Spottswoode 18 release

[Jeff_M1]

I admit to feeling a little hurt by this. (In a wine way, nothing grand.)

My wife and I have been case buyers for many years (15+? Maybe 20+.) We even cased up on the SB and hit the Lyndenhurst and Fieldbook wines each year. But last year the budget couldn’t handle it.

Now, not even an email. We are sub-email-worthy.

I went on my own to log in at the winery site and got the same bundle offer at the higher bottle price than the case price. There’s not even an institutional memory of us prior to 2015.

We kind of got ghosted.

I’ve always liked buying direct from the wineries, what would have gone to middlemen went right to a favored winery.

Spottswoode goes back to 1983 in our cellar, and I recently mentioned that it’s my wife’s favorite Cali cab…such bummer to lose them.

This is kind of a sad moment for us.

Email Beth and see if they can help. beth@spottswoode.com. I can’t imagine that they would not allow you to order just the 18s with that track record.

Last March was truly extraordinary for many who got caught in the first wave of Covid shutdowns.

[Zachary_Mancini]

I admit to feeling a little hurt by this. (In a wine way, nothing grand.)

My wife and I have been case buyers for many years (15+? Maybe 20+.) We even cased up on the SB and hit the Lyndenhurst and Fieldbook wines each year. But last year the budget couldn’t handle it.

Now, not even an email. We are sub-email-worthy.

I went on my own to log in at the winery site and got the same bundle offer at the higher bottle price than the case price. There’s not even an institutional memory of us prior to 2015.

We kind of got ghosted.

I’ve always liked buying direct from the wineries, what would have gone to middlemen went right to a favored winery.

Spottswoode goes back to 1983 in our cellar, and I recently mentioned that it’s my wife’s favorite Cali cab…such bummer to lose them.

This is kind of a sad moment for us.

If you reach out to them directly and point how much wine you’ve bought in the past, and that last year was truly abnormal, I’m willing to bet that someone there will allow you to buy some of the 2018s without any of the 2017s. Whether you want to go through the effort is a different matter.

I assume with your track record and loyalty they would take care of you. I would reach out

[Ed_Steinway]

Anton D wrote:
I admit to feeling a little hurt by this. (In a wine way, nothing grand.)

My wife and I have been case buyers for many years (15+? Maybe 20+.) We even cased up on the SB and hit the Lyndenhurst and Fieldbook wines each year. But last year the budget couldn’t handle it.

Now, not even an email. We are sub-email-worthy.

I went on my own to log in at the winery site and got the same bundle offer at the higher bottle price than the case price. There’s not even an institutional memory of us prior to 2015.

We kind of got ghosted.

I’ve always liked buying direct from the wineries, what would have gone to middlemen went right to a favored winery.

Spottswoode goes back to 1983 in our cellar, and I recently mentioned that it’s my wife’s favorite Cali cab…such bummer to lose them.

This is kind of a sad moment for us.

Agree with those who are saying you should reach out Anton. We have met Beth a few times, and she seems like a very nice and understanding person.
Ed

[JohnP]

AG just gave 2018 SW 99pts! Highest score he’s given this wine to date. Well done

[Jeff_M1]

AG just gave 2018 SW 99pts! Highest score he’s given this wine to date. Well done

Missed the triply hundy by 1 point. Going to have to see when I can get up to Napa and taste this.

[MICHAEL_C_R_O_M_W_E_L_L]

Eh I think dying vintages together is sort of a sham. If you didn’t like the 17’s why be forced to buy them if you want the 18s? I can see you being dropped off the list or farther back in the list queue, but forcing them to buy the previous vintage to get the new one is pretty ridiculous.

^^This

I would rather give my money to Spottswoode directly for the ‘18 than buy in the market. But, I will not buy wines I don’t want. I have no problem with a ‘penalty’ of moving to the back of the list or having a restricted allocation. But when your wines are available in distribution, tying the ‘18 to purchase of the ‘17 is a bold strategy, Cotton! Let’s see if it pays off for them!

So as post-script, I attended the Houston Vine Vault event and was able to purchase the ‘18 without the anchor of unwanted ‘17s. FWIW

[William_Anzalone]

As of a few weeks ago on the Spottswoode website you can WL the 2018 Estate Cab. I WL 2 bottles and received an email weeks after the WL was submitted indicating that I had to buy and equal number of 2017s to 2018s. I responded with an offer of a 3 pack with 2018 x 2 and a 2017. The WL was granted and the prices were 2017 ($225) and 2018 ($235). Currently, the 2017 can be had on Wine Searcher for approximately $190. Curious to see where the 2018s are priced in the secondary market once they start hitting retail.

I figured it was a better deal than the original 6 pack of 3 x 2018 and 3 x 2017 I was offered and passed on but still not just the 2018. The smart money was probably to wait for the 2018 to hit the secondary market. Hopefully the 2017 is up there with the wines of the vintage and I won’t regret the purchase when I eventually pull the cork!

[Jonathan_Jaggers]

AG just gave 2018 SW 99pts! Highest score he’s given this wine to date. Well done

2 100s and a 99. I can only assume James Suckling will be coming in hot with a 105 score soon!

[Jeff_M1]

There was a dump of Spottswoode for sale on K&L this week. Lots of older bottles. As I am trying to exercise discipline and drink down my cellar I am on the outside looking in. They do have 17 mags for sale well below winery direct too, which I find fascinating.

[crickey]

AG just gave 2018 SW 99pts! Highest score he’s given this wine to date. Well done

2 100s and a 99. I can only assume James Suckling will be coming in hot with a 105 score soon!

Suckling gave it a 94.

[Chris_Atkins]

For the record I think Spottswoode is one of the best Cab producers in Napa, but $220 is steep! I wonder how it compares to top Second Growths? I picked up 2016 Chateau Montrose, and 2016 Chateau Pichon Comtesse de Lalande for under $200 per.

[Mike_Van1]

I was able to purchase 3 bottles of the 2018 Spottswoode Cab from ACME, one of my favorite places to buy wine. It was $1 more per bottle than current price buying direct but Karen didn’t make me buy any 2017 in addition.