Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 is a 750ml, 14.5% ABV estate-grown Napa Valley Cabernet blend that earned two perfect 100-point scores. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and Jeb Dunnuck both awarded this vintage a flawless 100 points, placing it among the most celebrated Napa Cabernets of the decade. Additional scores of 96 points from Wine Spectator, Decanter, and Wine Enthusiast confirm the breadth of critical acclaim.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: St. Helena, Napa Valley, California  |  Vintage: 2016  |  Estate: Spottswoode Estate Vineyard

Production & Heritage

Spottswoode Estate Vineyard sits on the western edge of St. Helena, where the property has been a pioneer in sustainable viticulture. The estate began farming organically in 1985 and became only the second estate vineyard in Napa Valley to earn CCOF organic certification in 1992; it later achieved Demeter Biodynamic Certification in 2020. The 2016 vintage—a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot—marks winemaker Aron Weinkauf's fifth vintage at the estate, and the resulting wine reflects a mature command of the site's potential.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Deep garnet-purple in the glass, the nose slowly unfurls with layers of plum, black currant, and red cherry. Behind the fruit, darker notes of cedar chest, dark chocolate, pencil lead, and dried red roses emerge alongside subtle wafts of black tea and prosciutto.

Taste: Medium-bodied at entry, a focused beam of gently mulled red and black currant fruit glides across the palate. The mid-palate expands with dried herb, leather, and salty stone character, supported by superbly ripe, grainy tannins. A persistent loamy structure threads through the wine without ever overwhelming the fruit.

Finish: Long and firmly textured, with light tea and alder notes lingering alongside echoes of dark chocolate and cedar. The tannin grip is resolute yet refined, sustaining the wine's presence well after the final sip.

How to Drink Spottswoode 2016

This wine is best served slightly below room temperature—around 62–65°F—in a large-bowled glass that allows its complex aromatics to fully develop. Decanting for 60 to 90 minutes helps the still-youthful tannins unwind and the layered perfume to emerge. Given its structure and pedigree, the Spottswoode 2016 is a wine for focused, contemplative drinking rather than cocktail use.

Best For

• Cellaring for special milestones—the tannic backbone and acidity suggest a long aging window through the 2030s and beyond
• Gifting a serious wine collector a verified 100-point Napa Cabernet
• Anchoring a high-end dinner party built around prime cuts of beef or braised lamb
• Commemorating the 2016 vintage year with a benchmark expression of that harvest

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Spottswoode 2016 taste like? The dominant profile is layered black and red currant fruit interwoven with cedar, dark chocolate, dried herb, and leather, carried by firm yet refined grainy tannins. It is medium-bodied with a persistent loamy texture and a long, tea-tinged finish.

How does Spottswoode 2016 compare to Château Margaux? Jeb Dunnuck, who awarded this wine 100 points, noted that it "always reminds me of a great vintage of Château Margaux with its beautiful complexity, power, and elegance." Both wines share a medium-bodied frame, floral aromatics, and fine-grained tannin structure, though Spottswoode brings a distinctly Napa Valley ripeness and loamy earthiness.

Is Spottswoode 2016 good for sipping neat? Absolutely—this is a wine designed for undivided attention, ideally served after a proper decant. Its layered aromatics and long finish reward slow, unhurried drinking.

Where is Spottswoode 2016 made? Spottswoode Estate Vineyard is located on the western benchland of St. Helena in Napa Valley, California. All fruit is estate-grown on organically farmed land that has held CCOF certification since 1992.

What foods pair well with Spottswoode 2016? Grilled prime ribeye steak complements the wine's tannic structure and dark fruit. Braised short ribs echo its earthy, loamy depth. Aged hard cheeses such as Comté or aged Gouda mirror its complexity. Roasted lamb with herbs of Provence picks up the wine's dried herb and cedar notes. Dark chocolate desserts with a hint of salt align with the chocolate and mineral tones in the finish.

What sizes does Spottswoode 2016 come in? The standard release is in a 750ml bottle; some Spottswoode vintages have been released in 1.5L magnums and 3L double magnums, though availability of large formats varies by vintage.

Is Spottswoode 2016 worth the price? Positioned firmly in the ultra-premium tier of Napa Valley Cabernet, Spottswoode 2016 justifies its placement with two perfect 100-point scores and an impeccable organic-farming pedigree. For collectors and serious enthusiasts, few Napa wines from 2016 carry this level of across-the-board critical consensus.

Why Spottswoode 2016?

Dual 100-point scores from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and Jeb Dunnuck set this vintage apart—not just within Spottswoode's own history, but within the broader 2016 Napa Valley landscape. The wine is the product of over three decades of organic farming on one of St. Helena's most respected estate sites, a commitment that predates the current wave of sustainable viticulture in California by years. Under Aron Weinkauf's winemaking, the 2016 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot achieves a rare balance of power and restraint, drawing comparisons to top-flight Bordeaux. For anyone seeking a definitively great Napa Cabernet from a benchmark vintage, Spottswoode 2016 stands on an exceptionally short list.