Spottswoode, “Lyndenhurst” Cabernet Sauvignon
Other, United States 2017 (750mL)
Regular price$85.00
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Spottswoode, “Lyndenhurst” Cabernet Sauvignon
There is a short list of Napa Valley producers that can be called truly iconic. Spottswoode is one of those names; its history is inextricably linked to the story of the Valley, and perhaps it’s that longevity that explains this wine’s still-reasonable price. I really can’t overstate this: Napa wines of such historic importance and consistent excellence usually cost much, much more, so when today’s 2017 came our way, we couldn’t stop talking about what an amazing “get” it is.
I have been a huge Spottswoode fan throughout my career, having been lucky enough to taste each new release as well as older vintages in vertical tastings—epic wines from the ’80s and ’90s that will be forever lodged in my taste memory. The Spottswoode Estate Cabernet earns massive critical scores and huge demand, with a price tag to match, but luckily for all of us, they make today’s “Lyndenhurst” Cabernet. It’s composed of majority estate fruit and made with the same rigorous attention to detail as the estate bottling, but for a fraction of the price. Lyndenhurst follows in the Bordeaux tradition of a “second label” wine that outperforms many other wineries’ flagship offerings. In fact, calling this a second label is misleading, because this is an iconic, cellar-worthy California Cabernet Sauvignon in its own right. We have been fortunate to offer this wine a few times in the past and we are thrilled that the estate made a limited parcel of 2017 Lyndenhurst available to share with you today. While I can assure you these wines are built to last, the 2017 Lyndenhurst won’t make you wait—it is already showing all its colors in spectacular fashion!
Spottswoode dates to 1882, when 17 acres of vineyard were planted by German immigrant George Schonewald at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains in St. Helena. Following a change of hands, the property was briefly renamed Lyndenhurst in a nod to the fragrant Linden trees that still populate the grounds. It was the Spotts family that gave the estate its current name when they purchased the estate in 1910. The Novak family purchased the winery in 1972, bringing much needed stability and vision to the estate. After buying additional vineyard acreage, the Novaks began selling grapes to established Napa producers like Shafer and Duckhorn. After a decade of earning the reputation as a source for top-quality fruit, Mary Weber Novak decided to start bottling their own wine and founded Spottswoode Winery. The first Spottswoode flagship Cabernet was released in 1982, exactly one century after the first vineyards were planted on the property. Today’s Lyndenhurst offering, however, wouldn’t make its first appearance until 2002.
More than half of the grapes in this bottle are sourced from the Spottswoode Estate Vineyard— the source for their flagship—which extends to the base of the Mayacamas Range on the southwestern border of St Helena. The 40+-acre vineyard has been organically farmed since 1985—certified in 1992. This unique site is a mixture of alluvial and clay-loam soils peppered with volcanic material that has been enriched by native California grasses and annual planting of cover crops. Spottswoode has continued to prove their dedication to the health of the vineyards and surrounding environment, more recently incorporating biodynamic practices as well as innovative natural insect and weed management. The remaining grapes for Lyndenhurst came from distinguished Napa vineyard sources: Young Inglewood and Parry (St. Helena); Darms Lane (Oak Knoll); Knights Bridge (Knights Valley); and Edcora (Atlas Peak).
The final blend in 2017 consisted of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot. After hand-harvesting and a long fermentation, the wine aged in 40% new French oak for 20 months. The resulting wine is a deep garnet/purple color showing great concentration. The nose packs a punch with wild blueberries, fresh black currants, dried lavender, cedar, juniper and tobacco. The palate is energized with red fruit, kirsch, and opens up into a medium to full-bodied wine of restraint and resonance. With its ripe tannins and muscular structure, I recommend decanting for at least 45 minutes before serving in big Bordeaux glasses. Upon opening up in the glass, the fruit elements darken even more and the herbal, earthy notes add layers of complexity that create a full sensory experience. This wine is already showing spectacularly but will definitely keep aging for another 5-10 years at a minimum, as is to be expected from elite Napa Cabernet. Come Fall and Winter I will be craving this bottle alongside a reverse-seared ribeye steak as the nights get cooler—that’s living the Napa Valley dream!