What a great expression of a 18 year old classic Cabernet. Expressive nose of flowers and black cassis. Palate shows a finely delineated light weighted wine that juts floats across the tongue. It bring black currants, black raspberries and a tinge of cola. Some great secondaries of cedar box, with rubbed leather and violets.Balance is deft and this is fully resolved. Graceful, elegant and full of breed with a long true finish. Beautiful.

Funny. I just read my note from 2008 and noticed the menthol thing. Tonight's bottle still had it, although it was lesser obvious.
Tonights sample started out very closed on the nose with lots of coaxing needed. Once it started emerging i got red/black fruits with some cola and graphite. It was pretty bu somewhat uninspiring as served at the same sitting with the 1994 Spottswoode. I think its time to drink these up.

back on track. Similar in style to the 1995 served with it, just a bit darker in color while being redder in fruit supply. Graceful and poised, I loved the red currant and cola thing. Some lead pencil, soy and leather in there as well. Fully resolved with a long finish. Very nice indeed, although I gave the nod to the 1994 tonight.

nose started with a slight reduction and built to a large amount as it sat. Palate started out with some decent black fruits, but became undrinkable after 10 minutes. Unfortunate.