Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Estate 2021

99 points James Suckling: "Pure black currants on the nose with an incredible al dente grape character. It’s almost like grape must. Undertone of ink and violets and sandalwood. Perfumed. Hints of spearmint. Full-bodied, but so well-formed and reserved. A touch of mint on the palate with dark fruits. It is very complete and reminds me of the classy Spottswoode 2001. I keep being impressed with the purity of fruit with the earthy undertones and stones. Savory. A fitting 40th anniversary wine. 90% cabernet sauvignon, 7% cabernet franc, and 3% petit verdot. Best after 2027. (Jul 2024)"

99 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "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! Drink 2027-2057 (Jan 2024)"

98+ points Joe Czerwinski (Wine Advocate): "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. Drink 2027-2045 (Jul 2024)"

(96-98) points Jeb Dunnuck: "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. (Feb 2023)"

97 points Antonio Galloni The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic wine off this estate. Bright and floral, with silky tannins, the 2021 is exceptionally finessed and so elegant. I can't remember another vintage like it. I wouldn't dream of touching a bottle anytime soon. The 2021 spent 20 months in barrel, 60-65% new, mostly French, with a touch of Hungarian wood. Drink 2026-2041 (Dec 2023)"

97 points Wine Spectator: "This offers a gorgeous display of pure, unadulterated mulberry, boysenberry and plum fruit puree flavors that glisten as they move along, throwing off light accents of anise, violet and hibiscus along the way. Inlaid with an underlying fine-grained structure in the form of sleek threads of iron and alder, this shows tensile strength while extending through the long, refined finish. Drink now through 2045. (Aug 2024)"