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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

WA98+
Production more than doubled with the 2005 vintage, given the normal flowering and weather conditions. Moreover, it was a relatively cool year and an abundant one at that, with just short of 3,900 cases produced. The blend was 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. This was the last vintage during the era of Rosemary Cakebread, who left Spottswoode to pursue building her own portfolio of wine. This is a reserved, but classic Spottswoode. An inky bluish purple color, notes of vanillin, white flowers, blackcurrants and blueberries are all present in this dense, rich, full-bodied wine that seems to go from strength to strength. This was a vintage across the board that I underrated, but I have seen how the wines have seemingly put on weight, complexity and density as they have evolved in bottle. This is a beauty and certainly one of the great recent Spottswoodes. It will continue to drink well for 20-30 more years.
WE97
Tasted in a big lineup of St. Helena Cabernets, Spottswoode’s magnificent ’05 stood out. It’s a massive powerhouse, explosive in black currant, cherry pie, plum, chocolate, anise and cedar flavors that are detailed and precise. However, the wine, which…

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