Spottswoode Estate 40-year vertical smashes pre-sale estimate

A complete and “impeccably preserved” 40-bottle vertical of Napa legend Spottswoode Estate Cabernet Sauvignon has smashed its auction estimate to achieve US$32,500 at a Christie’s LA sale. 

The vertical, which spanned the 40 years since the estate’s first vintage in 1982, was consigned by the Novak Family, who have owned Spottswoode since 1972, from their own personal collection. The vertical  spanned 40 years since the 1982 release, ending in 2021, all in “pristine provenance and condition”, Christie’s said, with extremely limited quantities remaining from many of the early vintages. The sale achieved more than three times the the original estimate of US$10,000 – US$20,000.

The estate, which lies in the St Helena district of Napa Valley, dates back to 1882 when grapes were first planted on the site. After changing hands several times over the next 90 years, it was bought by Mary and Jack Novak in 1972, with Mary becoming one of the first women to run a major Napa Valley estate after Jack died only 5 years later.  Since her death in 2016, it has been run by her children, headed up by Beth Novak as President and CEO.

Proceeds from the lot are being donated to Napa Green, an organisation for sustainability and climate action within the wine industry, (Spottswoode has been organically farmed since 1985, and achieved Regenerative Organic Certification in 2022), with Novak saying that for family, the auction was “never about the sale itself”.

“It was about supporting Napa Green’s vital mission,” she said. “As an agriculturally based business and a multi-generational, family-owned winery, we are deeply committed to protecting our natural environment. Napa Green’s work has never been more critical, and it is our hope this donation helps them continue leading the way here in Napa Valley.”

Chris Munro, Christie’s Americas head of wine and spirits said the team had been delighted to have assisting with the sale of the “truly unique” lot which not only raised awareness of the “vital work of Napa Green” but also offered buyers the chance to purchase an exceptional rare vertical.”

In addition to the vertical itself, the lot included an invitation to Spottswoode’s annual vertical tasting of the last 20 vintages, which takes place in November – the first time the event has ever been open to a member of the public.

The vertical formed the highlight of the Fine and Rare Wines Online: LA Edition, which raised over US$1,465,500 in total. Other lots sold in the sale included three bottles of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Romanée-Conti 2017 which achieved US$50,000; six magnums of Château Lafite Rothschild 1982, which sold for $27,500; three bottles of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Romanée-Conti 1985  which sold for $40,000; and ten bottles of Petrus 1996, which realized $23,750.

Related news

‘Gang des grands crus’ faces trial over €2.5m theft of 4,000 fine wine bottles

British tourist faces 50 years over brazen fine wine heist

ASC Fine Wines: events are the gateway to China's wine consumer