En Primeur: Spottswoode Estate

Clearly, the window of opportunity to acquire an elegant and lusciously lifted Napa Cabernet from top scoring Spottswoode Estate is always a fingers-crossed moment. Luck was on Dhall & Nash’s side, and we have been fortunate to receive another Spottswoode allocation of their newest cuvées, so we inhaled it in one breath! And as this week’s En Primeur, we suggest you do too.

With this 2019 release, Winemaker Aron Weinkauf proves yet again he’s a master of finesse-driven Cabs that channel the historic greats of the past. Impeccably sourced from their organic vineyards in Napa Valley, the virtuoso wines of Spottswoode, are masterfully wrought and deeply tied to their place of origin. They age gracefully and are crafted in a style that’s consistent with the guiding principles of a fine ‘first-growth’ estate while also leaving room for the natural variations of vintage. Ingeniously, they manage to show poise and gentility alongside majestic energy and vivid concentration. The Spottswoode wines are a must-buy for any serious wine collector and connoisseur.

As acclaimed wine writer Jancis Robinson MW writes, “In the Napa Valley Cabernet arena, where muscle and potency seem to have become the most admired, or certainly the most notable attributes, it is unusual to read a producer claiming, ‘we strive for refinement, elegance, and balance’”. However, that old idea that all Californian Cabernet is over-ripe, high alcohol, and lacking in complexity is just that – an old idea. These are seasoned vintners who truly know their land – even through earthquakes, wildfires, and multiple years of drought – then, when Mother Nature gives them half a chance, Spottswoode’s winemakers craft exquisitely expressive Cabernets of great structure and soaring beauty. Read more here on Spottswoode from our 2021 blog.

In the words of Spottswoode’s winemaker and vineyard manager Aron Weinkauf: “We make wines that show great energy, persistence, and longevity. We picture them as one would a yogi master – strong, enduring, and balanced. This is in contrast to the overbuilt, muscular bodybuilder.”

Dhall & Nash is honoured to announce the upcoming release of the iconic 2019 Cabernets of Spottswoode Estate.

Let’s have a look at what Mother Nature threw at the Spottswoode team for their vintage in 2019.

The 2019 vintage in Napa Valley had the unenviable task of following 2018, the region’s new benchmark vintage for Cabernet. But 2019 is no slouch. In fact, it’ll give 2018 a run for its money (in the near-term). The season was marked by significant rainfall over the winter and then again in the middle of May, setting the vineyards up to handle Napa’s typically dry, hot summer, while slightly pushing back the windows for flowering and ripening. Normally, this would be an issue—ripening over the Labour Day weekend usually means ripening during a heat spike, which can result in top-heavy wines. Instead, there was no weather drama in September, which stayed warm, but with very cool nights. The result is a crop of wines that are clearly fruit-driven but retain an inner freshness. They’re not the terroir-driven wines of 2018 (that vintage will ultimately be the vintage that cellars longer), yet the 2019s are brimming with gorgeous fruit flavours while retaining enough acidity for balance. Because of their beautiful cores of fruit, these are wines that Napa Cabernet lovers will likely have a hard time keeping their hands off of in the near-term. (Courtesy of Wine Spectator)

Part of Spottswoode’s storied history inspired the name Lyndenhurst, a tribute to the fragrant linden trees that still bloom in the gardens today. Lyndenhurst Cabernet Sauvignon is a dynamic and inviting wine made from grapes grown in the Estate Vineyard blended with those from other acclaimed family-owned vineyards. The Lyndenhurst offers unbelievably great value. Suffice it to say this “second label” would make the first team at most other wineries!

This wine is made to be enjoyed upon release and drinks fresh, with ripe fruit and a luscious mouth-feel. If the Estate Cabernet is Margaux, then the Lyndenhurst is Haut-Medoc.

As James Molesworth so aptly describes in the Wine Spectator: “There’s a delicacy to the Spottswoode Cabernet, but the wine is no pushover. Sneaky long and with tensile strength, it’s a yoga pose held for minutes, in stark contrast with the stereotypical Napa Cab’s bodybuilder reps. It has a uniquely pure feel, and while it’s in a less “obvious” style, its ageability is clear. The wine, like the estate, has the reach to connect Napa’s past to its future.”

Fine wine lovers be warned though… the Spottswoode Estate wines are a hit year after year and have a very limited allocation available in NZ. They will sell out! Fortunately for all you ardent Californian Cab fans, Dhall & Nash has some large format bottles available as well.

The time is perfectly ‘ripe’ to buy NOW to assure you won’t miss out on these Iconic Spottswoode Cabernets!