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: 2005 Spottswoode "Estate" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2005 Spottswoode "Estate" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

SKU #1041292 98 points Wine Advocate

Outer quote mark 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. (RP) 98+ Inner quote mark (8/2016)

97 points Wine Enthusiast

Outer quote mark 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 was blended with a little Cabernet Franc, is graceful and balanced. Drinkable now due to its softly refined tannins, but has the integrity to ride out the years. Inner quote mark (4/2009)

95 points Jeb Dunnuck

Outer quote mark Lots of eucalyptus, mint, currants, cedary spice, and tobacco notes emerge from the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, which shows lots of ripeness on the nose yet pulls back nicely on the palate with wonderful purity and elegance. More smoky, chocolatey notes as well as ample black fruits emerge with time in the glass, and it’s another wine with incredible purity and finesse in its tannins. Inner quote mark (5/2021)

95 points James Suckling

Outer quote mark Hints of sweet tobacco, currants and berries on the nose. Full bodied and round, velvety with a lovely balance. Long and gorgeous. Inner quote mark (11/2010)

94 points Vinous

Outer quote mark Deep, bright red-ruby. Sexy, very dark aromas of crushed black raspberry, boysenberry, menthol and licorice, with suggestions of very ripe fruit. A powerful and very primary wine with outstanding concentration and depth. Conveys an impression of medicinal reserve to its black cherry, dark berry and menthol flavors. Really exhilarating sugar/acid balance here. Finishes with big, ripe tannins and superb length. (ST) 94+ Inner quote mark (6/2016)

93 points Wine Spectator

Outer quote mark Tight and well-structured, with a firm, compact, dense mix of spicy currant, black cherry, plum and wild berry fruit that's pure and focused, revealing more subtle flavor nuances as this unfolds, along with depth and complexity. (JL) Inner quote mark (11/2008)

K&L Notes

Robert Parker for Wine Advocate: "This is another of the truly profound 2005 Cabernet Sauvignons. Of course, this is an historic producer, a great estate on the back streets of St. Helena that has been at the top of their game for many a year. Their wine always has a Château Margaux-like elegance and finesse, allied to pure, intense Napa fruit. The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, coming from a vineyard that was first established at the western edge of the Mayacamas foothills in 1882, has a beautiful, pure blueberry and blackcurrant liqueur-like note, subtle floral underpinnings and distant background new oak. There is a touch of minerality as well in this full-bodied, gorgeously textured and stunningly opulent and rich, yet elegant style of Cabernet Sauvignon from St. Helena." (06/2015)

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2005 Spottswoode "Estate" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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Varietal:

Cabernet Sauvignon and Blends

- Cabernet Sauvignon has come a long way from its role as a blending varietal, however dominant, in the wines of Bordeaux. Today it is the most planted red varietal in the world. Identified as a descendent of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon needs to be planted in warmer climates to fully ripen. Its small berries can easily be identified for their distinctive blue color, thick skins and high tannins. And while the varietal has its own definitive characteristics: green pepper-like aromas and black currant flavors among them, it is perhaps most prized for its ability to convey terroir, vintage and winemaking. A relatively new varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon started making inroads into the wines of the Médoc and Graves in the late-18th century. Today it is also dominant in the up-and-coming Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux and can also be found in Southwest France. It is the companion varietal to Sangiovese in Italy's Super Tuscans and is planted all over Europe, stretching to lesser-known winegrowing regions like Russia and Lebanon. In the Americas Cabernet Sauvignon has found champions in every nook and cranny of California and among winemakers in Washington, where it complements plantings of Merlot. In South America, Cab thrives in Chile, but can also be found in smaller amounts in Argentina and even in Mexico.

Country:

United States

- When people consider domestic wine, they normally think about the state of California. The fine viticultural Region within California, including the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Cruz Mountains, Mendocino and Santa Barbara, are capable of growing grapes of world-class quality. But there's plenty of fabulous wine coming from other states, too. Oregon, Washington and New York are also causing eyebrows (and glassware) to be raised around the world.

Sub-Region:

California

- With the explosive growth that California's wine industry has seen the past several years, it's easy to view winemaking and grape growing in the Golden State as a recent phenomenon. And while it's true that California's viticultural history is brief compared to several European countries, this state's roots date back well over 200 years. Due to the enormous response to California wine within the United States and worldwide, there are thousands of excellent and diverse wines being produced within the state each year.

Specific Appellation:

Napa Valley

- America's most famous wine region, which encompasses a varied geographical territory running about 20 miles long from the San Francisco Bay northward to the foot of Mount St. Helena. Napa's great diversity, both in terms of climate and terroir, has led to the creation of a number of smaller AVAs like Stags Leap District, Rutherford, Howell Mountain, Oakville and Mount Veeder, among others. Cabernet and chardonnay still reign supreme, but just about everything under the sun is grown in Napa Valley, in quality levels ranging from $2 jug wine to $500 a bottle California cab.

Alcohol Content (%):

14.1