Private Reserve Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

Sampled 4/29/2019 at “Taste of Oakville”.

Stuart Spoto and his wife spent some time visiting TX for a few days and put on a nice tasting at Classic. Talk about micro production, they only do around 500 cases of wine total across their 5-7 wines. Kind and salt of the earth type people.

The flagship wine from Spoto, this ‘15 vintage is already spectacular, and tastes better young than the big and structured ‘13 I had a year or two ago. I was actually shocked, in a good way, at how good this was. This is all To-Kalon fruit and you can taste it to the core. There is power all over this, yet an elegance and balance. Sweet cardamom, cocoa dusted dates, ripe black cherry, and cherry pipe tobacco dominate the nose. It is dense and balanced all the way on the palate...oak and nutmeg spice start it off before it turns savory and herbal on the mid palate. The finish has baked black cherry pie and some dust to it. Really great.

Absolute freaking rockstar!!
Badass in a glass to say the least.
90 minute decant and it blew me away.

So, so, so freaking good and at a great price point! Thank you Stuart for knocking it out of the park with this one!!
😍👏👏👏😍

Impromptu meet up at Classic! Having a relaxing Friday afternoon with good friends and good wine makes for a perfect start to a weekend!

@Delectable Wine : This is Spoto’s Premiere Napa Valley Private Reserve Cuvée. It was not in the database.

Another dreaded ‘11 that is doing fantastic. I’ll let @Mark Flesher clarify since he is the Spoto connoisseur (and opened this), but this is To-Kalon fruit from their little portion in TK. PNV, so a special barrique. Nose is VERY black cherry, black tea, crushed blackberry and slate. Super smooth and drinking really nice. More cedar than Rutherford dust. Black cherry cordial finish.

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!

Spoto wine (2018 private reserve) pickup party. Pouring the never released 2006 and 2008 private family reserve cabernet sauvignon.

Double YUM

Private 2010 Private Reserve. Another great lovely wine to open! Dark ink crimson color. A very pleasant nose: Floral black cherry, honey almond milk floating and scents of menthol—some lingering cedar pepper at the end. Tastes — blue fruit hits the pallet and settles into a nice dark cherry flavor. Dark chocolate notes, leathery cedar and hints of tea on the back pallet with a medium plus finish. A luscious and fully body wine. Could age some more years.

A spectacular wine. Rich and elegant. Black cherry, cassis, and other dark fruits.