2020 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon

Last week we decided to open a bottle of 2020 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon. Spottswoode is a well known and often highly rated Napa Valley winery. Bottles tend to be pricey but I took a chance on several bottles of this due to it being a 2020 which is a vintage most were avoiding due to the California glass fire that destroyed much of the grape crop that year. However, Spottswoode harvested their grapes on 9/26 one day prior to the start of the wild fire. I was able to get these bottles for a good deal because they hadn't been fully scored yet and everyone was nervous about buying the vintage at that point. They've been sitting in the cellar for a year now so I figured it was time to give it a try.

On the nose there are strong black fruit, some red fruit, and violets. The palate mirrors the nose with the addition of a graphite chalkiness. It is medium to full bodied and has a touch of freshness. The tannins were super fine and while present as expected in this young wine, they are lovely. I gave it 95-96 points which largely agreed with others. While this is beautiful, it's not special or unique and if I had to pay the full bottle price this now is going for I'd probably go for something else. But, for an experience to see what Spottswoode's style is about it was definitely worth it.