2022 Spottswoode - Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Lyndenhurst (750ml)

Spottswoode Estate has been a fixture in St. Helena since Mary Novak took over the property in 1977, later launching the winery's first Cabernet Sauvignon in 1982 to mark the estate's centennial. The Novak family built a reputation not just for elegant, age-worthy Cabernet, but for genuine environmental stewardship, becoming a pioneer in organic farming as early as 1985 and eventually earning both CCOF organic and Demeter Biodynamic certification, along with distinction as Napa Valley's first Certified B Corp winery. Lyndenhurst, named for the fragrant linden trees still blooming in the estate gardens, serves as the winery's second label, offering an earlier, more accessible expression of the Spottswoode style.

The 2022 Lyndenhurst is built around the estate vineyard in St. Helena, its alluvial soils and cooling maritime breezes forming the wine's core, supplemented by fruit from long-standing, family-owned grower partners across other Napa Valley sub-appellations, including cooler sites in Howell Mountain and Oak Knoll. The blend for this vintage leans roughly sixty percent purchased fruit to forty percent estate grown, reflecting Spottswoode's ongoing effort to broaden its sense of place while staying true to its organic farming principles. The wine is aged in French oak, with a portion new, giving it structure without overwhelming its more finessed style.

The 2022 shows opulent notes of cinnamon, sandalwood, and potpourri opening into crème de cassis, candied violet, and mint tea. The palate is medium bodied and silky, framed by racy acidity and lightly chewy tannins that finish with a cooling, minty lift. It pairs beautifully with grilled lamb chops, braised short rib, or a rich beef stew.