Spottswoode Family Estate Grown St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Matt

Classic western St. Helena profile, rich fruit wrapped around sweet yet gravelly tannin, and an edge of graphite. Muscular yet still very round, shows some restraint. Excited to watch the 2013s from this neck of the woods evolve.

Bill Bender

This is from late summer notes but it was actually giving up more of the goods than the ‘10 I had this past Thursday. Concentrated pure fruit that hits the soul.

Bryce Wiatrak

If I had to list my favorite Napa producers on one hand - Spottswoode would make the cut by the time I reached my pointer finger each time. The 2013 is impeccable - structured and dusty tannins from a to-be iconic vintage. Cassis, pencil shavings, and blueberry meet for a beaming high-pitched finish that seems ceaseless and impenetrable.

Bill Bender

This wine is a uniter not a divider. I could open it for any audience—inmates, in-laws, ingrates....anybody—and they would all love it. Cork dorks and the casually ignorant can join together and hug it out over the modern day Spottswoode. It has a perfectly delicious simplicity for the masses while still possessing incredible complexity for the more discerning. Pure sweet plum, fine dusty smooth swirling tannins, dark chocolate and pure luxury on the finish. It was dancing with my dry aged bone-in ribeye tonight.

Daniel P. Drake

Another wine we had this holiday was the 2013 Spottswoode Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. From St. Helena, California Napa Valley. On the nose is bbn lack cherry, bnb lackberry, bnb lack currant, licorice, clove, mint, herbal notes, savory and earth. On the palate there is bbn lack cherry, bnb lackberry, bbn lack currant, cassis, bbn lack pepper, chocolate, graphite, spice and earthy notes. This wine is full bodied very well balanced with a smooth mouthfeel medium + acidity and medium+ full grippy tannins and had a long nlack fruit graphite finish. What a wonderfully beautiful bottle of wine that fills all the boxes for me. Please stay safe and healthy moving into the new year. Nostrovia!

Matt

I dig these wines. I feel like they capture the power and ripeness one expects from a valley floor site but without feeling heavy or over extracted. There’s a sense of place, a finesse that runs through it. Fresh, perfectly ripe black fruit, almost hinting at red, shines. Spice driven, in the savory sense. Somewhat exotic. There’s a very pleasant “green” note that operates at just enough threshold to keep you guessing without being overt or obvious, it comes across as, again, savory. For the vintage the tannins seem rather subdued, persistent but very fine, textural. Been fortunate to try a couple wines from this estate with age and they are always beautiful.

Joseph LaPanna

Big powerful and intense. Dark only purple from core to rim; explosive nose of ripe black and blue fruit with hints of smoke, coffee and cloves. Full bodied and concentrated with black currant and blubbery compote up front and roasted fig, toffee and caramel on the mid pallet. Finish is long, dense and with silky soft tannins. The acididy is off the charts but the ballance is amazing. Would love to revisit in 20 years!!!

Cody Short

So much potential here!

Bryan Rawson

Dark and intense with tobacco notes. Needs some time but this is impressive cab