April 5, 2024 - Decanted 2 hrs
Great nose, fruit forward, smooth tannins and complex finish.
Great wine and vintage
March 24, 2024 - Double decanted a large glass first night and drank balance over next two night under pump. Not super impressed (relative to high expectations). Good flavors and more balance, just not sure this is worthy of high end status. Or is it just me, no longer loving cabs?
March 15, 2024 - 30 min decant paired with steaks. I have not yet had a 2013 Napa cab that I would say has truly entered its drinking window and this was no exception. Brooding, opulent, and tightly wound. All the ingredients are there to make for a terrific wine including beautifully balanced dark fruit and oak and a minerality or graphite that I had it picked up before. Intensity and long finish.
Note to future self: Time and air are your friend here.
February 13, 2024 - Coming into great drinking window. Drank over two nights. Better second night
February 10, 2024 - Nose: charcoal, blackberries, licquorice
Taste: memories of Mary Spottswoode in her little car
Fig, oak, dark berries, lush with a nice finish.
This wine is getting better just sitting here eating a dinner of pasta, spinach and chicken. Awfully good. No awfully GREAT!!
January 2, 2024 - Napa, St. Helena, classic 2013 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate. Sharp mid-garnet, viscous (13.9 alc.); berries, mint, cassis, herbaceous red fruit and wood nose; mid acids; mid+ tannins; medium depth; a little unbalanced; semi-long, tight, berry, mint and wood finish. Needs time. 17-17.5/92-93.
December 23, 2023 - Still had plenty of time, very good
December 17, 2023 - Dark fruits, currants, cigar tobacco, mocha, noticeable graphite & underlying savory quality in a full body with perfectly intregrated tannins, medium acidity & a deft touch of oak. A tad tight, but an exceptional wine. At a nice stage, but still has potential.
December 7, 2023 - 30 min decant. Expressive nose and first sip lingered for a full 60 seconds on the palate. Still early in it's evolution but ready for business. Very refined, complex wine. Nicely balanced and great with a steak.
November 15, 2023 - The complete Spottswoode package in its early maturity if you can say that about a 10 year old wine from this property. Huge nose of arrestingly beautiful fruit, tobacco, spice and herb de provence. Layer after layer of graphite, florals and dark fruit. Lovely.