Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

[FM c Gorg] Open with a classic nose of extracted red fruit, cassis, mint, and smoke. On the palate, concentrated cherry, bosenberry, bitter chocolate with a mild herb. KAB noted a lot of bitter fruit, but her palate was abmittedly off tonight. Seems more accessible than the bottle that I had 18 mos ago, but still has a lot of fat. I still think that it is still not within drinking window; it has more to reveal. Plan to hold the next (last) bottle for 2-3 years.

July 2006

Wow - our Twentieth Anniversary Vintage, and a phenomenal wine! A very favorable growing season resulted in optimal ripening, and small tonnage and berry size yielded amazing color and depth. All of the ingredients are here - clove, mocha, berry, dark chocolate, spice and brush - and this wine resonates with the classic Spottswoode Estate berry pie spice characters we love. Dense, packed, and concentrated, yet smooth and lingering. The oak is lovely, the deep, sweet core evident, the promise great.

[Sparks, steak (sirlion>filet), mushrooms, tomato/onions] Purple. The nose was unremarkable, fruit cardboard. Surprising considering elegance of the palate despite its youth. Liquor, cherry, blueberry, and big tannins. With the tomatoes and the steak, it was pure cherry. Without food, the tannins were a little overwhelming, but fun. Great stuff. Among the 2001s that I have tasted, this is the best to date.

February 2005

Rating: (91-94) - As reviewed in Wine Advocate # 142 on Aug-02

Rating: 94/100 - As reviewed by Wine Enthusiast

Rating: 95/100 - As reviewed in Wine Advocate # 150 on Dec-03