Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Estate 2021 1.5L

100 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon needs a fair bit of shaking to wake up notes of blackcurrant jelly, black raspberries, and mulberries, leading to hints of cinnamon stick, red roses, and pencil shavings. The medium-bodied palate is tightly knit with bold red and black fruit notes and provocative mineral sparks, supported by firm, grainy tannins and fantastic tension, finishing long and layered. It's another WOW vintage for Spottswoode! The blend includes 9% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Drink 2027-2057 (Jan 2025)"

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 International Wine Report: "The 2021 Spottswoode Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is simply breathtaking. It offers a captivating bouquet that is layered with ripe blueberries, blackberries, and cassis intertwined with gorgeous fresh violets. Beneath the fruit, nuances of crushed gravel, pipe tobacco, cigar box, and subtle hints of espresso which all come together beautifully adding to its sophistication. On the palate, it is full-bodied with a polished texture that is both well-defined and impeccably balanced. It displays a striking combination of acidity and refined tannins, along with a wonderful sense of freshness and poise, leading to a long, elegant finish. The 2021 Estate Cabernet a wine of impressive class and harmony, showcasing remarkable finesse and refinement, resulting in a Cabernet that is ideal for aging. Drink 2027-2050 (Sep 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)"

98+ points Jeb Dunnuck: "Moving to the Grand Vin, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon reveals a deep, dense purple color as well as a primordial nose of ripe black fruits, cassis, camphor, scorched earth, violet, and lead pencil aromas and flavors. Reminding me of a young Leoville Las Cases with its closed, dense, structured style, it's concentrated, has a pure, layered, focused style, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It needs 5-7 years of bottle age and will evolve for 30+ years. The blend of the 2021 is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot. (Dec 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)"