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Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen | Robb Report
Proceeds from Spottswoode’s 40-bottle offering will go to an organization that supports sustainable winemaking practices.
Celebrating the history of Napa icon Spottswoode’s Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Christie’s is presenting a remarkable vertical of all 40 vintages produced, from 1982 through 2021. Sourced straight from the cellar of the Novak family, Spottswoode’s owners since 1972, this one-of-a-kind piece of Napa Valley history is expected to bring in between $10,000 and $20,000. Part of Christie’s upcoming Fine & Rare Wines Online: L.A. Edition auction, with bidding open from September 4 to September 18, the seller proceeds will be donated by the Novak family to Napa Green, a sustainable winegrowing program that sets vineyard certification standards focusing on climate action, regenerative carbon farming, and social equity.
Featuring one standard bottle of every vintage made, this lot offers collectors the chance to appreciate the progression and maturation of Spottswoode’s signature bottling across four decades. The lot also includes an invitation to attend the winery’s annual vertical tasting in St. Helena on Monday November 10 hosted by proprietor Beth Novak and winemaker Aron Weinkauf, the first time this tasting will be open to a person not in the wine trade. Chris Munro, Christie’s head of wine, says, “This truly unique lot is a one-off chance to purchase all 40 vintages produced at the property with perfect provenance, coming directly from the Novak family reserves. For any collector of Spottswoode or indeed Napa wine in general this is such a special lot.” Munro also tells Robb Report that Spottswoode Estate Cabernet is seen regularly at auction in North America, often coming from the collections of some of Christie’s most knowledgeable consignors. “The wines have a dedicated following and when mature vintages come to the block we see some serious competition.”
Founded in 1882 and acquired by the Novak family in 1972, Spottswoode has been farmed organically since 1985, transitioned to biodynamic farming in 2008, and received Regenerative Organic farming certification in 2022. Winemaker Aron Weinkauf explains that this makes the vineyard healthier and aids in soil vitality and grape quality, which brings the estate closer to the winemaking ideal of letting the vineyard and the vintage speak. “We welcome vintage variation, which I think is a part of what makes great wine so unique and special, Weinkauf says. “Each vintage of our Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is like a snapshot of our vineyard at a period in time.” Preceded in his role by winemakers Tony Soter, Mia Klein, Pam Starr, Rosemary Cakebread, and Jennifer Williams, Weinkauf, who joined Spottswoode in 2006, says that this lineage of winemaking talent is what makes the 40-vintage lot so interesting. “It encompasses our entire history, and the winning bidder will have the rare opportunity to assess for themselves how our estate vineyard has evolved, how it has performed in each unique growing season, and how each winemaker has contributed to the Spottswoode story,” he says.
Spottswoode was one of the founding members of Napa Green and a team member serves on its board. Spottswoode CEO Beth Novak says the organization’s work relies heavily on government climate funding, much of which has faced recent budget reductions. “In light of this, we are pleased to donate the proceeds from our Christie’s auction lot to Napa Green,” she says. “Our hope is that these funds will help them continue their important ground-level consulting efforts in Napa Valley, leading the way in sustainability and climate action.” As committed to winemaking expertise as they are to vineyard ecology, the Novaks have perfectly cellared every bottle at the estate, ensuring immaculate provenance and condition. There are exceptionally limited quantities on hand from many of the earlier vintages, so this offering represents a truly rare and exclusive collection.
Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, also known as the World Wine Guys, are wine, spirits, food, and travel writers, educators, and hosts. They have been featured guests on the Today Show, The Martha Stewart Show, Better TV, and the CBS, FOX, and NBC networks. They also write Robb Report’s weekly newsletter The Oeno Files.
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