Cabernet Sauvignon 79.2%, Merlot 10.6%, Petit Verdot 3.8%, Cabernet Franc 3.5%, Malbec 2.9%

Perfect 100 point ratings do tend to attract a wine lover’s attention and several recent vintages of Spottswoode’s Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, including the soon-to-be-released 2021 vintage- have garnered such accolades. But, while thirsty wine lovers relentlessly comb the world for the perfect wine, it might be easy to overlook a nearly perfect one- one made the same way, in the same cellar, by the same winemaker, but costing far, far less. I just wanted to make sure that didn’t happen to you. In his own pursuit of perfection each harvest, Spottswoode winemaker Aron Weinkauf declassifies several barrels of lovely Spottswoode estate fruit he feels don’t add anything to the final Spottswoode blend. He combines them with the fruit from several other esteemed Napa Valley sites like Mowe Ranch, Rahn Estate on Howell Mountain, Young-Inglewood and Darms Lane Vineyard to create a ‘second’ wine called Lyndenhurst- the name of the Spottswoode property before the Novaks purchased it. While created to be more approachable and easier on the pocketbook, Lyndenhurst is very much cut from the same cloth as its big brother. ‘Polish’ and ‘panache’ are two bywords that always seem apropos of anything coming out of Spottwoode’s cellars and they definitely apply to Weinkauf’s 2021 Lyndenhurst. Tasted side-by-side with Spottswoode’s 2021 Estate, the similarities seemed to clearly outweigh the differences. Both are dark, aromatic and burnished to a fine obsidian finish. Both share an aromatic profile built around black currants or Kirsch, Indian spice, fruit cake, mocha/coffee and Rutherford-style ‘dust.’ Both dance across the palate with the silkiness one always associates with this property. You could say that the Spottswoode Estate is a bit higher pitched and tannic, while Lyndenhurst is a bit richer and immediate in its appeal. Neither lacks for richness, intensity or structure. We think the Spottswoode is a long-term proposition and will probably be at its best in a decade or two while Lyndenhurst can be enjoyed much sooner, but may last nearly as long. Both are really sensational. The Estate Cab wine arrives later in the summer but for more immediate gratification, a few bottles of Lyndenhurst might very well be the ticket!

Lisa Perrotti-Brown: The 2021 Lyndenhurst Cabernet Sauvignon is composed of 79.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10.6% Merlot, 3.8% Petit Verdot, 3.5% Cabernet Franc, and 2.9% Malbec. Deep garnet in color, it comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant notes of blackberry pie, plum preserves, and warm cassis followed by suggestions of roses, Indian spices, and menthol plus a waft of aniseed. The medium-bodied palate has impressive energy, with great tension and fine-grained tannins supporting the vibrant fruit, leading to a long and perfumed finish on this impressive wine. 94+ points

James Suckling: A juicy red with black currants and balsamic. Bark and mushroom. Iodine, too. Medium body, creamy texture that tightens at the end. An energy and firmness in the finish but remains so attractive. Savory. Hard not to drink now. So do, but will also age nicely. 94 points

Jeb Dunnuck: The second wine of this incredible estate, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Lyndenhurst reveals a deep purple hue as well as a great nose of assorted currants, black cherries, tobacco, and lead pencil. It’s beautifully concentrated, has medium to full-bodied richness, and ripe tannins, all making for an undeniably delicious, classic, balanced Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the coming 10-15 years. 94 points