2016 Spottswoode Family Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena, USA (375ml HALF BOTTLE)

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is still very tight and youthful, slowly unfurling to reveal a multifaceted wine with tons of black, blue and red fruit sparks—plums, cherries, black currants and red currants—with dark chocolate, cedar chest, black tea and red roses in the background plus wafts of pencil lead and prosciutto. Medium-bodied and firmly textured by superbly ripe, grainy tannins, it has a fantastic core of intense, complex layers, finishing on an edifying mineral note. Wow!
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 100 pts

A perfect wine is the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot, which is a classic blend from this incredible estate. Sporting a deep purple color as well as an extraordinary bouquet of ultra-pure creme de cassis, blueberries, camphor, scorched earth, and licorice, with subtle background oak, it hits the palate with a full-bodied, deep, powerful texture that carries sweet tannins and blockbuster length. With a stacked mid-palate, straight-up awesome purity of fruit, and a huge finish, it's as classic and brilliant as it gets. Reminding me of the 2013 with its pure yet backward style, give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age and it will keep for 3-4 decades. Hats off to the team at Spottswoode for this legend in the making!
- Jeb Dunnuck, 100 pts

Beautifully rendered, with a focused beam of gently mulled red and black currant fruit that glides through atop a subtle but persistent loamy structure. Light tea and alder notes fill in throughout, ending with a wave of fruit that is alluringly lined with latent mineral tension. Best from 2021 through 2040.
- Wine Spectator, 96 pts

Spottswoode has clearly made the most of this lovely vintage - this has charm and elegance on the nose that is still too rare in Napa Cabernet, yet it is blackcurranty, ripe and expressive. This is no blockbuster but it has splendid purity and finesse with no lack in grip and structure. The finish is long, peppery and lively, with fine acidity, excellent balance, and well-judged oak. Aron Weinkauf was the winemaker having taken over from Jennifer Williams in 2011.
- Decanter, 96 pts

Blended with small percents of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this vintage marks the winery’s 35th year of making this wine, the grapes all estate-grown and organically farmed. Rich and grippy, it expands to reveal expressive notes of dried herb, leather and salty stone, at first demure in black fruit, with an elegant structure and undoubtable time to age. Enjoy best from 2026–2031.
- Wine Enthusiast, 96 pts

This blend of 85 per cent cabernet sauvignon, nine per cent cabernet franc and six per cent petit verdot has strikingly pure blackcurrant aromas and flavors. The palate has flavorful and fleshy, ripe mixed berries, cast in plush, seamlessly even tannins. Drink or hold.
- James Suckling, 95 pts