2021 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, St Helena, Napa Valley
San Francisco Wine Panel 99 Points
Deeply complex and showing the latent power of its great vintage, this textbook Spottswoode bottling opens with focused aromas of black cherry, sour dark cherry, cassis, black raspberry, cedar, mace, baking spice, vanilla, canola and sweet tobacco. It is piquantly red fruit dominant on the mid-palate and carries ample tannin to counterpoint its tongue-coating richness. The finish is extremely long and wonderfully stylish, although the deep fruit is likely six years from showing everything that it has to offer. Poised for great service with Prime Rib right now, it will always be a fine food companion, and it should prove a wonderfully classy Grand Cru quality dinner wine when mature.