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May 2009 Premiere Collection Wine Club Selection
Though we covered the whole "green thing" last month, it would be difficult to talk about Spottswoode winery and the ladies who run it without talking about their nature-loving ways. If there's one humble phrase you hear a lot when speaking with the Novak women of Spottswoode, it's "stewards of the land." This family counts themselves truly lucky to take care of this special piece of property, if only for a few generations, and as such they see it as their duty to take good care of their little corner of the earth. They've been farming their vineyards organically since 1985, earning their California Certified Organic Farmers certification in 1990.
And their list of earth-friendly practices approaches a mile in length. They use solar power and cover crops to attract pests away from the vines rather than spraying pesticides and fertigation (the application of organic fertilizers via irrigation). Their vineyard map legend details spots throughout the vines where olive trees, beehives, insectaries, bird and owl boxes and chicken coops are housed. In a few words, they're concerned with the health of their land, and they seem to have fun maintaining a healthy biodiversity on the property. While Spottswoode is best known for their namesake proprietary bottling, their Lyndenhurst bottling is named for one of the former titles of the property, and pays homage to the heritage of the site. Delicious aromas of dark roasted coffee and brambly black fruit give way to a mouthful of ripe plums, chocolate and dark cherries on the palate. A fun, classy effort from some fun, classy ladies. Reviews Robert Parker 89 Points
The 2005 Lyndenhurst Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits more restraint and delineation. It seems like a cooler climate wine compared to the more opulent 2004. It comes down to a matter of personal preference, but I liked the showiness and sensuality of the 2004, whereas structuralists and acid lovers will probably prefer the 2005. I would not be surprised to see the 2005 last longer, and actually move ahead of the 2004 in terms of quality in 4-5 years. |
