Spoto Wines
Spoto Wines Godfather Red
Napa Valley, California, USA
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.
This was pulled out at the end of the night (along with one of their Enrico wines) by a supporter who was there and it was in contention for WOTN. 80/20 merlot/Malbec. Epitomizes iron fist in a velvet glove. It’s ripe and juicy with loads of candied fruit (red, blue and black) and dark chocolate aromatics. Similar on the palate with smooth tannins...vanilla pipe tobacco and graham cracker. The Malbec shows itself most toward the finish as the fruit turns a bit tart and inky. So good.
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.
This was pulled out at the end of the night (along with one of their Enrico wines) by a supporter who was there and it was in contention for WOTN. 80/20 merlot/Malbec. Epitomizes iron fist in a velvet glove. It’s ripe and juicy with loads of candied fruit (red, blue and black) and dark chocolate aromatics. Similar on the palate with smooth tannins...vanilla pipe tobacco and graham cracker. The Malbec shows itself most toward the finish as the fruit turns a bit tart and inky. So good.
In the Trilogy of the Godfather "series" of wines, I think I still like the first one the most... Although this is a RATHER close second. Blend of almost 2/3 Merlot. More red fruit character than the first, which is more my style. This wine is full bodied on the palate. Dense black cherry and herb. Cola and mint in the middle. Some milk chocolate as well. Finishes with nice edges. Stiff oak tannin at the very back tells me that this has a bit of life ahead of it.
In the Trilogy of the Godfather "series" of wines, I think I still like the first one the most... Although this is a RATHER close second. Blend of almost 2/3 Merlot. More red fruit character than the first, which is more my style. This wine is full bodied on the palate. Dense black cherry and herb. Cola and mint in the middle. Some milk chocolate as well. Finishes with nice edges. Stiff oak tannin at the very back tells me that this has a bit of life ahead of it.
Mar 10th, 201980/20 Merlot/Malbec blend. The Malbec definitely shows on the nose, giving a more "purple" type of note. Lots of cinnamon type of baking spice, black/purple fruits and oak on the nose. Full bodied wine from the start. Nice acidity up front, black and purple fruits, spice cake. Very soft in the middle, and definitely oak influence towards the finish that seems to be a bit cedar dense. Pretty dang good stuff!! Glad I have a few more of these. Still showing a lot of youth here, especially on the finish. Expect this one to go another 5-7 years.
80/20 Merlot/Malbec blend. The Malbec definitely shows on the nose, giving a more "purple" type of note. Lots of cinnamon type of baking spice, black/purple fruits and oak on the nose. Full bodied wine from the start. Nice acidity up front, black and purple fruits, spice cake. Very soft in the middle, and definitely oak influence towards the finish that seems to be a bit cedar dense. Pretty dang good stuff!! Glad I have a few more of these. Still showing a lot of youth here, especially on the finish. Expect this one to go another 5-7 years.
Apr 2nd, 2018Always a winner. The time for this wine is now. Showing everything it has. A 1.5 hour decant last year is about a 30 minute decant now before this one shows what it has! Doing well and very intricate. Nose of this wine is cedar, dirty raspberry, cola and mint. Entry is sweeter fruit, raspberry dirt, cola, very 'in your face.' Middle goes to some chocolate and herb. Finish is still youthful tannin, which is still maybe a bit stiff, but resolving nicely. Just a very enjoyable wine that will probably easily go another 10 years. Very interested to see how this one is going to develop --- a combo of 80% merlot and 20% Malbec!
Always a winner. The time for this wine is now. Showing everything it has. A 1.5 hour decant last year is about a 30 minute decant now before this one shows what it has! Doing well and very intricate. Nose of this wine is cedar, dirty raspberry, cola and mint. Entry is sweeter fruit, raspberry dirt, cola, very 'in your face.' Middle goes to some chocolate and herb. Finish is still youthful tannin, which is still maybe a bit stiff, but resolving nicely. Just a very enjoyable wine that will probably easily go another 10 years. Very interested to see how this one is going to develop --- a combo of 80% merlot and 20% Malbec!
Feb 24th, 2018An 80/20 blend of Merlot and Malbec. And super approachable early. Initially after cork pop, all you really get is Merlot. Lots of chocolate, black cherry on the front, darker notes in the middle and a finish that is rather tannic to a stiff young oak. As this wine opens, it becomes more toasted on the finish, and the "purple" nature of the Malbec starts to show towards the end. Rounded, black and spicy, a little heat on the front with a little more floral and purple and edgy on the finish with a decent amount of spice! For a 14, this wine is really showing a very dynamic side, but I think the best years of this wine are probably five years ahead.
An 80/20 blend of Merlot and Malbec. And super approachable early. Initially after cork pop, all you really get is Merlot. Lots of chocolate, black cherry on the front, darker notes in the middle and a finish that is rather tannic to a stiff young oak. As this wine opens, it becomes more toasted on the finish, and the "purple" nature of the Malbec starts to show towards the end. Rounded, black and spicy, a little heat on the front with a little more floral and purple and edgy on the finish with a decent amount of spice! For a 14, this wine is really showing a very dynamic side, but I think the best years of this wine are probably five years ahead.
Aug 24th, 2017Godfather Red wasn't here. Drinking tonight as a tribute to the Spoto's first real visit to Ft Worth! 80/20 merlot / malbec. A year in bottle has done this one some good,...Revisiting this wine after five months, and I will say it's done a lot of growing up. But, it still takes 1.5 hours to get the full potential out of this one. 80/20 Merlot/Malbec Blend from Oakville. I will say that this wine has great aromatics from the cork pop, but the wine is very disjointed if you try to enjoy it immediately. After giving it some time, it is a medium + bodied, dirty black cherry (kirsch-ish), with a lot of cola that just sits there and makes you happy. There is some fig and a bit of plum towards the finish. But this wine finishes with a dominant purple fruit that is in balance and just begs you to take another sip. No significant tannin here after allowing it to come around (it's quite apparent at first). Still with a lot of life left in it.
Godfather Red wasn't here. Drinking tonight as a tribute to the Spoto's first real visit to Ft Worth! 80/20 merlot / malbec. A year in bottle has done this one some good,...Revisiting this wine after five months, and I will say it's done a lot of growing up. But, it still takes 1.5 hours to get the full potential out of this one. 80/20 Merlot/Malbec Blend from Oakville. I will say that this wine has great aromatics from the cork pop, but the wine is very disjointed if you try to enjoy it immediately. After giving it some time, it is a medium + bodied, dirty black cherry (kirsch-ish), with a lot of cola that just sits there and makes you happy. There is some fig and a bit of plum towards the finish. But this wine finishes with a dominant purple fruit that is in balance and just begs you to take another sip. No significant tannin here after allowing it to come around (it's quite apparent at first). Still with a lot of life left in it.
Apr 3rd, 2017