Region | |
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Subregion | U.S.A. > California > Napa Valley |
Colour | Red |
Type | Still |
View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Spottswoode Estate
New winemaker Aron Weinkauf started in a vintage that has been excessively maligned, despite evidence of very strong efforts produced in the 2011 vintage, including the 2011 Spottswoode, which is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Nearly 3,300 cases were produced. As the complete younger vines began producing at full-throttle, the wine offers up loads of blueberry and blackcurrant fruit, is a trifle more compact than the 2010 or for that matter the 2012, 2013 or 2014. It shows admirable purity, plenty of floral blackcurrants that this property is known for and beautiful texture in a medium to full-bodied style. Rain at harvest seems to have had no impact on the quality of this wine. It probably won’t be as long-lived as some of the exceptional years, but it is certainly set for another 20 years of deliciousness.
Deep garnet colored, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon leaps from the glass with notions of minted cassis, chocolate box, rose hip tea and forest floor over a core of kirsch, Black Forest cake, dried Mediterranean herbs and mossy bark. Medium-bodied, lithe and refreshing in the mouth, the palate has wonderful freshness and a lovely mineral-tinged finish. Still very youthful.