Spottswoode’s Sauvignon Blanc stands out as unique among a sea of refreshing-yet-uninspired Sauvignon Blancs coming out of California. From the first whiff, the wine explodes with deeply enticing tropical and stone fruit notes — peaches, mangoes, lychees, and pineapples. In the mouth, the wine greets the drinker with burst of vibrant acidity that fades into a beautifully creamy texture, a result of the splash of Semillon (7%) included in the wine, as well as the wine’s time on lees in a mixture of vessels, including some new French oak. What a treat this wine is, and it’s well worth the price — you won’t find anything quite like it for the money.
Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery, Napa County and Sonoma County (California) Sauvignon Blanc 2022
By John McDermott