Cabernet Sauvignon, Spottswoode, Napa, CA, 2022

Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, Napa Valley, 2022 is a standout Napa Cabernet, though the 2022 vintage is stylistically a little more approachable and less massive than Spottswoode’s greatest years.

SPOTTSWOODE ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022
Napa Valley, California

WINE ADVOCATE — 98 POINTS
Joe Czerwinski

Spottswoode’s 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is perhaps slightly bigger than usual for this property but still retains a sense of freshness. Loaded with cassis and blackberries, it’s full-bodied, plush and voluptuous, yet also long and mouthwatering on the finish. Wonderfully forward but balanced, the juicy fruit is successfully framed by silky, soft tannins. It’s a vintage to enjoy while waiting for the 2021 and 2023 to mature.

THE WINE INDEPENDENT — 97+ POINTS
Lisa Perrotti-Brown

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon sports a deep garnet-purple color. After a little swirling, expressive notes of blackcurrant jelly, kirsch, and juicy plums emerge from the glass, leading to touches of crushed rocks, iron ore, lavender, and cloves. The medium-bodied palate had a rock-solid backbone of firm grainy tannins and wonderful freshness supporting the densely packed black fruit layers, finishing on a lingering ferrous note. Exemplary.

JAMES SUCKLING — 96 POINTS
Jim Gordon

This wine shows pretty fruit and a rather soft texture. It’s not overly full-bodied, so it’s a vintage that’s drinkable young. Aged in 65% new oak. Mild, creamy, layered tannins. Easy and gorgeous. Drink now. A must buy.

DECANTER — 95 POINTS

The 2022 Spottswoode was aged 20 months in 62% new French oak and is composed primarily of Spottswoode Estate Vineyard fruit. Attractive red berry fruit is laced with leather and sandalwood, nuanced by perfumed rose petals and cedar spice. It is medium-bodied on the palate and features lithe tannins that grip the finish with building intensity. A wine of brightness and energy, with savoury layers adding depth and complexity.

JEB DUNNUCK — 95 POINTS

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is a solid step up, with more density and depth. The wine is based on 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot and was aged 20 months in 62% new oak. The wine shows ripe blackcurrants, mulberries, spicy wood, graphite, and floral notes. It is medium to full-bodied, with a pure, layered, seamless mouthfeel, plenty of mid-palate depth, and outstanding length.

VINous — 95 POINTS

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is a wonderfully classy, polished wine. Today, the 2022 comes across as a bit soft, but it is such a charmer. Rose petal, bright red cherry/plum fruit, cedar and mocha build nicely in the glass. This comes across as a bit quiet, but all the estate signatures are present. It’s an exquisite wine from Spottswoode.

WINE ENTHUSIAST — 95 POINTS
Elaine Chukan Brown

Floral aromas join a complex of red berries and purple plums. The palate opens to reveal cassis, cedar, a pleasing earthiness and a graphite finish. Tannins the texture of sheer velvet maintain an open weave creating a Cabernet Sauvignon that is both plush and poised.

WINE SPECTATOR — 93 POINTS

This version delivers seductive flavors of mulberry, boysenberry and blackberry compote, along with gently singed alder, anise and black tea notes, plus flashes of iris and ink. Shows the more sedate energy of the vintage, but with range, form and definition. An impressive effort.

OVERALL PROFESSIONAL CONSENSUS

Wine Advocate: 98
The Wine Independent: 97+
James Suckling: 96
Decanter: 95
Jeb Dunnuck: 95
Vinous: 95
Wine Enthusiast: 95
Wine Spectator: 93

The consensus is that the 2022 is a plush, elegant and unusually approachable Spottswoode Cabernet, with cassis, blackberry, plum, violet, graphite, cedar and mineral notes. It has silky-to-firm tannins, excellent freshness and considerable length. Compared with some more powerful Spottswoode vintages, 2022 leans toward elegance, polish and earlier drinkability.