Spottswoode’s wines are striking in their ability to be so approachable and lively in their youth, yet age so gracefully at the same time. With thirteen years of age, Spottswoode’s 2011 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is showing all the benefits of its maturity. Not unlike aged Bordeaux, the wine greets you with tantalizing scents of tobacco, jalapenos, tree bark, and red fruit. On the palate, the wine is more youthful, with the red fruit notes taking center stage and fading into a more savory finish. This wine is in its drinking window and should be enjoyed over the next decade.
Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery, St. Helena – Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
By John McDermott