Benchmark Wines by

Spottswoode

The Winery

Spottswoode

Established in 1882, Spottswoode is a historic, family-owned estate vineyard and winery located on the western edge of St. Helena in Napa Valley. Mary Weber Novak and her husband purchased the estate in 1972. After Jack died unexpectedly in 1977, Mary carried out their shared dream, and released Spottswoode’s first vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon in 1982, exactly one hundred years after the estate’s founding.

Now stewarded by second generation sisters, Beth Novak Milliken and Lindy Novak, Spottswoode is dedicated to producing a few wines in very limited quantities: Spottswoode Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Lyndenhurst. The winery's goal is to produce exceptional, well-balanced, structured wines that exhibit elegance, consistency, and the ability to age well.

Among the first to introduce organic farming practices in the Napa Valley in 1985, Spottswoode has been CCOF certified since 1992. The 40-acre Spottswoode Estate Vineyard is an ideal terroir for growing wine grapes. Situated on the apex of the Sulphur Creek fan, the alluvial soils comprised primarily of sandy clay loam provide superb drainage. The gap between the Mayacamas Range and Spring Mountain admits cooling maritime breezes that temper the sun’s heat, creating an ideal microclimate for winegrowing.

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Tasting Notes

WA99
1994 produced 4,863 cases from a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc. This is one of the great vintages of the 90s, and Spottswoode hit the bull’s-eye with this opaque, ruby/purple-colored wine that still has incredible youthfulness and vibrancy. Fabulous fruit intensity, blackcurrants, black cherries and blackberry, along with charcoal, chocolate and graphite, are all present in this superb, full-bodied, stunningly multidimensional wine that is only now approaching mid-adolescence at age 22. This wine has at least 25-30 more years of life left in it. It is a great one.
WS92
Pleasantly balanced, rich and polished, it's in perfect drinking shape now, with well-defined currant and black cherry fruit, smooth, integrated tannins and a long, complex, elegant aftertaste that gives it a sense of grace and finesse. Finishes with a nice touch of cigar box.--California Cabernet '74/'84/'94 retrospective. Drink now through 2009. 5,000 cases made.

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