Critic ratings
robert_parker
2021
Rating:
93
–93
Sourced from eight different sites in Napa and Sonoma (it's labeled Napa County 43%, Sonoma County 57%), Spottswoode's 2021 Sauvignon Blanc was fermented in stainless steel barrels (50%), used French oak (25%), new French oak (20%) and other vessels (5%). The result is a complex, textural wine that's plump on the palate, round and silky, yet also bright, fresh, vibrant and long, with layers of fig and melon fruit that gradually unfold in the glass. I've been deliberately conservative with respect to its aging potential, but it's worth pointing out that a 2012 tasted at the winery was still drinking exceptionally well (91 points).
robert_parker
2020
Rating:
91
–91
The 2020 Sauvignon Blanc opens with vivacious lime juice, yuzu peel and grapefruit scents, followed by notions of lemongrass and wet pebbles. Medium-bodied and intense, it has racy citrus flavors and a steely finish.
robert_parker
2019
Rating:
92
–92
Fans of this pure, clean, crisp mineral-driven gem will not be disappointed with the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc. Opening with vibrant lemon and lime juice scents with hints of mandarin peel, coriander seed, chalk dust and wild thyme, it bursts with zesty flavor in the mouth. Medium-bodied, there's a lovely satiny suggestion to the texture and lots of oyster shell and pebbly layers, finishing deliciously refreshing.
robert_parker
2015
Rating:
89
–89
Possessing 66% Sonoma County and 34% Napa County fruit, the 2015 Sauvignon Blanc offers notes of fresh grapefruit, passion fruit and dried herbs with a hint of cedar. Medium-bodied, it delivers a great concentration of ripe citrus and tropical flavors with a pleasant oiliness to the texture plus great freshness and length.
robert_parker
2012
Rating:
91
–91
Still drinking remarkably well, the 2012 Sauvignon Blanc—sourced largely from Farina (in Sonoma County) and Hyde (in Napa-Carneros)—boasts a charming smoky, fumé-like note alongside hints of honeycomb, cut grass, green figs and ripe melon. Medium-bodied and creamy in texture, it's still fresh and long on the finish. How much longer it will go is an open question, but why wait?
robert_parker
1995
Rating:
89
–89
Unquestionably one of the finest Sauvignons being made in California, Spottswoode's 1995 exhibits lovely honeyed melon scents, nicely integrated subtle wood, and rich fruit that flows across the palate with no obtrusive acidity. This wine is stylish, elegant, and purely made. Drink it over the next 12-18 months.
Tel. (707) 963-0134
robert_parker
1995
Rating:
89
–89
Unquestionably one of the finest Sauvignons being made in California, Spottswoode's 1995 Sauvignon Blanc exhibits lovely honeyed melon scents, nicely integrated, subtle wood, and rich fruit that flows across the palate with no obtrusive acidity. This wine is stylish, elegant, and purely made. Drink it over the next 12-18 months.
Tel. (707) 963-0134
robert_parker
1993
Rating:
89
–89
Unquestionably, this is the finest Sauvignon Spottswoode has produced. It exhibits an intense fragrance of fresh herbs, honey, vanilla, and ripe fruit. This zesty, exuberant, concentrated, medium-bodied Sauvignon possesses excellent freshness and focus. If more wineries begin to turn out Sauvignons such as this, look for a rebound in popularity for this varietal. Drink it over the next year.
robert_parker
1992
Rating:
87
–87
An excellent 1992 Sauvignon Blanc, this elegant, understated, attractively fruity, ripe, pleasant wine represents the more delicate style of Sauvignon. Drink it over the next year.
vinous
2021
Rating:
93
–93
The 2021 Sauvignon Blanc is a very pretty and distinctive wine. Citrus peel, mint, white flowers, sage and tomato leaf lend quite a bit of character. The 2021 was aged in a combination of steel, new oak, neutral oak and concrete eggs.
robert_parker
2022
Rating:
92
–92
Spottswoode's 2022 Sauvignon Blanc blends fruit from Napa and Sonoma—the proportions are 58% Napa and 42% Sonoma this year. Fermented and matured in a mix of new and used oak, stainless steel and amphorae/eggs, the wine boasts lovely citrus notes—lemon-lime and some riper expressions as well—plus touches of fig and guava. It's medium to full-bodied, a bit plump and creamy on the mid-palate, then fresh and zesty on the finish.
robert_parker
2014
Rating:
88
–88
This iconic Napa Cabernet Sauvignon producer from St. Helena now produces greater quantities of Sauvignon Blanc, which is a cross-county Napa/Sonoma blend. The 2014 Sauvignon Blanc exhibits grassy fig, honeysuckle and melon notes that seem to suggest a hypothetical blend of the Bordeaux and Loire Valley styles of Sauvignon Blanc. With crisp acidity, medium body and terrific fruit, this is one of the benchmarks for Sauvignon Blanc in Northern California. This particular cuvée seems to show a bit more grassiness than previous vintages. Drink it over the next 1-3 years.
robert_parker
2015
Rating:
89
–89
Possessing 66% Sonoma County and 34% Napa County fruit, the 2015 Sauvignon Blanc offers notes of fresh grapefruit, passion fruit and dried herbs with a hint of cedar. Medium-bodied, it delivers a great concentration of ripe citrus and tropical flavors with a pleasant oiliness to the texture plus great freshness and length.
robert_parker
2017
Rating:
90
–90
The 2017 Sauvignon Blanc comes from Sonoma Mountain, Knights Valley and about 5% from Napa Valley. It opens with beautifully intense notes of gooseberries, green apples, yuzu and lime juice with touches of mown grass, wild sage and chalk dust. Medium-bodied, crisp, refreshing and packed with zing, it delivers loads of citrus and herbal layers and a long, chalky finish.
robert_parker
2018
Rating:
94
–94
The 2018 Sauvignon Blanc bursts from the glass with notes of lemon tart, key lime pie and orange blossoms with nuances of acacia honey, baking bread, fresh grapefruit and crushed stones. Medium-bodied, the palate has fantastically intense citrus and mineral notes, framed by great freshness and a silken texture, finishing very long and perfumed.
robert_parker
2003
Rating:
92
–92
The 2003 Sauvignon Blanc, which ranks among the finest made in California, if not the New World, exhibits an extraordinary bouquet of citrus oil, honey, and Japanese green tea. The texture is exceptional, yet the wine is light on its feet and dry, with loads of fruit, beautiful glycerin, and a wonderful tactile mouthfeel. Long, honeyed, and exceptionally elegant, it can be enjoyed over the next 1-2 years.
Tel. (707) 963-0134; Fax (707) 963-2886
robert_parker
2004
Rating:
91
–91
This winery continues to make one of the finest Sauvignon Blancs in California, and the 2004, which has about 20% Semillon in the blend, boasts beautifully crisp, melony, honeysuckle, gun flint, and orange-like characteristics in the nose. Drink this lovely, medium-bodied Sauvignon over the next 2 years.
Tel. (707) 963-0134; Fax (707) 963-2886
robert_parker
2005
Rating:
91
–91
One of Napa’s best Sauvignon Blancs consistently emerges form the Spottswoode estate. Always elegant but with authoritative flavors, the 2005 is dry and shows hints of figs, honey, melon-like fruit, and citrus blossom. Lively acidity, a medium-bodied texture, and good concentration result in one of the more beautiful Sauvignon Blancs of the region. Drink it over the next several years.
Previously recommended: 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (97).
Tel. (707) 963-0134; Fax (707) 963-2886
robert_parker
2006
Rating:
90
–90
One of Napa Valley’s reference point wines remains Spottswoode’s Cabernet Sauvignon. However, readers should not overlook their brilliant Sauvignon Blanc. The 2006 continues a nearly unbroken record of great success with this varietal. Sumptuous aromas of honeyed grapefruit, flowers, and melon jump from the glass of this lovely white. A fruit-driven effort buttressed by good acidity and an undeniable minerality, it will offer abundant pleasure over the next 1-2 years.
Previously recommended: 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (94), 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (97).
Tel. (707) 963-0134; Fax (707) 963-2886
robert_parker
2007
Rating:
91
–91
Spottswoode produces one of the finest Sauvignon Blancs in Northern California. The 2007 Sauvignon Blanc (nearly 100% Sauvignon from two clones, the classic clone and the more fragrant Musque clone, and a small dollop of Semillon) is so popular that it is now a cross county blend, with about 60% of the fruit from Napa and the rest from Sonoma. This melon, fig, and honeyed grapefruit-scented and flavored white sees some oak aging. Crisp, elegant, medium-bodied, intense yet classic flavors emerge from this food-friendly wine. Enjoy it during its first 1-2 years of life.
Spottswoode Vineyard is one of Napa’s most well-known landmarks, and its winemaking team, owner Beth Novack, and assistants Rosemary Cakebread and Jennifer Williams, represents a trifecta of talented young women. When the history of Napa’s great vineyards is written, the 40-acre Spottswoode Vineyard, tucked behind the quaint town of St. Helena, will be counted among the finest grand cru vineyards of the region. These wines have always been good, but over the last decade, the quality has soared, no doubt because of a much more strict selection in the vineyard as well as in the winery. A very fine second wine, Lyndenhurst, has also been introduced, which has increased the quality of the flagship offering, the Cabernet Sauvignon Estate. Like Bordeaux’s top chateaux, Spottswoode has gotten serious about turning out a very fine second wine that is softer and more accessible, yet represents their vineyard character.
Tel. (707) 963-0134; Fax (707) 963-2886
robert_parker
1998
Rating:
85
–85
Spottswoode is well-known for their stylish, Graves-like Sauvignon Blanc. Thirty percent is barrel-fermented and then blended with the tank-fermented portion. Production is approximately 1,800 cases. The 1998 Sauvignon Blanc exhibits crisp, mineral, ripe fruit, and lemony notes, medium body, and excellent purity. About 10% Semillon was added to give the wine more texture and flesh. Drink it over the next year to take advantage of its elegance and finesse.
Tel. (707) 963-0134; Fax (707) 963-2886.
robert_parker
1999
Rating:
88
–88
Spottswoode consistently produces a flinty, spicy Sauvignon Blanc reminiscent of a top-flight, dry white Bordeaux. The 1999 reveals spice, honeyed grapefruit, and gravelly characteristics in its light to medium-bodied, crisp, tangy personality. This complex, subtle effort is not a typical Sauvignon Blanc fruit bomb that seems to be increasingly popular elsewhere in California. Drink this wine over the next 12-18 months.
Tel. (707) 963-0134; Fax (707) 963-2886
robert_parker
2001
Rating:
90
–90
The 2001 Sauvignon Blanc, a blend of 20% barrel-aged and 80% stainless-steel Sauvignon, was singing beautifully when tasted in May. It possesses aromas and flavors of flowers, figs, melons, and a hint of grapefruit. The wine is fresh, lively, and medium-bodied, with surprising flavor intensity for its delicacy and lightness. It will provide immense enjoyment during its first 1-2 years of life.
Tel. (707) 963-0134; Fax (707) 963-2886
robert_parker
2002
Rating:
90
–90
The delicious 2002 Sauvignon Blanc, a blend of 85% Sauvignon and 15% Semillon, is one of California’s more elegant examples. It offers notes of flint, figs, melons, and background spice. This exquisitely detailed, well-proportioned, medium-bodied white bursts from the glass. Enjoy this food friendly 2002 over the next 1-3 years.
Tel. (707) 963-0134; Fax (707) 963-2886
robert_parker
1994
Rating:
86
–86
Once again Spottswoode has fashioned a subtle, flavorful, dry Sauvignon Blanc with a touch of spicy oak and excellent melony fruit presented in a medium-bodied, crisp, pure format. Drink it over the next year. Tel. (707) 963-0134
robert_parker
1995
Rating:
89
–89
Few readers ever get to taste Spottswoode's Sauvignon Blanc as much of it is sold to restaurants. It has become one of California's more interesting Sauvignons. The 1995 displays a white Graves-like personality, good aromatics, excellent freshness, plenty of oaky, waxy, melony fruit, and an underpinning of crisp acidity. It should be consumed during its first several years of life.
Tel. (707) 963-0134; Fax (707) 963-2886
robert_parker
1996
Rating:
88
–88
One of California's finest Sauvignons is consistently produced by Spottswoode Winery. Their 1996 Sauvignon Blanc is an attractive, ripe pineapple, honey, herbs, and melon-scented wine with medium body, excellent flavor richness, an alluring texture, enough acidity for definition, and a long finish. Drink this enticing Sauvignon Blanc over the next year. Tel. (707) 963-0134
