Spottswoode’s Cabernet Sauvignon from St. Helena is the estate’s flagship wine and one of Napa Valley’s most enduring classics. First produced in 1982, it has become a benchmark for those seeking Cabernet that combines power with refinement. Drawn entirely from the estate’s organically farmed vineyards at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains, the wine reflects St. Helena’s gravelly soils and cool evening breezes, which lend both intensity and balance.
In the glass, the Cabernet is immediately captivating: aromas of blackberry, cassis, and plum mingle with violets, graphite, and subtle baking spices. The palate is layered and precise, with concentrated dark fruit framed by fine-grained tannins and a vibrant spine of acidity. The oak influence is polished and restrained, supporting rather than overshadowing the fruit.
While approachable in youth thanks to its elegance and freshness, this wine is built to age. With time, it develops remarkable complexity, revealing savoury notes of tobacco, cedar, and earth while maintaining its core of fruit and structure. Many vintages have proven capable of evolving gracefully for decades, a hallmark that sets Spottswoode apart.
For collectors, the St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon represents the very best of Napa Valley: a wine that captures place and vintage with clarity, crafted with consistency and vision. It is more than just a flagship — it is a reference point for what Cabernet can be when guided by patience, respect for terroir, and a steady family hand.