2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

The Wine Independent, Lisa Perrotti-Brown

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon sports a deep garnet-purple color. After as 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. 97+ points (January 8, 2025)

JamesSuckling.com, Jim Gordon

This week’s report reinforces the view that many delicious, effusive wines were made and that the vintage offers pleasure in spades.

Jim also reviewed the 2022 Spottswoode Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, an icon for elegance in a classic Napa style, and remarked on its pretty fruit and a rather soft texture. It’s not overly full-bodied, so it’s a vintage that’s drinkable young.

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. 96 points (November 21, 2024)

JebDunnuck.com, Jeb Dunnuck

Looking at the flagship, it’s a blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, raised all in barrel. Its deep purple hue is followed by classic notes of crème de cassis, new leather, graphite, and spring flowers. This carries to a medium-bodied, beautifully balanced, layered, elegant Cabernet that will benefit from 5–6 years of bottle age, which is incredibly rare for a 2022 and will evolve for two decades. Outstanding wines. These wines are outstanding for their type and are worth the extra effort to seek out. 95 points (January 8, 2025)

Vinous.com, Antonio Galloni

Spottswoode remains a benchmark in Napa Valley. Proprietor Beth Novak Weber and longtime winemaker Aron Weinkauf turned out some of the most compelling wines I tasted during my fall trip. The estate has been farmed organically since 1985 and biodynamically since 2008, well before these practices became the mainstream concepts they are today. That focus on long-term resiliency, including no watering pre-veraison, was crucial in 2022. Weinkauf picked young vines early, as he felt those did not have the carbohydrate storage, root systems and canopies to withstand the heat. Most of the core blocks for the Spottswoode Cabernet came in after the Labor Day heat spike. Weinkauf reported no major changes to his approach to sorting or vinification. 

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. 95 points (December 12, 2024)

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