Spoto Wines
Private Reserve Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon
Oakville, Napa Valley, California, USA
Was introduced to Spoto Wines officially today, though @Mark Flesher has sung their praises to me for a while, and even gifted me this very same bottle. Spoto Wines is the epitome of family...all owned, operated and it very much feels that way. Really love that style. I was pleased to meet Stuart Spoto as he was pouring. Quick review of their wines:
-2015 Viognier- The best Viognier I've tasted. "Summer in a bottle" they say. Tropical notes but not super citrus like. A minty finish which I loved.
-2014 Oakville Cuvée- From the historic Oakville Station part of To-Kalon. Merlot dominant. The most "Bordeaux"-esque of the lineup to me. Balance of red fruits and earthy herbs. Spice finish.
-Godfather Part II- My favorite of the tasting based on approachability. This is pop and pour. Red and black fruit medley, cinnamon, cassis. 80/20 Merlot/Malbec
-2013 Oakville Private Reserve Cabernet- I'm stoked to have one of these out away in the cellar. Also from the Oakville Station To-Kalon Vineyard. This is age worthy but could be popped today if you give it a 1.5-2hr decant. Very black fruit dominant. Plum rush, blackcherry and mocha.
Was introduced to Spoto Wines officially today, though @Mark Flesher has sung their praises to me for a while, and even gifted me this very same bottle. Spoto Wines is the epitome of family...all owned, operated and it very much feels that way. Really love that style. I was pleased to meet Stuart Spoto as he was pouring. Quick review of their wines:
-2015 Viognier- The best Viognier I've tasted. "Summer in a bottle" they say. Tropical notes but not super citrus like. A minty finish which I loved.
-2014 Oakville Cuvée- From the historic Oakville Station part of To-Kalon. Merlot dominant. The most "Bordeaux"-esque of the lineup to me. Balance of red fruits and earthy herbs. Spice finish.
-Godfather Part II- My favorite of the tasting based on approachability. This is pop and pour. Red and black fruit medley, cinnamon, cassis. 80/20 Merlot/Malbec
-2013 Oakville Private Reserve Cabernet- I'm stoked to have one of these out away in the cellar. Also from the Oakville Station To-Kalon Vineyard. This is age worthy but could be popped today if you give it a 1.5-2hr decant. Very black fruit dominant. Plum rush, blackcherry and mocha.
Just re-read my review of this wine from three years ago. It is less young now than it was then, but I will stick with my review. This is a powerful wine that will be able to stay in the cellar for quite some time, although it is delicious now!
Just re-read my review of this wine from three years ago. It is less young now than it was then, but I will stick with my review. This is a powerful wine that will be able to stay in the cellar for quite some time, although it is delicious now!
Jun 19th, 2023
1 hour decant. A distinguished inky dark crimson color. Vinified in Sacramento (yes!)with premium Oakville grapes (To Kalon anyone) at a great price! One of the nicest vitners you can meet and he makes excellent wine to boot. On the nose: sweet perfumed almond milk chocolate, floral, smoked meat and slight menthol hit on the end. Taste: pencil lead, blackberry, chocolate espresso, with a vanilla dark cherry long finish...yum..a velvety full body wine ready to go another 10 years but drinking great now!
1 hour decant. A distinguished inky dark crimson color. Vinified in Sacramento (yes!)with premium Oakville grapes (To Kalon anyone) at a great price! One of the nicest vitners you can meet and he makes excellent wine to boot. On the nose: sweet perfumed almond milk chocolate, floral, smoked meat and slight menthol hit on the end. Taste: pencil lead, blackberry, chocolate espresso, with a vanilla dark cherry long finish...yum..a velvety full body wine ready to go another 10 years but drinking great now!
May 26th, 2020Outstanding. Dark and sweet. Blackberries, figs, aged balsamic vinegar, and black cherries. Still very young. Was just a bit tannic when I opened the bottle, but settled down beautifully after a 90 minutes of decanting.
Outstanding. Dark and sweet. Blackberries, figs, aged balsamic vinegar, and black cherries. Still very young. Was just a bit tannic when I opened the bottle, but settled down beautifully after a 90 minutes of decanting.
Aug 23rd, 2019Double decanted and drank. Dark red color. On the nose: floral, plum, cassis. Taste: red fruit, velvety, vanilla, cinnamon, blueberry, nicely integrated. Medium finish. Vinified in sacramento from excellent sourced napa grapes. Buy this wine....great price for grapes from napa.
Double decanted and drank. Dark red color. On the nose: floral, plum, cassis. Taste: red fruit, velvety, vanilla, cinnamon, blueberry, nicely integrated. Medium finish. Vinified in sacramento from excellent sourced napa grapes. Buy this wine....great price for grapes from napa.
Dec 25th, 2018Last time I visited this one was six months ago. And I would say that I am preferring this wine to the Secret Acre Family blend at this time. Massive. Dark chocolate notes yet still ample sweet, chalky Blackberry cassis and herb. Stiff oak tannin still restrains the finish. A big boy!!
Last time I visited this one was six months ago. And I would say that I am preferring this wine to the Secret Acre Family blend at this time. Massive. Dark chocolate notes yet still ample sweet, chalky Blackberry cassis and herb. Stiff oak tannin still restrains the finish. A big boy!!
Jun 10th, 2018This is the first of the 2013 private reserves that we have had the chance to enjoy. This one is absolutely incredible served pop and pour. However, the complexity is absolutely insane after just 30 minutes. Stuart Spoto is an incredible winemaker, and knows how to get the best out of this Oakville fruit. This wine has great acidity, with a thick full bodied Blackberry core and wonderful oak in the middle. Classic Oakville. This bottle isn't cheap, but I guarantee you would not be able to tell the difference between this and a significant majority of the overpriced Oakville AVA wines. Home run by Stuart Spoto!
This is the first of the 2013 private reserves that we have had the chance to enjoy. This one is absolutely incredible served pop and pour. However, the complexity is absolutely insane after just 30 minutes. Stuart Spoto is an incredible winemaker, and knows how to get the best out of this Oakville fruit. This wine has great acidity, with a thick full bodied Blackberry core and wonderful oak in the middle. Classic Oakville. This bottle isn't cheap, but I guarantee you would not be able to tell the difference between this and a significant majority of the overpriced Oakville AVA wines. Home run by Stuart Spoto!
Jan 28th, 2017Peeps giving this one a 91.5 CT average rating don't know about wine. HOWEVER....this one is JUST now in the drinking window, so I think this average rating is based on wine that just hasn't had the time to integrate. This is a black cherry nose and blackberry front with lavender. Middle of this wine gains weight. Finishes with a spicy note. JUST now starting to integrate. VERY HARD to lay off these wines, although the FINAL ONE of these wines I probably do need to hold off on opening.......well......
Peeps giving this one a 91.5 CT average rating don't know about wine. HOWEVER....this one is JUST now in the drinking window, so I think this average rating is based on wine that just hasn't had the time to integrate. This is a black cherry nose and blackberry front with lavender. Middle of this wine gains weight. Finishes with a spicy note. JUST now starting to integrate. VERY HARD to lay off these wines, although the FINAL ONE of these wines I probably do need to hold off on opening.......well......
Sep 21st, 2018