Just continued to open and blossom as the night went on.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2019 - bonedoc wrote:
tasted along many 2012's (HA Ark and FFB, Realm, Solari, Kathryn Hall, Shafer HSS, Cakebread, and others)- this came across as restrained with savory notes. never a blockbuster, and best after it's 10th birthday in my experience.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2019 - bonedoc wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for two hours, purple and blue fruits, some savory notes, ripe but not over the top. Even with decant, still young and a bit premature. Wait a few years. 94+?
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
10/25/2019 - Sonoma-W Likes this wine: 97 Points
Outstanding! Great balance and strength
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2019 - Siebs Cellar Likes this wine: 96 Points
Fruit forward and smooth. Not as elegant as I expected. I believe it needs more age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/22/2019 - Jbird73 wrote: 93 Points
Really good stuff. Really fine grade tannins. Super smooth and not for those that prefer fruit forward.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/7/2019 - Shaggy65 wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for about 2 hours before taking it to a steak dinner. Wine had a muted nose which was confirmed on first taste. The wine seemed closed and unexpressive which I found disappointing. Texture was silky smooth and full-bodied. I believe another 2-3 years in the cellar will allow the wine to develop and become more expressive. My score might improve to a 96 then but right now I don't think the wine is worth the price.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2019 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Have always loved Spottswoode's grace and elegance. This bottle reminded me why.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2019 - Justinwine wrote: 94 Points
Soft, balanced delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2019 - mischwine wrote: 95 Points
Absolutely love these wines.....consistently extraordinary - wonderful depth!!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/12/2019 - matthewearl wrote: 95 Points
No formal notes - about 45 minutes into the decanter it took a nap, couldn’t taste any fruit at all, but 30 minutes later it woke up and was singing beautifully, really nicely integrated and delicious fruit and minerality. Delicious with a seared strip steak.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2018 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 96 Points
So delicious and soft and round in the mouth with deep dark fruit thru to the finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/30/2018 - Zweder wrote: 95 Points
A good wine friend's 50th birthday. (@ PCr): Licorice and dark berries, beautiful oak, caramel and sweet spices in the bouquet. On the palate juicy dark berries, some chocolate and beautiful acidity and tannin. Very beautiful and classical wine.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2018 - Cailles wrote: 97 Points
A great wine and the best wine of the week among some highly reputed wines including four triple-digit Parker wines. I love young Napa wines with all their sexiness. But they can be too slutty sometimes and a tad too one-dimensional. Not this Spottswoode. So fresh, fairly complex, power but embedded in an elegant frame. What level of elegance and complexity this wine can achieve impressively showcased a bottle of the 2007 we had just a few days later (no tasting note, ended up too drunk) and back in 2007 elegance was not everybody's top priority. But I believe that the 2012 might even outshine the 2007 one day (especially if you are a Bordeaux lover).
TN: Very cool stylistic with fresh violets, blackberries, blueberries, some wet forest floor wet slate and some minty notes providing a further lift. Subtle sweetness and with time some dark bitter chocolate notes. Intense and precise aromas on the nose and palate. Medium weight, still noticeable but round tannins, very balanced and harmonious. I really love when Napa wines are so fresh, light and elegant.
Decant: PnPed at a restaurant, good from the start, improved a bit with air but no decant needed.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2018 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 95 Points
Soft and luscious. Very enjoyable and even better on day 2.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2018 - Wineson Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very smooth
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2018 - Goldstone wrote: 88 Points
Dinner with Beth Novak Milliken, Spottswoode Estate (The Library, Crown Wine Cellars, Hong Kong): Served blind amongst 13 mainly Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignons. Purple-red and totally opaque. Nose is all pencil lead and undeveloped. Palate is very round, easy and approachable but high alcohol and too young to the point of being a bit headachey. It did soften with a long time in the glass but was clearly a decade or two younger than the preceding 8 wines.
Not judged to be a properly representative bottle by Beth.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
7/7/2018 - Zweder wrote: 95 Points
Occasional dinner group: Magnums chosen by Kenny (@ Invincible in Antwerp, Belgium): A lot of sweet dark berries in the bouquet. On the palate dark and red berries, sweet spices, good acidity. Full bodied and a great length.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
4/27/2018 - nihraguk Likes this wine: 94 Points
Slow-ox'd between 1.40pm and 7.30pm. Then decanted and left for another 1.5 hours or so.
The wine is still young, but drinking well. Good minerality, restrained fruit, and overall very balanced. I would buy more to keep.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2018 - GaryKirkp wrote:
BUY
Red fruit and spice, velvety texture and - based on a recent tasting spanning four decades - built for aging wonderfully.
(Art. Forbes, April 30,2018)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2018 - 1964vintage wrote: 93 Points
Excellent. 1hr decant then consumed over next 2.5hrs. Deep, dark fruits, lush, lingering finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2018 - Superjack29 wrote: 95 Points
2 1/2 hour decant in ifavine really smoothed this out and added some extra layers to the wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2017 - Jmf17 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Heady. Not the Spottswoode of 25 years ago, perhaps, though. Rich, but not a syrupy mess like Caymus. Rich and clean. I'd compare it with Dunn. A high-quality Calif Cab. What can one say beyond that?
Calif produces some lovely wines when they're not of the hyped, cloying variety (which is becoming all too frequent even among higher-end bottles) but can't make the leap to the level of depth and complexity -- not to mention longevity-- one finds in French and Italian wines...
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/18/2017 - jclary wrote: 97 Points
I love Spottswoode, both the wine and the people. This bottle is no exception. Still very young, will benefit significantly with time in the bottle. This is like a young colt that hasn't been tamed. Silky tannins, velvety in the mouth. Slight heat initially on the nose that faded over time. This is an elegant wine, showing cherries and dark red fruits. Outstanding.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2017 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 92 Points
Deep ruby red. A touch of cinnamon on the nose with notes of dark cherries, almost black, with some cocoa and dark minerality. Heavy tannins (7/10) and full bodied. Black bramble berries on the palate with some spices, more red berries coming through and tons of dark gravel. Long finish. Needs some time. Drink till 2032. (92+)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2017 - Millennial Drinkers Likes this wine: 95 Points
Last of the blind wines this evening. Medium to deep ruby red. A bit stinky on the nose to start with some added earthiness, a little smokey and blackcurrants. Heavy tannins (7.5/10) and hidden but full bodied. Layered palate with dark berries, red currants, spices, blackberries, bitter cocoa and gravel. Rounded mouthfeel with a little bit of a gritty texture near the long and dry finish. This is a big boy wine that will benefit from a few more years in the bottle or even more. Drink till 2033.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2017 - MJohnsen83 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Spottswoode tasting dinner with 03, 12,13, 14 and their syrah. All the wines were great but this was exceptional.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/23/2017 - madalyn Likes this wine:
I agree with the other reviewer
I cant rate because it was way to early to drink. I will wait a few years to try again and I'm sure it will be great
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2017 - Gangsta JP Likes this wine: 95 Points
Unbelievably refined and elegant young wine . This is very early in its drinking window but shows very well now . This has the pedigree to develop into a highly sophisticated and stellar wine . Hold . If you can .
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2017 - #1Winelover Likes this wine: 97 Points
Dark purple coloring with a nice strong smell. Decanted for 3 hours, put back into the bottle and off to dinner we went. Matching fruits; blueberry blackberry and plum. Strong St. Helena notes of graphite, charcoal. A multi-layered wine with a long finish. This could have used a little more time in the decanter so it still has plenty of life left.
More old school wine making.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2017 - deetz Likes this wine: 93 Points
Elegant and restrained. Dark fruits, very balanced structure. Still just in its infancy.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/20/2017 - levinml wrote:
Can't score this. Infanticide, of course. Huge, lots of flavor, all good. Hopefully will settle down and all balance, but way too soon to tell. Give this at least a couple more years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2017 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 96 Points
The ‘12 Spottswoode was drop-dead gorgeous with a rich display of macerated cherry and raspberry with dusty minerals and spices. With time, it became darker and earthier, lending a truly classic feel to the wine. On the palate, i found pure, silky textures with bright red fruits, sweet tannin and beautiful inner floral tones. The finish was long and impeccably balanced with prevailing bright red fruits and floral perfumes that lingered on and on. What a beautiful a wine.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/6/2017 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 93 Points
First time trying the flagship bottling from Spottswoode Estate.
Deep ruby red. Restrained on the nose with definite oak influence as well as dark red berries and sweet spices, cinnamon. Heavy tannins (8/10) and full bodied. Dark restrained fruits on the palate as well, black currants, cassis, black cherries and a touch stoney in the super long finish. Slightly dry too. This is just a baby and would not open another for another five years or so. Drink till 2033.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/6/2017 - cab blends wrote: 93 Points
Light french barnyard in the back of the nose
restrained as i expect from spottswoode. light fruit. this was pnp i will leave for at least a few years before tasting again
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2017 - Jimvetter Likes this wine: 91 Points
Somewhat disappointing. Tannins tight even next day and moderate fruit, at best
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/25/2017 - WineForRob wrote: 94 Points
Purple to the rim. After a one hour decant got a beautiful nose of crushed flowers smoke and elegant black fruits. Ripe but nowhere near over done. Medium bodied and smooth with fine grained tannins. Much more accessible than I expected. This is not your typical Spottswoode in my opinion. Not as big or fleshy as normal and not the huge backbone it normally has. Delicious now and will definitely get better but I don't think this will live as long as other Spottswoodes.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2017 - Badmonkey wrote:
Had at a friends house for the Real Madrid game. Black and blue fruit with a touch of red - blackberry, blueberry, currants, and black cherry. Decent depth but I expected more in light of the ratings from Parker and Suckling - although I also realize this vintage needs more time. In addition, the fruit came across somewhat closed. Solid finish but not overly long nor deep and a little tart. Apparently it was decanted for one hour and we drank it over another three. Improved with time but it never really came around. In my opinion, this vintage needs years for the fruit to open-up which is no surprise in light of its youth and the producer. 85% cab, 10% cab franc, and 4% petit verdot. I'll refrain from rating because it's not just not ready yet but I'm surprised by all the favorable reviews. Drank next to a 2012 Janzen Beckstoffer To-Kalon cab and I thought the Janzen was quite a bit better - although the Janzen is also clearly at a better drinking point.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (8)
12/19/2016 - wineotim wrote:
Drank over two days. This was not big bodied, this was not full bodied, in fact it was very light on its feet. This was very primary, this was very intense but one dimensional, not complex. Acidity was off the charts, tart, surprisingly. This was another disappointment from the '12 vintage for me.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
11/11/2016 - WhiteyBordeaux Likes this wine:
Showing lots of potential, tart cherry , very young. Needing three to five years. Had side by side with Gravitas. Just not ready yet.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2016 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 97 Points
MW Institute Sit Down Tasting 2012/2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Panel, nose of black fruit, black cherry, blackberry, and kirsch, more of the same on the palate, big body, rich fruit, lovely today, delicious, needs 3 years to peak, shows Bordeaux elegance, and a medium/long finish with small amount of harsh tannins. Beth Novak Milliken present.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2016 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 95 Points
Institute of Masters of Wine - 2012-13 Cabernet Sit-Down tasting (Hyatt, San Francisco): Tannic beast. Turbocharged blackcurrant with a twinkle of brown olive. Blackcurrant, blackberry, black olive, slight liquorice, blackcurrant liqueur. Slight toasted popcorn. Elevated acid. Really dense, tart dry finish. This has power, freshness, elegance, length, and complexity.
Around 9.5
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/22/2016 - JonnyG Likes this wine:
Completely shut down, sound asleep. After several hours in the glass, this did show some sense of what is to come: medium bodied, black and blue fruit, bitter chocolate. Let it lay for at least five years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
4/28/2016 - hawkeye54 wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for three hours. I'm in agreement with most of the notes already posted here, so I won't bore with the details. It's pleasurable now but should be better in 3-5.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2016 - Stefanos T. Likes this wine: 95 Points
Ripe blackberry fruit and lactic aromas on the nose.
Full bodied and tannic for the time being.
Still very young but full of promise.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/6/2016 - Yiannis wrote: 95 Points
Ripe nose with intense liquorice, dark plum, dark chocolate, dark berries, green pepper, noticeable florality and mineral scents. Full-bodied, complex and balanced with firm tannins, medium acidity and long aftertaste. Expressive already but will benefit from another 5 years of cellaring.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/28/2016 - Vineyard Boy Likes this wine: 94 Points
It's like Napa and Margaux had a baby. Very interesting experience. Nice wine, very smooth. Enjoyable now but will be much better in 10 years. Give it at least an hour to decant.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2016 - big.cactus34 wrote: 97 Points
PnP, served with tapas and a grilled rib eye. Dark ruby color. Floral, sweet oak, pencil, dark fruits/berries on the nose, incredibly floral. Precise, on-point, well-balanced, confident on the palate. more flowers and dark berries. doesn't hit your face like big napa cabs (the Harlan's of the world). so smooth, which is surprising for such a youngster, and it delivers a classic spottswoode finish, exhibiting long, well structured soft/round and sweet tannin. between a left bank Bordeaux and a napa cab is how this the extremely well-made St. Helena classic can be characterized. No problem nearly finishing whole bottle b/w the two of us, and the wine was increasingly better as evening went on. putting remaining bottles away for next several years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2016 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 96 Points
Spottswoode with Knut and James (Napa, CA): This took me completely by surprise. There’s an astonishing complexity of fruit, even within the rather narrow band of precisely ripe cabernet tones. At risk of over-poeticizing, the nose had a certain bold choreography to it. Structurally elegant, effortlessly balanced, with crystalline acidity and perfectly chewy, aggressive tannins - neither over-polished nor harsh.
Like a cleanly-made, turbo-charged Pauillac with surprisingly modest oak. Fruit driven, complicated, and incredibly persistent. I’m still tasting it now. I haven’t tasted anything better from California. Ever.
Score: Around 9.5
------------
Full Notes:
When a wine is this expensive, I almost don’t want to like it. I expected about the same quality as the $75 bottle. But holy shit! This is actually way better - the best cab I've ever tasted by a mile.
I think this is way better than the Colgin's, Maya’s of the world (no surprises there) but also better than the more restrained styles of Corison, DiConstanzo, Mt. Eden, Kathryn Kennedy.
I’m fascinated by the clean, fruit-driven style. I’m normally not that interested in fruit condition - my favorite reds (Musar, Paolo Bea) tend to be more about non-fruit character and tertiary complexity. This is by far the most complex fruit-driven wine I’ve encountered (there’s also plenty of non-fruit secondaries and other supporting players).
The nose tenderly assaults you with many shades of fruit condition, all within a small band of perfect ripeness. Slight nutty olive (painfully artisanal olives), a suggestion of super-ripe pyrazines, other slight variations on pure blackcurrant. A focused and precise kaleidoscope of fruit. Getting this precision and complexity in just fruit character is not easy. Bravo, vineyard manager, bravo.
Oak is perfectly integrated and very much in the background (60% new French barrels). There’s a touch of baking spices, but none of the overt sweetness that comes with poorly-integrated oak. Even for Bordeaux this would be a bit low in apparent oak influence.
There is earth, mostly inorganic - graphite, cedar, crushed stones. It’s a very clean style - no notes of soil or Brett.
Elegantly balanced. Think Corison with a bit more power. (14.1% alcohol). Jancis called this “turbocharged Margaux” - and I can totally see it, though having not tasted Ch. Margaux, I’ll settle for saying this is turbocharged Pauillac, in a cleaner style, with less new oak and more shades of fruit.
The tannins were perfect - still high, but neither overly polished nor harsh. Chewy and aggressive.
This was made with unique fruit, extraordinary attention to detail, and lots of effort. I don’t think I’ll soon forget this.
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2016 - jaylew1 wrote: 94 Points
lovely stuff, potential for more....a bit tight, but it was a pop and pour. very intrigued by the potential here. black fruit, a bit overwhelmed on the mid-palate by the oak at this point.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2016 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
Stylish, polished, lush and fresh, the wine has an earthy, smoke filled personality with additional nuances of licorice and sweet, ripe, blackberries. Forward with round tannins, this should drink well young and as other vintages have proved, age quite nicely.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2015 - gbbwino wrote: 92 Points
Unlike the 2007 which was amazing almost immediately upon release, the '12 was very primary & one dimensional. Bottle was sourced direct from the winery & brought to the restaurant with about an hour decant. It was very smooth with lush fruit, but that was pretty much it. This followed an '11 & '08 red Burgundy & an '05 Nickel & Nickel. Hoping it develops secondary characteristics in time....very well made though as you would expect.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/24/2015 - Sundbyberg wrote: 90 Points
Tasting: Not my type of wine. To me this tastes extracted and perfumed. Not jammy, though. 4 hr decant.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment