• Napa Valley wines have caught a strong bid since early 2021, rising +33.1% since Feb. 2021.
• 2018 Napa Valley is one of only seven vintages in the last 50 years to be rated ‘Extraordinary’ by Wine Advocate.
• Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is one of the wines of the 2018 vintage, with a double 100 points score from Wine Advocate and Jeb Dunnuck.
• The Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is by far the cheapest double 100 points wine from Spottswoode, and also cheaper than comparable scoring wines from other regions.
• We haven’t recommended enough Californian wines recently, given how hot the market has been, but this is perfect place to start!
• We see +30% price upside over the next 24 months for this wine. 

California is Breaking Out

Diversification is important in fine wine portfolios. Although Champagne and Burgundy have garnered most of the headlines recently, California is now giving them a run for their money, with very strong gains over the past year. After trading sideways for two years, California has decisively ‘broken out’ over the last 12 months:

2018 Vintage - Best Investment Buy

According to Wine Advocate, only seven vintages of Californian Cabernet since 1970 have achieved the highest ‘Extraordinary’ rating: 2001, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2018. Decanter magazine wrote of the 2018 vintage: “The 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet vintage belongs in an echelon with the finest of the past two decades … When compared to recent vintages, it is most synonymous with the highly acclaimed 2016.”

As the youngest ‘Extraordinary’ vintage, 2018 is the most price accessible and it therefore makes sense for collectors to look here for opportunities. 

Spottswoode – A Californian Heritage Estate

Spottswoode is one of California’s oldest and most respected ‘heritage’ estates.

A Victorian winery founded way back in 1882, it sits on hallowed terroir on the western edge of St. Helena at the base of the Mayacamas mountains.

The 42ha of vines are planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon and have been certified organic since 1992.

The historic estate buildings evoke a romantic ‘Great Gatsby’ period of American history.

Spottswoode has been family owned (Novak family) since 1972 and the family manages the property to this day. 

Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 – Loads of Upside

Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 has many points supporting its recommendation:

• It is one of the best vines of the ‘Extraordinary’ 2018 Napa vintage.
• It is scored 100 points by both Wine Advocate and Jeb Dunnuck.
• Dunnuck calls it: “One of the wines of the vintage, as well as a legendary Napa Cabernet that will compete with anything out there”.
• Starts drinking in 2023 but will last until 2060 – great investment longevity.
• Blend is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot (familiar to Bordeaux lovers).
• A significant discount to other double 100 points vintages of Spottswoode Cabernet:

• There are very few 100 point back vintages on the secondary market of Spottswoode Cabernet. Genuine rarity is assured in the future. 

The exceptional value for money, and hence investment potential, is summarised in the table below, which shows the limited number of wines rated 100 points by both Wine Advocate and Jeb Dunnuck. Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is dramatically cheaper than the others. 

Upside Price Target of GBP1,550 (6x75cl)

Given the strength of the Californian market right now, and the relative undervaluation of Spottswoode Cabernet generally – considering its quality - we see the whole Spottswoode ‘curve’ moving higher and the 2018 trading at GBP 1,550 per case (6x75cl) within two years (as +30% move from today’s price of only GBP 1,195). 

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