2012 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

The Wine Advocate, Robert Parker

With the lowest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in of any of the wines from this vertical, the 2012 final blend was 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Production across the board in 2012 was high, and reflected in the 3,977 cases made at Spottswoode. This is a dramatic, flamboyant, modern-day version of the 2002. Dramatic blueberry, black raspberry and blackcurrant fruit, along with camphor, charcoal, white flowers and foresty notes all emerge from the impressive aromatics that soar from the glass. The intense, explosively rich, full-bodied palate is layered with beautiful purity, stunningly sweet, silky tannins and terrific presence and complexity. This is a gorgeous wine on a relatively fast evolutionary track, I suspect, but certainly it has 30 years of upside left. 99 points (#226, August 31, 2016)

JebDunnuck.com, Jeb Dunnuck

A wine that would easily rate a perfect score on its own, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a full-bodied, ripe, exuberant 2012 that brings lots of richness yet still stays weightless and graceful on the palate. Giving up plenty of pure cassis fruit as well as spice, chocolate, graphite, and tobacco, it’s that rare mix of power without weight. It does everything right and can be drunk any time over the coming two decades. 99 points (August 23, 2021)

Decanter, Elin McCoy

What I’ve been drinking this month.
Hoping that 2018 will be the ‘Year of the Woman’ in the wine industry, I savoured the sumptuous, fragrant Spottswoode Estate, Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 from a 45-year-old pioneering winery in Napa. Founded by Mary Weber Novak, who died in 2016, it’s now run by her two daughters. The Cabernet has always been the star, and this vintage is rich, classy, distinctive and elegant, with sensual, savoury fruit, and approachable right now. (April 2018)

JamesSuckling.com, James Suckling

Incredible blueberries, blackberries, black walnuts, minerals, black licorice and flowers. Full-bodied, very tight and structured with hints of hazelnuts, fine chocolate and hints of minerals and spices. A solid and classic-styled Napa Valley cab. Layered and very fine. 98 points (April 30, 2015)

Vinography, Alder Yarrow

Dark garnet in color, this wine smells of rich black cherry and tobacco aromas. In the mouth, rich dark cherry and wet earth flavors mix with violets and cassis as they are draped in a fleecy, fine grained blanket of tannins. Lush and beautiful but with plenty of kick thanks to excellent acidity. Gorgeous, balanced and poised. A stunning wine, and one of my favorites of the 2012 vintage. 9.5/10 points (January 9, 2016)

Vinous Media, Antonio Galloni

One of the wines of the vintage, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is dense, racy and voluptuous. Succulent red cherry, plum, spice and polished, supple tannins give the 2012 its sexy, radiant personality. I am far from the biggest fan of Napa valley’s 2012 vintage, but there is not denying the exquisite beauty of this stunning wine. 97 points (December 2016)