2015 Spottswoode "Estate" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

“Both the 2016 and 2015 are pure perfection and an incredible back-to-back duo. The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate has a kiss of 2007 in its massive, full-bodied, yet incredibly pure style, and it’s overflowing with cassis and blueberry fruits as well as lots of floral and cedary nuances. It’s a big, ripe, exuberant beauty, yet it never goes over the top, and has flawless balance, perfect tannins, and a great finish. As with most truly great wines, it’s drinkable today and will be drinkable in 10 years – and in 30 years.” (05/2021)

“The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, with 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot in the blend, is deep garnet-purple in color. A bit closed to start, with stewed plums, creme de cassis, and black cherry compote leading to notes of menthol, tobacco, and new leather with a waft of damp soil. The big, rich, full-bodied palate has a firm backbone of grainy tannins and a lively line, finishing long and lifted. (LPB)” (09/2022)

“The 2015 Estate Cabernet from Spottswoode is one of the most captivating wines from the entire vintage. Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, this immediately begins to impress with its seductive aromatics of ripe blackberries and currants which are woven together with fresh spring florals, exotic spices, graphite, tobacco along with subtle hints of mint leaf all developing beautifully in the glass. Displaying an absolutely incredible balance of power and elegance, this impresses with its gorgeous opulence and remarkable finesse, as well as outstanding depth and precision. It continues to thoroughly impress as layers of ripe dark fruits combine with spices and graphite that expand beautifully through the seamless finish that shows incredible length. The Novak’s along with winemaker Aron Weinkauf have crafted one of the finest wines from the region, and while already utterly fascinating, this is ultimately a wine built for the cellar and should go on to evolve gracefully for many years to come. (JD)” (10/2018)

“This bottle of Spottswoode's 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon showed better than the last one I reviewed, with more voluptuous fruit and an expressive, generous personality. Perhaps being double-decanted 20 minutes ahead of service helped. Prominent cedar notes join prune plums, black cherries and a hint of dark chocolate. Full-bodied, this rich, dense and weighty wine closes with a velvety mouthfeel, great length and a seductive touch of licorice. (JC)” (10/2025)

“Fresh on the palate and floral on the nose in a bouquet of rose, lavender and crushed herb, this perennially beautiful, delicate wine benefits from the addition of 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, also from the organically farmed estate. Pencil shavings, coffee and a touch of tobacco add to its savory, earthy nature, contributing to its overall structure and elegance. *Cellar Selection* (VB)” (03/2019)

“This is very alluring, with a range of red and black cherry, boyseneberry, mulberry and blackberry fruit that has an ever-so-gently mulled edge, while hints of sage, sassafras, anise and sweet bay weave in and out. The long finish lets in alder smoke and wet slate hints for added range. Shows terrific poise throughout. A stunner right now, but there’s no rush either. (JM)” (09/2025)