Accolades
Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc
2017 Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc
Wine Review Online, Rich Cook
I can’t imagine anyone taking this variety more seriously than the folks at Spottswoode. Four different clones sourced from six different vineyard sites, fermented in oak, stainless barrels, concrete eggs of three different sizes and a clay amphora, and a dedicated facility at the winery. Add in the idea that this isn’t even the flagship product, and you know that there’s something here worth investigating. Of course, if the wine isn’t any good, then none of that matters. No worries about that here thanks to the deft hand of winemaker Aron Weinkauf. Wisely giving himself a large palette from which to create, he comes through with a blend that has a rich mouthfeel on entry and great tension from bright acidity mid palate through the long finish, supporting the mixed citrus, stone fruit, melon and mild herbal accents beautifully. I don’t know that I’ve written this about a wine before, but I was struck by the ‘retro-aromatic’ impression that remains after the liquid disappears – I felt like I was still smelling the wine. Absolutely riveting Sauvignon Blanc. 97 points. (January 15, 2019)
Creators.com, Robert Whitley
This is the aristocracy of domestic sauvignon blanc, a sauvignon so fine that price is no deterrent. In fact, compared with sauvignon-based Bordeaux blanc prices, even at $42 the Spottswoode represents extraordinary value. Using stainless steel tanks for fermentation and lees stirring to develop richness and texture, the Spottswoode sauvignon gets the sort of TLC that makes a huge difference in the finished product. The 2017 Spottswoode offers complex aromas and flavors, and shows notes of white peach and lime, with exquisite balance and impressive length. 96 points (January 8, 2019)
Boozehoundz Blog, Michael Cervin
Not to be overly poetic, but the nose on Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc immediately conjured an image of a grandma line drying laundry on a bright spring day while eating Pepperidge Farm Milanos. Perhaps that’s a little hyperbole, but this wine is unabashedly fresh, buoyant. Starting with aromas of fresh cut lemons and limes, on the palate there is quince, lemon zest, lime, white peach, nectarine, a wee bit of vanilla and slight sweet resin. The floral aromatics make this sing. In essence this is exactly what you want a wine to do – to invite you someplace and whereas your invitation might look different, this wine does indeed transport you. 94 points (March 11, 2019)
Wine Enthusiast Advance Buying Guide, Virginie Boone
Beautifully interwoven acidity gives this wine a lift of freshness and viscosity in this lovely, 100% varietal white, sourced from several sites, including Stagecoach on Atlas Peak, Hyde Vineyards in Carneros and the Spottswoode Estate. Fresh peach, apricot and wild vanilla are met by textured richness that’s balanced and measured in approach. 94 points (November 13, 2018)
Wine.com, Wilfred Wong
I have enjoyed the Spottswoode Sauvignon Blancs over the last three decades and have always regarded it as one of California’s very best examples of this grape variety. The 2017 vintage – amidst a vintage of extreme heat – shows how committed to quality this winery is, and how the team can produce a wine of high quality, given the challenges of any given year. This wine is as pure as this grape variety can be. Its aromas and flavors circle around ripe citrus peel, dried leaves, and frisky minerality. 94 points (August 12, 2018)
Decanter.com, Eduardo Dingler
Since its inception, Spottswoode Winery has delivered breathtaking wines, and this is no exception. It’s a 64% Sonoma Mountain and 36% Napa Valley blend crafted in a combination of French oak barrels, stainless steel barrels and concrete cuves, which seems to be the magic combination for delivering a teasing combination of lemon pith, grapefruit zest, crisp pear and an elegant vanilla curd tone. 94 points (November 19, 2018)
Wine Review Online, Michael Apstein
A style of Sauvignon Blanc reminiscent of white Bordeaux, the 2017 Spottswoode’s combines a gentle bite characteristic of that grape with a creamy seductiveness. Bright acidity in the finish amplifies its allure and keeps you coming back for another sip. This is serious stuff and a joy to drink. 94 points (January 15, 2019)
VinePair, Edward Deitch
Subtlety is the name of the game here. The oak accents the wine rather than defining it, framing delicious fruit notes of white grapefruit, green apple, and white peach. The herbal and floral notes are muted. With alcohol at 14.3 percent, it’s a slightly bigger wine than many Sauvignons, but with its balancing acidity, the overall effect is pure elegance. (January 3, 2019)
Bloomberg, Elin McCoy
The 50 Best Wines Under $50
Long one of the most sophisticated whites in Napa, it balances juiciness, complex lime, chalk and herb flavors, and lush texture. (December 6, 2018)
Jebdunnuck.com, Jeb Dunnuck
The 2017 Sauvignon Blanc comes from both Sonoma Mountain and Napa Valley and was mostly barrel fermented. It offers lots of spiced citrus, white flowers, and salty mineral notes in its medium-bodied, layered, and textured style. Possessing both richness and freshness, it’s a beautiful wine that’s going to shine on the dinner table. 91 points (January 31, 2020)
