2018 Spottswoode Estate ‘Lyndenhurst’ Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

VIN94 The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Lyndenhurst is a fabulous wine that shows just how compelling the vintage is, even among mid-tier offerings. Blackberry, graphite, cloves, licorice and lavender all build in the glass. The Lyndenhurst Cabernet is usually much more approachable, but the 2018 is a real powerhouse. I would give the tannins at least a few years to soften. This is impressive, to say the least.
JD94 A wine well worth purchasing and cellaring, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Lyndenhurst sports a dense purple hue as well as classic Cabernet notes of blackcurrants, Asian spices, violets, licorice, and tobacco. Beautifully rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, it’s one heck of a second wine that can be drunk today or cellared for 15-20 years.
JS93 Black plums, blueberries, chocolate, cloves and dried leaves. Black olives, too. It’s full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins. Chewy, generous layers of dark fruit and chocolate. Try from 2022.
Estate Notes: The remarkable quality of the 2018 vintage is fully displayed in the 2018 Lyndenhurst Cabernet Sauvignon. Brimming with youthful vigor, the 2018 Lyndenhurst is dynamic and generous, with a supple mouthfeel and seamless tannins that carry its compelling flavors across the palate to a long, seamless finish. We are grateful for the generosity of Mother Nature’s bounty

While the 2018 growing season got off to an unusual start, with warm weather and only six inches of rain by the end of February, March brought cooler temperatures and an abundance of precipitation. With the added soil moisture, the vines responded beautifully, yielding an ideal crop set, followed by a summer with foggy mornings, sunny afternoons, and cool nighttime temperatures. As a result, the grapes were able to ripen gradually, developing gorgeous color without a rapid accumulation of sugar. When harvest finally began at the end of September, the quality and dynamic character of the grapes resulted in seamless fermentations and extraordinarily aromatic and energetic wines.