Spottswoode 2016 Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena, Napa Valley

Spottswoode is a family owned winery estate in Napa Valley, producing wines that collectors snap up on every release. The grapes are all organically grown and productions is a fully hands-on process.  This wine from the outstanding 2016 vintage is an another blockbuster with rave reviews across the board.

The Wine Advocate scored it a perfect 100 points saying "Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is still very tight and youthful, slowly unfurling to reveal a multifaceted wine with tons of black, blue and red fruit sparks—plums, cherries, black currants and red currants—with dark chocolate, cedar chest, black tea and red roses in the background plus wafts of pencil lead and prosciutto. Medium-bodied and firmly textured by superbly ripe, grainy tannins, it has a fantastic core of intense, complex layers, finishing on an edifying mineral note. Wow!"


Jeb Dunnuck scored it a perfect 100 points saying "A perfect wine is the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot, which is a classic blend from this incredible estate. Sporting a deep purple color as well as an extraordinary bouquet of ultra-pure creme de cassis, blueberries, camphor, scorched earth, and licorice, with subtle background oak, it hits the palate with a full-bodied, deep, powerful texture that carries sweet tannins and blockbuster length. With a stacked mid-palate, straight-up awesome purity of fruit, and a huge finish, it's as classic and brilliant as it gets. Reminding me of the 2013 with its pure yet backward style, give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age and it will keep for 3-4 decades. Hats off to the team at Spottswoode for this legend in the making!"


Wine Spectator scored it 96 points saying "Beautifully rendered, with a focused beam of gently mulled red and black currant fruit that glides through atop a subtle but persistent loamy structure. Light tea and alder notes fill in throughout, ending with a wave of fruit that is alluringly lined with latent mineral tension. Best from 2021 through 2040."


Decanter scored it 96 points saying "Spottswoode has clearly made the most of this lovely vintage - this has charm and elegance on the nose that is still too rare in Napa Cabernet, yet it is blackcurranty, ripe and expressive. This is no blockbuster but it has splendid purity and finesse with no lack in grip and structure. The finish is long, peppery and lively, with fine acidity, excellent balance, and well-judged oak. Aron Weinkauf was the winemaker having taken over from Jennifer Williams in 2011."