Spottswoode 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon “Estate” Napa Valley~ 100 Points

FMW 100 Points: “The 2021 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate showcases an amazing aroma of black stone fruits with floral and earthy notes.   The lush palate is loaded with black currant, blueberries, cassis, and a kiss of dark chocolate. The wine is big, bold, and ripe, a real exuberant beauty, but with amazing elegance. The 2021 is perfectly balanced, with silky and fine-grained tannins leading to a great finish. A good 90 to 120-minute decant will allow you to enjoy it now, but better with some time in the cellar”

TWI 99 Points: “The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, with 8% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot in the blend, is deep garnet-purple in color. Scents of creme de cassis, mulberries, and juicy plums jump from the glass, giving way to an undercurrent of licorice, lilacs, crushed rocks, and clove oil. The medium-bodied palate shimmers with bright, vivacious black and blue fruits, framed by firm yet super-ripe tannins and amazing tension, finishing long with loads of mineral, baking spice, and floral layers. This is pure electricity!”

Robert Parker 99 Points: “Slated for a September 2024 release, Spottswoode’s 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon comes across as more vibrant, floral and fresh than the 2020. Violet and cassis notes are accented by hints of crushed stone and pencil shavings on the nose. Hugely complex yet harmonious, this medium-bodied effort is firm but silky in feel, with a long, elegant finish. Lovely stuff.”

Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points: “The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate will be brilliant, and more in the line of the 2013, possibly the 2016. Deep purple-hued, with a classic Napa Valley Cabernet nose of ripe currants, cassis, graphite, and gravelly earth, this beauty hits the palate with medium to full body, a ripe, layered, concentrated mouthfeel, and building tannins. The overall profile here is one of elegance and class while still showing terrific ripeness.”

Winemaker Notes: “Stunning! Beautiful aromatics of candied violet, blackberry, blueberry yogurt, and cassis. Powerfully expressive with sturdy, firm tannins, generous acidity, and a long lively finish marked by cedar and toffee notes. An elegant vintage, this spectacular wine captures the essence of the Spottswoode Estate Vineyard. It is fresh and youthful now with a long life ahead.”