I was quite happy with this wine today. Right up there as one of the better wines enjoyed. Lots of youth for a 97. Almost a bit medicinal, but fruit structure was good. There was really nothing that stood out about this wine, other than my saying the wine appeared to have more youth than "advertised." I would have guessed 2004-2005. Still didn't win the youth award (that one definitely went to the 99 Spottswoode). I would have been insanely happy with this wine as the only wine on the table, instead of 1 out of 16 (plus) that were all uncorked in a frenzy of fourth friday wines. — 8 years ago
Classic Thackery wine. Vineyard is situated between Abreu Madrona and spottswoode winery (spottswoode vineyard across street). Sean says he thinks it's Syrah, walked the vineyard and have seen a lot of Petite but what a site. Classic camphor tinged that screams thackery as the Eukalptus that covers his bolinas winery always finds its way in. He always had a knack for finding the best sites. Such an original — 8 years ago
Premiere spottswoode 2007 cab — 12 years ago
What do you get when you combine a 15 acre vineyard on the Silverado Bench about 200 feet up from the valley floor at the base of Atlas Peak owned by a former math professor with a team of winemaker Dave Phinney (of Orin Swift, GKG, Stanton) and viticulturalist Steve Matthiasson (Araujo, Chappellet, David Arthur, and Spottswoode to name a few)? Aftermath. I'm not sure if the name was ominous or fortuitous, but Jim Kaplan's first vintage was 2011, which was notoriously difficult. His 2012 vintage was completely lost to the 2014 earthquake. The result is indeed the aftermath...
The 2013 is a blueberry, blackberry, and blackcurrant explosion, with the fallout being licorice, white flowers, cedar, and cacao nips, with enough of an herbaceous tilt to give an exotic edge. Fans of Phinney's Papillon and Mercury Head, and frankly Napa Cabs in general should seek this out. — 8 years ago
Contains grapes sourced from Spottswoode & Trespass. Delicious. @Frank Melis — 8 years ago
2014. Cool berries on the nose. Delicious and delightful cool climate syrah. Lush fruit but light on the palate. Super-fine tannins, smoky and roasty earthy notes, insistent acid, and a satisfying and lingering finish. Terrific balance and concentration. Will be even better in 3-5 years. 14.4% abv. 124 cases produced. — 8 years ago
Absolutely delicious. Youngest wine of the line-up -- loads of fresh off-the-vine ripe berries. Interestingly, liked this and the oldest wine of the night ('96 Spottswoode) the best. All the others were outstanding as well. Unlike many other producers, I highly prefer Sinegal's '13 today vs the '14. — 8 years ago
Bought a little under 3 years ago, this one was opened at a good time today for a great crowd. Initially opened and filtered into a decanter. The wine poured without significant bricking. The nose was green pepper, grassy, and earthy. It honestly had quite the same nose as a 1980's Pichon Lalande that was consumed a few months ago. This wine had a bit of funk for about an hour. But then after that, NOT BAD. Neither it nor the 99 Spottswoode were the best wines on the table, but this shows you the way it was done in old Napa. Picked at just under 23 Brix (per the label), this wine still had great structure. Even 2 hours later, the structure was still there although the wine had blossomed into more of a floral rich finish with a darker, ashy middle and herbaceous front with dried red fruits. According to CellarTracker there are 25 bottles in cellars. IMO it's time to start consuming these wines, although admittedly I feel this wine will probably stay right where it is, if cellared correctly, for another 5 years or so. — 8 years ago
Floored. So silky on entry, gorgeous juicy red fruits, wild herbs. Generous mid-palate, then insanely delicate tannins, creeping in, building up. Dark cherries, earth, coffee. Thought it was neb!! Truly amazing. A delight. I wish I'd had more than the last sip of the bottle!! — 9 years ago
At Nick and Stef's w Rick, mom & dad. Great as usual. A bit fruity and tiny bit thin to drink w steaks but mom & dad preferred this to the 2003 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon... — 11 years ago
Cody Short
One of the best domestic white wines I’ve had in some time. — 7 years ago