I was looking forward to this the most of the younger vintages on hand, and it just missed the mark for me. Especially given the reputation. A wall of black fruit, hard tannin and a squid ink, and brine-like VA note marred the wine for me a bit. Lacking in elegance and the terroir of the property tonight.
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Slow ox for 3.5 hours. Blackberries, black cherries, vanilla Oak, touch of eucalyptus, a little tar and dusty but very smooth and long tannins. No fading of color. Very little sediment. This bottle had another handful of peak drinking years to it.
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Aged Napa Cabernets don't get better than this, I would score higher but just did not have enough time to really evaluate, but this was in a perfect spot, kept well and this will stand up to any Bordeaux blend in the world, the dark fruit is fading and being replaced with wonderful forest needles, cigar box, savoury herbs dusty tannins , the palate is fine, elegant and precise with persistence and grace , I called the tannins dusty but I feel silky would be more appropriate, a graceful finish. 97+Still has a few years in front of it, but it is drinking so well now.
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Nez joliment mentholé, délicat, complexe. La bouche est une petite merveille. Des tanins tendres, parfaitement fondus, j'ai rarement (voire jamais?) bu un vin de Napa aussi fin. C'est soyeux, savoureux, avec une finale précise, de belle longueur, de plus en plus complexe. Un vrai balai sur les papilles, d'une classe de très grand premier cru. Un grand vin américain authentique et si raffiné. 98 pts
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Nose of dried cherry, dried currants, soft tobacco, green herbs, hint of vanilla and oak spice. With air sweet cherry notes emerge.
On the palate red cherry, red currant, intense chalk.
Medium alcohol, full body, medium+ acidity. Fine but grippy tannins. Despite the 20 years, the wine is still drinking young, and has the structure to go another 15-20 years. Incredible wine.
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Classic Napa 2002 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Spottswoode Estate Vineyard. Similar to other notes. Mid-garnet, brick edges; viscous (14.1 alc.); red fruit, cassis, herbaceous, light mint, oak nose; medium acids; medium tannins; rounding out; good depth of Cabernet fruit; long, balanced, elegant finish. w/tri-tip. 18 UC Davis scale, 94 other scales.
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Out of mag. 1 hr decant. This was all green peppercorn in the first glass, in a good way. Opened up over the next hour to dark cherry, melted red licorice and Xmas spice. The best part of this wine was the seamlessness of texture. Ran like a fine river from start to finish. In a great spot now, with many more years of life left. Fabulous.
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Deep dark notes, some mocha, raspberry, eucalyptus, dark fruit preserves with a hint of cajeta. Drink up. Day 2 this wine seemed to come together even a bit more which was surprising, but welcomed.
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Delicious. Dark color and viscus in the glass. Aromas of dark fruit, earth, and mint. Rich dark fruit and coco flavors with some coffee. Concentrated flavors with nice balance and lengthy finish.
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60 minute decant. This wine is turning into one of my favorite Cali Cabs. Loads of very ripe blackberry, black cherry and some boysenberry with hints of Eucalyptus and sweet Oak. Alcohol is completely in check and the finish lingers with this very smooth, near velvety wine.
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Outstanding wine. It’s now firing on all cylinders. I opened one 5yrs ago and it was still tight. Now after time and 90min decanting I feel like opening them all up. It’s interesting that RP called Spottswoode the Chateau Margaux of Napa. I would say this bang on. It’s so Bordeaux like and it’s all I love.
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Flint, stone, graphite and raspberry on the nose. The flavors carrying through to the palate. Crushed stone, vanilla, blackberry, subtle Asian spice with some nutty hints. No visible signs of ages and the tannins are silky smooth. Drinking incredibly well and one of the more amazing wines we’ve had in a while. If they ever classify CA wines as first growths, this winery should be a viable candidate. Having with Pittsburgh style NY strip, cauliflower purée and butter lettuce salad. Heaven.
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Another in a string of excellent bottles of this wine. Color had some every so slight bricking, but not much for an 18 year old wine. Nose had a meaty/nutty component to it, that mixed with dark fruits. Mouthfeel had some heft to it, but not syrupy - just more velvety with a coating in the mouth. Finish lasted a long time, and everything was in balance. I only have one left, but based on this bottle, it could last another 10 years.
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Sweet red fruit lingers on the palate while the tannins are totally integrated. So I think this wine is in final stages and I’d recommend we begin to drink the inventory. Still wonderful.
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Hour decant. Wonderful black cherry dominant but also blackberry, hints of red fruit, sweet Oak and touch of Eucalyptus in background. Very smooth. No sediment to speak of.
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The fill was into the neck and the cork was pristine; opened about an hour before dinner and consumed over the the course of the evening. A very deep garnet core, with no signs of amber. A classic and stunning bouquet, offering up intoxicating scents of cassis, dried blackberries, roasted fennel, black truffle; hints of cigar box. Medium bodied, with a silky texture, amazing depth and an incredible sense of expansiveness; layers and layers of flavor! A long and savory finish. For me, this is intellectually stimulating and hedonistically pleasing; the very best of both worlds!
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WOTN at a party with 20 or 30 other, mostly good wines. PnP. Pleasant at first, but terrific an hour later. Someday I'll learn that these wines need A LOT of time, because this one seems to just now be hitting its stride. Great nose - mostly currants. Currants on the palate, along with hints of forest floor and various herbs. Medium body, but quite rich with a killer finish. Yowza!
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Popped and poured. Darker garnet. Quiet nose at first which later opened up to reveal scents of red and dark currant, bits of cedar, dense plum pit, earth, and lilac. Powerful but very elegantly presented black currant fruit cut with earth and schist on the palate. Moderate acidity and firm tannin leading to a long finish of dense plum fruit and sweet grip. Excellent balance and integration of elements even at this stage. Very early in its evolution but destined for great things.
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Excellent NAPA wine. I didn’t expect tertiary notes from a 16 year old California wine. But this is trying to be Margaux–like. No bite or heat. Well integrated. Tenants totally resolved. Unable to assess longevity. Ready to drink now.
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Decanted for two hours prior to dinner. Nose of cedar vanilla and blueberry and orange peel. The flavor initially has that older Cabernet cigar box taste Not a fruit forward over extracted big cab, much more subtle. Maybe this is in the 7th inning of its game, or of its original design but it’s good. There’s a minerality to it that’s bdx like. The flavors are mild, with plum and orange peel. Maybe it’s age but the fruit is a little raisiny with a slight taste of cinnamon on the finish. Not bad, but not my favorite.
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Simply a stunning wine. Nose showed some age, but the color did not. Wonderfully in balance, with primary and secondary fruit. Parker compared this to Margaux - maybe. Regardless, it was the finest aged Cal Cab I have had.
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Served out of magnum with 2 hrs air. A strong CA cab with a lot of backbone and tons of fruit. No rush to open any time soon. Fabulous nose full of cedar, dark berries, burnt wood, clove and anise. Taste very full of dark plum, vanilla, tobacco and mocha. Very Pomerol-like in terms of style. Drinking well now but will keep. Tannins maybe not fully resolved yet. Minor sinus issue means my score may be conservative. Powerful without being overbearing -- very good balance.
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A little bit of a disappointment, but only because I had been blown away by previous bottles. This bottle was a bit more primary and was lacking some of the tertiary complexity I was expecting. That said, it was rich with a broad array of red and blue fruits, seamlessly integrated secondary spice notes and a medium+ to long finish. The tannins are very fine and totally integrated. While this will never be seen as an acidic wine, it is totally in balance with the richness of the fruit. A very crowded restaurant probably wan't the best setting to really focus on the wine as well. This has a lot of years left in it.
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Lovely Wine and most enjoyable. Decanted for 2.5hrs and if blindfolded you can truly understand why RP calls this wine Chateaux Margaux in Napa. It's so smooth and has so much of a classified Bordeaux in it. The wine smells like blueberry, blackberry, and lavender fields. This wine is full body but still very youthful. The 2002 is now open to enjoy. Although it will age effortlessly for 3 decaceds if not more. This is powerhouse but not in heavy Napa Cab way. More like a smooth aged Bordeaux.
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Even amount of complex dark fruit and spice. Very balanced, but still a big wine for age 15. We really enjoyed it, but had with pasta which didn't work well. I wish I had paired with a charred filet.
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Four years to the day since my last bottle of this. In 2012, it was rather dull and uninspiring, which is how I would describe a lot of Spottswoodes I've opened. This, however, was a different story. Lighter than I had expected, but loaded with vibrant fruit and perfectly balanced. Decanting two hours before tasting had to have helped. It seems to be hitting its stride (and I'll have to remember to give future bottles sufficient time and sufficient air).
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Wonderful bright fresh cherry on the nose. Opened and decanted two hours before drinking. Thicker on the palate than most Spottswoode's I've encountered. Still, luscious and silky mouthfeel. I have one bottle left, I'll wait at least five years before consuming
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US Cabernet Sauvignon: Violent wine, sweet smell and taste, black currants moving towards black current jam. You have to tolerate this very big and sweet style to appreciate this.
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Interesting maroon color, burnt edges. Dark plum, caramel, and cedar aromas. The nose is very alluring. I don't drink a lot Cabernet and certainly not much high end juice so I don't have a great reference but it's is very good. More cedar with cassis and plum flavors. Nice peppery note at the medium finish. This would be great with a fat steak.
Discovered this at an OC liquor store, sitting on a crummy wooden shelf with several other vintages alongside this 2002. The storage conditions were average, with the wine stored on its side (how I found it, at least) and the necks was clean, with no leakage. So, what the hell, I grabbed one to try, as it was marked well below current market auction pricing. Opened this and it smelled fine, so far so good. Serving at what is too warm a temp but figured again, if this wine is going to suck, let's push it hard. After about 30 mins of air, this starts to really get humming. Plum, tobacco, a spicy element running through the palate. To give the wine the best respect, I am going to bring it down about 10 degrees (the room temp remains a bit warm), let it keep airing and then retry at dinner in a few hours....retried and finished over dinner. This is a very good wine and I enjoyed drinking it, as it finds the middle between being opulent and starting to show some age at nearly 15 years young.
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Brought to a dinner out this weekend with my wife. Wine was delicious, integrated and balanced. Simply beautiful stuff that could probably go much longer but is also drinking perfectly now.
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Truly an outstanding wine. The palate is initially dominated by deep tertiary notes of leather and tobacco, which make you think old world, but then there is a bright seam of red fruits that run down the middle of your tongue which are unmistakably Californian. I've never had a wine when the flavors were so pronounced in the different parts of your mouth. Tremendously complex, balanced and long on the finish. A wine that relies on finesse rather than power and is very versatile with food. This is a personal benchmark for the greatness that can come from Napa, combining the restraint and nuance you expect from Bordeaux and the ripe deliciousness that is pure Napa.
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This wine is so interesting. It is very complex with so many layers of flavors .. earth, pencil lead, dry dark fruit, and flowers. But it is the old world flavors that dominate, not the fruit ... yet has remarkably sweet tannins. The balance is amazing and the mouthfeel is smooth and inviting. The finish goes on forever. Great wine.
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Sam G 50th BDay Celebration (Massimo's, Walnut Creek): nose - sweet nose, licorice mouth - very lush, with a flare, berry explosion. complex but not subtle. if red licorice could be liquified this would be it. Another Parker wet dream
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Wine was decanted for 2.5hrs. It's a wondeful wine. When side by side other 2002 Napa Cabs. My opinun and that of others with me. This wine is still nit fully ready. It's great to drink now but still has a long life ahead ahead of it. It was paired with some Miami Ribs. The nose was very floral. It tastes like lead pencil, asparagus, black currant (cassis) and cranberry. The Finish goes on for ever. 75secs easily. Drink now or wait 6-10yrs. My Score 97
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This was an excellent bottle but I wish I would have enjoyed it a couple years earlier. Nice fruit with some length but tannins are smooth and nearly gone. Glad I have another magnum in my cellar but will drink within a year.
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Wow! What a wine! The dark fruit, leather and chocolate are beautifully integrated with the tannins. A silky and elegant wine that can still go a while. Glad we have 3 more bottles.
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Double decanted through a Vinturi, but still needed an other 45 minutes in the glass. A huge wine with still nearly searing tannins. Overripe black and blue fruits with hard leather, cedar and hints of menthol. Smooth wine but the tannins are still thick.
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Dark magenta color. Minimal aromas of dark fruit, earth, and mint. Rich dark fruit and coco flavors with some earth and coffee. Concentrated flavors with nice balance and lengthy finish.
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Really enjoyed this bottle of wine. Only a slight lack of more expression on the nose kept me from rating it higher. At first sniff, I thought perhaps I was going to be disappointed, but wow, once in the mouth I realized this was a truly great wine. Very rich, with sweet tannins that are nicely integrated into the wine. This has a very long life ahead of it, but it is a wonderful drink right now. Best of all, it is from a producer that you really enjoy supporting. I would like to keep a bottle to see old age, but will probably succumb and drink through my stash far too soon.
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Deep purple color, black and blue berry fruit, coffee and mocha overtones, rich and intense with a long finish, some oak and vanilla evident as well. Big for a Spottswoode and very good.
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drank it along side the '99 & '00, it was by far the winner. the '02 is just massive compared to the others and i am guessing it will be even better in 2 more yrs.
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4th Saturday group "uptown" tasting (Rich & Dana's): Inky crimson color. A bit reticent at first- just some generic dark fruit notes, but as it opened in the glass it revealed chocolate, coffee, blackberry, plum and red berry aromas. Full-bodied and well-balanced with chalky tannins and flavors of chocolate, black fruit and raspberries on the long finish. Impressive balance, fruit and length in this wine. Easy to pick out as Napa Cab. Drink 2015+. 94-95 pts.
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Consistent with my last bottle a couple years back, but this one was consumed alongside a Quilceda Creek, an Owen Roe DuBrul, and a Phelps Insignia, and it finished out of the money (a rather distant fourth, at that). A very nice wine, with cassis, coffee, pumpkin pie spices, etc., but it lacked the "Wow" factor of the other three. Evidently, size really does matter. Nevertheless, it's a solid wine that's aging slowly and gracefully.
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Nez double expresso, avec confiture de fruit noir. Texture de dentelle c'est d'une élégance fascinante pour la région, des tanins tendres, équilibre de type Napa Bordelais. Frais et riche, velouté, superbe. 94 pts
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Wow. Really captivating nose...richly floral, perfumed bouquet. So good, I just want to keep smelling it all afternoon. Deep violet in the glass, more like a 3 or 4 year old wine rather than a 10 year old. On the palate, it's pure elegance. Full bodied but silky smooth, with delicious dark fruit and a very long, satisfying finish. When the last drop was gone, all I wanted was another bottle. One of the very best cabs I've ever had...right up there with the '91 Montelena.
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a wonderful wine with loads of fruit and depth. nice dark colour and browning on the edges yet. decent weight on the palate and a medium length finish.
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Opened at our club for my wife's birthday. Wonderful 10-year-old that is just starting to peak. Opened beautifully over the course of dinner (2 hours). Anise and black cherries on the nose. Wonderfully integrated.....beautiful Bordeaux-style Cab. Alas.....no '02 left. We'll have to move on to later vintages.
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More restrained than I would have thought. Tough competition with Insignia 2002 and JFTLOI. Very well integrated. Minimal tannins and those that are there are soft and meld the flavors of the wine. Alone this would have been a great wine, but I think the alcohol of its competition did this wine a slight diservice. I had a taste early on, before comparing with the others, and it was seamless. No faults, just a great cab in a slightly restrained style. Clearly paired better with the lamb than the fruit forward Insignia.
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Wine Bloggers Conference- Napa Vintners 2002 Napa tasting (Portland, OR): Here's one to love, with aromas of currant & blackberry, cedar, cracked pepper and hints of vanilla. Intricately layered on the palate with black olive, black tea, leathery cassis and other rich savory fruit. Silky and elegant with grippy fine tannin. Complex and still very young. Full lingering finish with added floral and herb notes.
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nice wine but i'm frankly surprised at the high scores/comments from others, this wine to me was too big/extracted/alcoholic (says 14.1% but feels higher), nose was nice but hot - some savory notes, some sharp fruit, palate was rich thick and a little too much so, red fruited and just slightly heavy for my tastes, for those who like the BIG wines i would guess this plays well
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Confraria - Napa vs Bordeaux: Muito complexo no aroma. Leve adocicado que nao agrada. Um grande vinho mas nao eh o meu preferido. Retrogosto de chocolate.
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14.1% alcohol. not decanted, but you can and probably should. followed in the glass over three hours. initially, i was quite surprised at how alcoholic this showed. i thought, uh-oh, maybe this isn't gonna be what i expect. that's when i should have reached for the decanter. nevertheless, things improved within an hour, but the wine was never feminine in a way i recall previously in this vintage. very opaque and possessing a backbone of tannin even now; however, i don't get the sense that it's the kind that will resolve all that much with significant more time in the bottle. therefore, i declare this at virtual peak with a reasonable drinking window to enjoy now - 2017, longer if you want to risk losing it's current depth of fruit. i don't.
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Still youthfull but opens up over a couple of hours. Bright red fruit and menthol followed by a long finish. This still has room to improve and develop greater nuance.
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Drank from magnum. This is aging impeccably. Really deep, dark berry, chocolate flavors. Wonderful body and balance. Can last another 10+ years, but is in a great drinking window now. Might have benefited from aging in a larger format. Decanted for a couple hours to half a day depending on when we drank it. Real winner of the night (bested a 2001 Lokoya Diamond Mountain among others).
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Give it an hour in the decanter and enjoy! Great nose, still very primary and full of life. No bricking, extremely clear and pure in color. The tannins are still very prevalent and my only slight complaint would be a touch of "grip" or chalk on the palate. But the finish is amazing! Long, encompassing and wonderful. No hurry to drink this...it'll go another 7/10 years. But solid!
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Decanted two hours. Clear, dark garnet color. Aromas of dark fruit, earth, and mint. Rich dark fruit, cassis, and chocolate flavors initially with some coffee and herbal notes. Concentrated flavors with nice balance and lingering finish.
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Inky dark in color, scents of chocolate covered boysenberries, coffee, truffle, licorice and blueberry waft from the glass. Opulent, intense, concentrated and deep, this California Cabernet Sauvignon wine is packed and stacked with pure, ripe, juicy, sweet, fresh, jammy dark berries and chocolate, in the hedonistic finish. This is drinking perfectly today. There is no reason to wait on popping a bottle.
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Dark ruby color with nice floral nose. The cassis, tobacco, and leather notes show through on mid-palate, with a lingering finish. Solid structure and balance. This has aged gracefully and is holding on nicely.
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Decanted 2 hours and rebottled. Very attractive nose of cassis, vaniila oak and a little green vegetable. Good attack of red and black fruit on the palate with notes of chocolate and a little tar and tobacco. Medium finish with integrated tannins and a little chalkiness. This was certainly very good but, as my first experience of this producer, i found it a little disappointing, especially from the '02 vintage which i regard highly for Napa wines. However, i have not let that influence my score. Very good but not much complexity and ultimately i don't think this is worth the retail price.
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Everything I expected from this beautiful 2002 vintage - my favorite vintage of all the 00's with the exception of '07. A wine that showed a classic medley of berry fruit, earth, meatiness in a lovely well rounded style. Tannins were integrated but present which will allow this to continue to age for at least another 5-10 years.
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Tasted at February 11, 2011 Toronto Wine Cru Event, Wine Spectator Off-Line Event. Limited or no notes, as tasted 28 wines. Nose - 91, decent. Palette - nice, some complexity. 96. This was the 2nd best wine of the night (the first was the L'Evangile 2001).
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Dark garnet color; complex earthy, wood, mint, herbaceous nose; mid-Napa Cabernet undertones; balanced; good fruit; ripe; rich; long finish. Match with beef and classic sauces (Richelieu, mushroom, etc.).
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Decanted three hours, and I would recommend this for those of you who are natural "pop and pour" folks. Dark, intensively ruby in colour with a very inviting nose. You get early hints of the red fruit, cassis and chocolate. The mid-palate is well integrated. The tannins are clearly articulated but largely soft and sweet. The fruit is well extracted but not overly dominate--and there is plenty of complexity with herbs, a bit of tar and chocolate. The finish in not complicated, but leaves a lovely and warm longing for another sip.
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An excellent wine with lots of ripe red fruits framed by some vanilla notes and a touch of spicy oak. Really starts to come together nicely with some airtime. The 05 and 07 Spottswoode have really been 'stand up and take notice' wines for me recently and I'd put the 02 just a tad behind them if I was to rate the three together but that's like saying I'll put the Porsche just behind the Ferrari and Lamborghini.
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A fine Spottswoode displaying a seductive, luxurious color with a warm and inviting nose of black cab fruits and spice. An upfront red which offers black currant, cassis, blackberry, and a touch of nutmeg. The finish is marked by dark chocolate which is long lasting and pronounced. The tannins are refined, smooth and sail over the palate. A nice drinking stage for this cabernet. Main course pairing with prime rib, Thoroughbreds, Myrtle Beach.
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14.1% alcohol. not decanted. well rounded, sweet tannins, vanilla oaked, decent balance, cassis dominant fruit. this has petite verdot, doesn't it? smells like it. i like the wine, but it's hardly a knockout, lacks depth/complexity, and although this is my only CT! note, i have a vague memory of tasting it about 4 years ago, and liking it better. i no longer see this producer as something to cellar, but rather to drink in it's youth. frankly, i think time has passed spottswoode by. vacillating between 91 and 92...going with the former.
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Pre-Twins Game Wines (Zind, Cos, PM Pavots, Spottswoode): Decanted about one hour before tasting. The color is a youthful ruby red. On the nose this delivered mostly clean red fruit. Beautiful to smell, but by far the most one-dimensional of the wines tasted tonight. On the palate this is pure pleasure. No rough edges, now obvious flaws, but also no peaks or valleys. Delivers plenty of perfectly ripe fruit with just enough structure. Flavors come on strong at the attack and then plateau there through a good finish. I guess you can tell that I liked it but there was just no intrigue -- no wow factor. Based on this bottle I doubt this is likely to improve much, but it should drink well for the foreseeable future. This is my first time tasting Spottswoode, and, while impressive, it seems a bit overpriced relative to what you get.
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Popped and poured. Medium-plus garnet hue. Pronounced aromas of fresh berries, black cherry, leather, fresh herbs, and a touch of smoke. With air, the aromas grow in complexity and depth. Medium-plus body. On the palate, the fruit is striking...ever present, pure, and focused but never forceful, with flavors of dark fruits, black currant, mocha, anise, minerals, and more fresh herbs (basil & mint?). Tannins are surprisingly somewhat chalky and a bit astringent but compliment the fruit perfectly on the lengthy finish. Truly a wine that is both mentally and hedonistically fulfilling, each successive sip more enjoyable than the last. Tannic structure certainly suggests further aging, perhaps 10+ years even...but really, this is in the perfect midlife spot right now. Well-balanced, regal and classy - what more could one hope to find in Napa Cabernet? Not much!
Exactly what I wanted and what I was expecting, how often does that happen?
Color: Beautiful red edges and dark core of black and blue, still promising some youth. Right away you can tell this is an exceptional vintage by the color and some aroma flowing up just getting a visual on the color.
Nose: Currants and creme de cassis, pencil shavings; all constantly fight for dominance and change over the 5 hours the wine was open and consumed (decanted 3 hours). Some violets and sweet oak throw secondary aromas.
Palate: The aromas unfold as flavors wonderfully and are cradled in a superb tannic and acid structure. Fine but taught tannins frame a beautifully pure palate of cassis, currants, and black cherry. Minimal, but the spice and oak are well integrated.
Classic Napa, classic Cabernet. Cheers to the ladies of Spottswoode!
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Dark color, perfumed nose. Decanted three hours. Shows dense, concentrated currant, chocolate, and mineral flavors, with a solid core of tannins which have softened with age. I think this is drinking near its peak of development.
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A reminder of why I spend more than I can afford to for wines like this. Opened about 1/2 hour before tasting. Nose of cassis and coffee seemed to jump out of the glass. Plenty of cassis and coffee on the palate, along with some chocolate and pumpkin pie spices. Rich, plush mouthfeel and a long finish. Beautifully balanced right now. In spite of rather low acidity, it should last another two or three years.
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Very nice bottle of cab but did not come up to my expectations for a wine at this price point. maybe a few more years in the cellar before I drink my last bottle. The wine seemed to have good potential when it was opened but did not seem to openup with decant time.
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Amazing, one of the best wines I've tasted in a long time. Great balance with a facinating interplay of different nuances on every sip. Long finish, a real classic.
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Blackberry, fresh prunes, leather and sweet spices on the enjoyable, very aromatic nose. On the balanced and meaty palate cinnamon, ripe black fruit (blackberry), black coffee, black chocolate and refreshing acidity. Long aftertaste. Delicious.
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Wino Guys Weekend (WGW) #2; 11/7/2008-11/8/2008: Dark ruby/black colour. Huge, almost porty nose with aromas of vanillan/oak, blackcurrant, figs, black plums, and cassis. Full-bodied, lush, good acidity, with licorice/black nibs, tea, and black fruit. Moderate-long finish, ~40s, with black licorice, tea, coffee and toffee notes. Nice.
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Wine Guy Weekend Chez Doktas Take 2; 11/7/2008-11/8/2008 (Collingwood, Ontario): Wine Guy Weekend Chez DoktaP's: Black inky colour with licorice, vanilla, spicy plums and blackberry on the nose. Almost smelled like a Argentinian malbec to me. Palate is lush, with low acidity and more fruity black fruit notes that lingers in the mouth on a long long fine tannin finish. Tasty.
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This is definately improving. I still had to wait until day 2 before it really started to show it's stuff. Still reticent on the nose but showing cola and black cherry on the palate. Nice finish that lingers on. I'm not planning on opening again for at least another two years.
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Ruddy ruby/burgundy colour. Aromas of herbs/dill, vanilla, and crushed black fruit. Full-bodied, lush, with vanilla, blackcurrant, and cassis notes. Moderate-long finish, ~40s, with vanilla and black fruits. Great stuff!
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Others have said that with some decant time this is ready to go but I have to disagree. IMHO this needs at least another 4-5 years to really show its' potential. It's nose is muted showing only a hint of mocha. The tannins are not harsh but are strong enough to mask the fruit you can tell is lurking underneath. On the 2nd day this showed more of it's personality but only time will allow this to offer the maximum pleasure.
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Had after the very opulent Coup De Foudre and this was a beautiful changeup. Had very clean aromas of very classic napa cab. Very elegant on the palate with more red fruits showing. The finish was seemless with ultrafine tannins and a long finish. Very nice
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Tasted double blind. Deep garnet color. Big and tight, with dark fruit and mint notes. Very firm and tight tannins clamp down hard on the palate, with some chewy dark fruit flavors, yet it has a balance to it, despite its power & structure. Identified correctly as Napa Cab. Lots of potential, but needs some serious cellar time.
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Scott's Birthday Dinner (Dallas, TX): Deep, dark wine with intense nose of dark fruit and spice. Vanilla, sandalwood, black cherry, blackberry, and leather. Loved this one. Two bottles plus one from magnum.
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This was the Estate Vineyard. Pinot Envy took this to dinner at the Sycamore Inn. This was the first Spottswoode wine that I recall having. We did not decant this and in hindsight I think that was a mistake. Could have used a few hours. It was a purple blue color. 14.2% alcohol. Rich but very tight at first. it only opened a little as the dinner progressed. Very concentrated at present with notes of black licorice, coffee and blackberry. Powerful tannins. Very young. Most of my score is based on potential unless you like drinking this style of wine very young. 94+ points.
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Probably the best Spottswoode I have drunk. Even though it is definitely more of a CA style than their prior offerings. Gorgeous, sweet fruit - blueberries. deep and satisfying. drinking beautifully young.
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A very elegant Spottswoode, with excellent depth and richness but with great balance. I liked it a little less than the 2001 because it didn’t have as much structure, but a wonderful wine nonetheless.
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Drank at the "Judgment of San Diego" offline. Drank blind. Super dark, rich, and intense, yet good balance between the fruit and the structure. Plum, strawberries, hints of chocolate mocha, with a velvety mouthfeel. Long finish. Superb stuff!
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Dark purple color. After 30 minutes of airtime, this had an enticing nose of dark fruits. On the palate this was incredibly pure (stylistically the purity of the fruit had some overtures of a SQN wine). The mouthfeel was delicate yet very lush. There was a ton of plum and blackberry, with some creme de cassis, and a bit of cedar. The palate was pretty long. This may end up being a conservative score, more for how it's drinking now.
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Monthly Methuselah Tasting (The McCrary's): Oooh - dark, inky purple. This looks promising! Lovely toasty nose shows black fruits and hints of chocolate. The palate shows waves of dark fruits and chocolate with silky smooth tannins. This is an excellent wine showing excellent balance and nice length.
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Dark garnet, flecked with ruby near the rim. The nose is very quiet, but shows pure red currant and cherry fruit along with very mellow oak. The palate is classically balanced yet carries an immense charge of perfectly ripe currant fruit. Long, firm finish. Holding everything back. 50+5+12+20+9=96
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Slightly lactic nose. Vanilla, spices, ripe black fruit, some pepper. On the palate ripe black fruit and its syrup, liquorice, exotic spices, pepper, zeste, sweet somewhat dusty tannins. Good balance. Long, spicy-fruity aftertaste. Delicious, but still very primary. Has enough material to warrant some bottle age so it can develop some additional complexity. Might merit a higher score.
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Really an outstanding wine that's drinking really well right now. The densest most opaque Spottswoode that I can recall; it really seems like they have made an effort to make more concentrated wines of late. Both the '01 & '02 seem to be made differently than older Spottswoodes that I have tasted. Unfortunately I didn't get to taste those when they were young, but at this point, the '02 is proof to me of a new direction in the winemaking.
The wine is extremely rich and concentrated with excellent structure and pure dark fruits including blueberries and black cherries. There's a definite earthiness to the nose with notes of licorice and chocolate. The wine is very approachable with sweet, silky tanins and a luxurious mouthfeel. Full bodied with a long, elegant finish. I really loved this wine; I'm looking forward to seeing how it develops down the road.
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Ultra 2002 Napa Cab (Chicago): Very tight and tannic. It opened up some with time. I guessed it was all cab, but apparently there is 3% cab franc. Needs a bunch more bottle age. 14.1%
5th overall, my 7th.
"E"
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11/15/2023 - RockinCabs wrote: 90 Points
I was looking forward to this the most of the younger vintages on hand, and it just missed the mark for me. Especially given the reputation. A wall of black fruit, hard tannin and a squid ink, and brine-like VA note marred the wine for me a bit. Lacking in elegance and the terroir of the property tonight.
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10/14/2023 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Slow ox for 3.5 hours. Blackberries, black cherries, vanilla Oak, touch of eucalyptus, a little tar and dusty but very smooth and long tannins. No fading of color. Very little sediment. This bottle had another handful of peak drinking years to it.
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10/5/2023 - Alexander Smith Likes this wine: 97 Points
Brief tasting note
Aged Napa Cabernets don't get better than this, I would score higher but just did not have enough time to really evaluate, but this was in a perfect spot, kept well and this will stand up to any Bordeaux blend in the world, the dark fruit is fading and being replaced with wonderful forest needles, cigar box, savoury herbs dusty tannins , the palate is fine, elegant and precise with persistence and grace , I called the tannins dusty but I feel silky would be more appropriate, a graceful finish. 97+Still has a few years in front of it, but it is drinking so well now.
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10/4/2023 - d'Artagnan wrote: 98 Points
Dégustation Spottswoode avec Beth Weber Novak: Ouvert à midi, épaulé. Carafé 5 minutes pour enlever le dépôt à 17:00. Bu vers 20:00.
Nez joliment mentholé, délicat, complexe. La bouche est une petite merveille. Des tanins tendres, parfaitement fondus, j'ai rarement (voire jamais?) bu un vin de Napa aussi fin. C'est soyeux, savoureux, avec une finale précise, de belle longueur, de plus en plus complexe. Un vrai balai sur les papilles, d'une classe de très grand premier cru. Un grand vin américain authentique et si raffiné. 98 pts
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6/18/2022 - Hojun-na-Wine Likes this wine:
Medium garnet with a brick core and watery rim.
Nose of dried cherry, dried currants, soft tobacco, green herbs, hint of vanilla and oak spice. With air sweet cherry notes emerge.
On the palate red cherry, red currant, intense chalk.
Medium alcohol, full body, medium+ acidity. Fine but grippy tannins. Despite the 20 years, the wine is still drinking young, and has the structure to go another 15-20 years. Incredible wine.
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2/22/2022 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 94 Points
Classic Napa 2002 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Spottswoode Estate Vineyard. Similar to other notes. Mid-garnet, brick edges; viscous (14.1 alc.); red fruit, cassis, herbaceous, light mint, oak nose; medium acids; medium tannins; rounding out; good depth of Cabernet fruit; long, balanced, elegant finish. w/tri-tip. 18 UC Davis scale, 94 other scales.
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11/6/2021 - j@$0n p€++y wrote: 98 Points
Out of mag. 1 hr decant. This was all green peppercorn in the first glass, in a good way. Opened up over the next hour to dark cherry, melted red licorice and Xmas spice. The best part of this wine was the seamlessness of texture. Ran like a fine river from start to finish. In a great spot now, with many more years of life left. Fabulous.
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7/17/2021 - Sonoma Duck wrote: flawed
My last bottle and unfortunately it was off. Good storage since release, perhaps it was just slightly corked.
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3/13/2021 - dkentaustin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep dark notes, some mocha, raspberry, eucalyptus, dark fruit preserves with a hint of cajeta. Drink up. Day 2 this wine seemed to come together even a bit more which was surprising, but welcomed.
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2/15/2021 - davidspieker wrote: 91 Points
Delicious. Dark color and viscus in the glass. Aromas of dark fruit, earth, and mint. Rich dark fruit and coco flavors with some coffee. Concentrated flavors with nice balance and lengthy finish.
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12/5/2020 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 95 Points
60 minute decant. This wine is turning into one of my favorite Cali Cabs. Loads of very ripe blackberry, black cherry and some boysenberry with hints of Eucalyptus and sweet Oak. Alcohol is completely in check and the finish lingers with this very smooth, near velvety wine.
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9/21/2020 - Jeffrey Silver wrote: 99 Points
Outstanding wine. It’s now firing on all cylinders. I opened one 5yrs ago and it was still tight. Now after time and 90min decanting I feel like opening them all up. It’s interesting that RP called Spottswoode the Chateau Margaux of Napa. I would say this bang on. It’s so Bordeaux like and it’s all I love.
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9/7/2020 - dkentaustin Likes this wine: 97 Points
Flint, stone, graphite and raspberry on the nose. The flavors carrying through to the palate. Crushed stone, vanilla, blackberry, subtle Asian spice with some nutty hints. No visible signs of ages and the tannins are silky smooth. Drinking incredibly well and one of the more amazing wines we’ve had in a while. If they ever classify CA wines as first growths, this winery should be a viable candidate. Having with Pittsburgh style NY strip, cauliflower purée and butter lettuce salad. Heaven.
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9/6/2020 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 94 Points
Spottswoode 2002 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Mid-dark garnet; complex herbaceous, cassis, blackberry, oak, mint nose; balanced; softening tannins; good Cabernet fruit; long rich finish, hints of wood. w/grilled beef. 18 UC Davis scale, 94 other scales.
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4/12/2020 - MLR Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had our last 2002 tonight. Every bit as good as the Feb 2020 tasting notes.
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3/25/2020 - Cow Town Likes this wine: 96 Points
Another in a string of excellent bottles of this wine. Color had some every so slight bricking, but not much for an 18 year old wine. Nose had a meaty/nutty component to it, that mixed with dark fruits. Mouthfeel had some heft to it, but not syrupy - just more velvety with a coating in the mouth. Finish lasted a long time, and everything was in balance. I only have one left, but based on this bottle, it could last another 10 years.
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3/1/2020 - Snowryeder Likes this wine: 97 Points
What a surprise, stunning! Great nose of currants, blackberries, red berries, vanilla, forest floor. Reminds me of a fine well aged Margaux.
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2/22/2020 - MLR Likes this wine: 93 Points
Sweet red fruit lingers on the palate while the tannins are totally integrated. So I think this wine is in final stages and I’d recommend we begin to drink the inventory. Still wonderful.
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1/25/2020 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Hour decant. Wonderful black cherry dominant but also blackberry, hints of red fruit, sweet Oak and touch of Eucalyptus in background. Very smooth. No sediment to speak of.
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11/27/2019 - tbabes wrote: 99 Points
The fill was into the neck and the cork was pristine; opened about an hour before dinner and consumed over the the course of the evening. A very deep garnet core, with no signs of amber. A classic and stunning bouquet, offering up intoxicating scents of cassis, dried blackberries, roasted fennel, black truffle; hints of cigar box. Medium bodied, with a silky texture, amazing depth and an incredible sense of expansiveness; layers and layers of flavor! A long and savory finish. For me, this is intellectually stimulating and hedonistically pleasing; the very best of both worlds!
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12/13/2018 - peternelson wrote: 93 Points
Earthy, dark leather, underbrush serious cab, still in its youth, structured, cigar tobacco, feeling quite youthful. Miro Dirty Dozen
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12/8/2018 - Night Train Likes this wine: 94 Points
WOTN at a party with 20 or 30 other, mostly good wines. PnP. Pleasant at first, but terrific an hour later. Someday I'll learn that these wines need A LOT of time, because this one seems to just now be hitting its stride. Great nose - mostly currants. Currants on the palate, along with hints of forest floor and various herbs. Medium body, but quite rich with a killer finish. Yowza!
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11/11/2018 - DougLee wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured. Darker garnet. Quiet nose at first which later opened up to reveal scents of red and dark currant, bits of cedar, dense plum pit, earth, and lilac. Powerful but very elegantly presented black currant fruit cut with earth and schist on the palate. Moderate acidity and firm tannin leading to a long finish of dense plum fruit and sweet grip. Excellent balance and integration of elements even at this stage. Very early in its evolution but destined for great things.
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9/22/2018 - AlexHop Likes this wine: 97 Points
Complex and opulent. Wine highlight of a special night.
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9/10/2018 - Old Vino Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent NAPA wine. I didn’t expect tertiary notes from a 16 year old California wine. But this is trying to be Margaux–like. No bite or heat. Well integrated. Tenants totally resolved. Unable to assess longevity. Ready to drink now.
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7/26/2018 - Kevnzworld wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for two hours prior to dinner.
Nose of cedar vanilla and blueberry and orange peel.
The flavor initially has that older Cabernet cigar box taste Not a fruit forward over extracted big cab, much more subtle. Maybe this is in the 7th inning of its game, or of its original design but it’s good.
There’s a minerality to it that’s bdx like. The flavors are mild, with plum and orange peel.
Maybe it’s age but the fruit is a little raisiny with a slight taste of cinnamon on the finish.
Not bad, but not my favorite.
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4/14/2018 - Cow Town Likes this wine: 95 Points
Simply a stunning wine. Nose showed some age, but the color did not. Wonderfully in balance, with primary and secondary fruit. Parker compared this to Margaux - maybe. Regardless, it was the finest aged Cal Cab I have had.
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1/21/2018 - JJYoyo Likes this wine: 94 Points
Served out of magnum with 2 hrs air. A strong CA cab with a lot of backbone and tons of fruit. No rush to open any time soon. Fabulous nose full of cedar, dark berries, burnt wood, clove and anise. Taste very full of dark plum, vanilla, tobacco and mocha. Very Pomerol-like in terms of style. Drinking well now but will keep. Tannins maybe not fully resolved yet. Minor sinus issue means my score may be conservative. Powerful without being overbearing -- very good balance.
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11/19/2017 - Amerique wrote: 92 Points
Raisony flavors
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2/18/2017 - Seafoam Manor wrote: 94 Points
A little bit of a disappointment, but only because I had been blown away by previous bottles. This bottle was a bit more primary and was lacking some of the tertiary complexity I was expecting. That said, it was rich with a broad array of red and blue fruits, seamlessly integrated secondary spice notes and a medium+ to long finish. The tannins are very fine and totally integrated. While this will never be seen as an acidic wine, it is totally in balance with the richness of the fruit. A very crowded restaurant probably wan't the best setting to really focus on the wine as well. This has a lot of years left in it.
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2/7/2017 - Jeffrey Silver Likes this wine: 99 Points
Lovely Wine and most enjoyable. Decanted for 2.5hrs and if blindfolded you can truly understand why RP calls this wine Chateaux Margaux in Napa. It's so smooth and has so much of a classified Bordeaux in it. The wine smells like blueberry, blackberry, and lavender fields. This wine is full body but still very youthful. The 2002 is now open to enjoy. Although it will age effortlessly for 3 decaceds if not more. This is powerhouse but not in heavy Napa Cab way. More like a smooth aged Bordeaux.
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1/5/2017 - JEP007 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Even amount of complex dark fruit and spice. Very balanced, but still a big wine for age 15. We really enjoyed it, but had with pasta which didn't work well. I wish I had paired with a charred filet.
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12/25/2016 - Night Train Likes this wine: 93 Points
Four years to the day since my last bottle of this. In 2012, it was rather dull and uninspiring, which is how I would describe a lot of Spottswoodes I've opened. This, however, was a different story. Lighter than I had expected, but loaded with vibrant fruit and perfectly balanced. Decanting two hours before tasting had to have helped. It seems to be hitting its stride (and I'll have to remember to give future bottles sufficient time and sufficient air).
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11/21/2016 - shaferguy91 wrote: 93 Points
1 hour decant.
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11/20/2016 - sevo wrote:
Wonderful bright fresh cherry on the nose. Opened and decanted two hours before drinking. Thicker on the palate than most Spottswoode's I've encountered. Still, luscious and silky mouthfeel. I have one bottle left, I'll wait at least five years before consuming
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11/12/2016 - Sonoma Duck Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is an unusual Spottswoode. Big, tannic and powerful. This wine needed a one hour decant. Still quite young.
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8/17/2016 - nm10 Likes this wine: 100 Points
I could go on, but it can be summed up by saying this has perfect balance.
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7/23/2016 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 94 Points
Continues to evolve nicely. Dark garnet, amber edges; rich Napa Cabernet nose; cedar, leather, cassis; mid-big body; balanced tannins; deep fruit; long rich finish. w/beef and bearnaise sauce.
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5/25/2016 - Sonoma Duck Likes this wine: 93 Points
Not decanted, poured from a magnum. Medium ruby color. Stand out nose of black fruits. Elegant and complex. For my taste fully mature and delicious.
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5/7/2016 - kgh wrote: 95 Points
Still drinking beautifully. Rich and silky smooth mouthfeel, with up front dark currant, cocoa and tobacco notes.
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2/2/2016 - LWI wrote: 92 Points
US Cabernet Sauvignon: Violent wine, sweet smell and taste, black currants moving towards black current jam. You have to tolerate this very big and sweet style to appreciate this.
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12/29/2015 - railgunner Likes this wine: 99 Points
This is one of best Cabernet based wines I have ever experienced. A tour de force of cassis, blackberry, cocoa, licorice.
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9/15/2015 - Cow Town Likes this wine: 94 Points
Starting to show some age, as the secondary aromas and flavors are coming to the fore. But, once again, a lovely wine.
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9/7/2015 - brigcampbell wrote:
Interesting maroon color, burnt edges. Dark plum, caramel, and cedar aromas. The nose is very alluring. I don't drink a lot Cabernet and certainly not much high end juice so I don't have a great reference but it's is very good. More cedar with cassis and plum flavors. Nice peppery note at the medium finish. This would be great with a fat steak.
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9/6/2015 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Discovered this at an OC liquor store, sitting on a crummy wooden shelf with several other vintages alongside this 2002. The storage conditions were average, with the wine stored on its side (how I found it, at least) and the necks was clean, with no leakage. So, what the hell, I grabbed one to try, as it was marked well below current market auction pricing. Opened this and it smelled fine, so far so good. Serving at what is too warm a temp but figured again, if this wine is going to suck, let's push it hard. After about 30 mins of air, this starts to really get humming. Plum, tobacco, a spicy element running through the palate. To give the wine the best respect, I am going to bring it down about 10 degrees (the room temp remains a bit warm), let it keep airing and then retry at dinner in a few hours....retried and finished over dinner. This is a very good wine and I enjoyed drinking it, as it finds the middle between being opulent and starting to show some age at nearly 15 years young.
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9/3/2015 - LFCHALA Likes this wine: 94 Points
Loads of fruits. Balanced. Delicious
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6/21/2015 - Rourketown Likes this wine: 97 Points
Brought to a dinner out this weekend with my wife. Wine was delicious, integrated and balanced. Simply beautiful stuff that could probably go much longer but is also drinking perfectly now.
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5/26/2015 - shaferguy91 wrote: 93 Points
1 hour decant.
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4/24/2015 - GA Likes this wine: 93 Points
4/15 Notable mid palate - good fruit and lasting finish - good balance. 93 pts.
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4/11/2015 - Seafoam Manor Likes this wine: 98 Points
Truly an outstanding wine. The palate is initially dominated by deep tertiary notes of leather and tobacco, which make you think old world, but then there is a bright seam of red fruits that run down the middle of your tongue which are unmistakably Californian. I've never had a wine when the flavors were so pronounced in the different parts of your mouth. Tremendously complex, balanced and long on the finish. A wine that relies on finesse rather than power and is very versatile with food. This is a personal benchmark for the greatness that can come from Napa, combining the restraint and nuance you expect from Bordeaux and the ripe deliciousness that is pure Napa.
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2/18/2015 - bobwire wrote: 100 Points
this wine was perfect. Soft subtle elegant
Drinking perfectly. There's nothing negative that could be said.
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2/12/2015 - AlexHop wrote: 98 Points
Amazing. Everything it's supposed to be.
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11/30/2014 - ipp Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine is so interesting. It is very complex with so many layers of flavors .. earth, pencil lead, dry dark fruit, and flowers. But it is the old world flavors that dominate, not the fruit ... yet has remarkably sweet tannins. The balance is amazing and the mouthfeel is smooth and inviting. The finish goes on forever. Great wine.
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11/27/2014 - richshoes Likes this wine: 97 Points
soft, subtle elegant wine with layers of supple roundedness. somewhat herbal and sweet, with sour cherry and plum in the background....
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11/12/2014 - soyhead wrote:
Sam G 50th BDay Celebration (Massimo's, Walnut Creek): nose - sweet nose, licorice
mouth - very lush, with a flare, berry explosion. complex but not subtle.
if red licorice could be liquified this would be it. Another Parker wet dream
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9/28/2014 - MLR wrote: 95 Points
A beautiful wine that seems to go on and on in the mouth, with a lingering of the dark fruit, chocolate and tannins.
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8/30/2014 - Jeffrey Silver Likes this wine: 97 Points
Wine was decanted for 2.5hrs. It's a wondeful wine. When side by side other 2002 Napa Cabs. My opinun and that of others with me. This wine is still nit fully ready. It's great to drink now but still has a long life ahead ahead of it. It was paired with some Miami Ribs. The nose was very floral. It tastes like lead pencil, asparagus, black currant (cassis) and cranberry. The Finish goes on for ever. 75secs easily. Drink now or wait 6-10yrs. My Score 97
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8/25/2014 - mwanasheria Likes this wine: 96 Points
This was really nice with a bouquet of dark fruit, licorice, chocolate. On the palate more dark fruit, pencil shavings, sweet tannins.
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8/16/2014 - MyWineTutor wrote: 92 Points
This was an excellent bottle but I wish I would have enjoyed it a couple years earlier. Nice fruit with some length but tannins are smooth and nearly gone. Glad I have another magnum in my cellar but will drink within a year.
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6/7/2014 - MLR wrote: 97 Points
Wow! What a wine! The dark fruit, leather and chocolate are beautifully integrated with the tannins. A silky and elegant wine that can still go a while. Glad we have 3 more bottles.
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5/28/2014 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Double decanted through a Vinturi, but still needed an other 45 minutes in the glass. A huge wine with still nearly searing tannins. Overripe black and blue fruits with hard leather, cedar and hints of menthol. Smooth wine but the tannins are still thick.
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5/18/2014 - davidspieker wrote: 91 Points
Dark magenta color. Minimal aromas of dark fruit, earth, and mint. Rich dark fruit and coco flavors with some earth and coffee. Concentrated flavors with nice balance and lengthy finish.
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5/16/2014 - jclary wrote: 97 Points
Really enjoyed this bottle of wine. Only a slight lack of more expression on the nose kept me from rating it higher. At first sniff, I thought perhaps I was going to be disappointed, but wow, once in the mouth I realized this was a truly great wine. Very rich, with sweet tannins that are nicely integrated into the wine. This has a very long life ahead of it, but it is a wonderful drink right now. Best of all, it is from a producer that you really enjoy supporting. I would like to keep a bottle to see old age, but will probably succumb and drink through my stash far too soon.
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1/30/2014 - DavidF90210 wrote: 96 Points
great w steak
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1/26/2014 - winejnky wrote: 93 Points
Deep purple color, black and blue berry fruit, coffee and mocha overtones, rich and intense with a long finish, some oak and vanilla evident as well. Big for a Spottswoode and very good.
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6/22/2013 - RAMwines Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great Cab!
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4/26/2013 - clarktoews Likes this wine: 94 Points
drank it along side the '99 & '00, it was by far the winner. the '02 is just massive compared to the others and i am guessing it will be even better in 2 more yrs.
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3/23/2013 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
4th Saturday group "uptown" tasting (Rich & Dana's): Inky crimson color. A bit reticent at first- just some generic dark fruit notes, but as it opened in the glass it revealed chocolate, coffee, blackberry, plum and red berry aromas. Full-bodied and well-balanced with chalky tannins and flavors of chocolate, black fruit and raspberries on the long finish. Impressive balance, fruit and length in this wine. Easy to pick out as Napa Cab. Drink 2015+. 94-95 pts.
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12/25/2012 - Night Train Likes this wine: 90 Points
Consistent with my last bottle a couple years back, but this one was consumed alongside a Quilceda Creek, an Owen Roe DuBrul, and a Phelps Insignia, and it finished out of the money (a rather distant fourth, at that). A very nice wine, with cassis, coffee, pumpkin pie spices, etc., but it lacked the "Wow" factor of the other three. Evidently, size really does matter. Nevertheless, it's a solid wine that's aging slowly and gracefully.
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12/19/2012 - d'Artagnan wrote: 94 Points
Nez double expresso, avec confiture de fruit noir. Texture de dentelle c'est d'une élégance fascinante pour la région, des tanins tendres, équilibre de type Napa Bordelais. Frais et riche, velouté, superbe. 94 pts
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12/15/2012 - levinml Likes this wine: 98 Points
Absolutely fantastic, best wine in a while. Smooth, subtle but lots of flavor, not flabby. Damn near perfect.
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11/22/2012 - EMTAME wrote: 97 Points
Wow. Really captivating nose...richly floral, perfumed bouquet. So good, I just want to keep smelling it all afternoon. Deep violet in the glass, more like a 3 or 4 year old wine rather than a 10 year old. On the palate, it's pure elegance. Full bodied but silky smooth, with delicious dark fruit and a very long, satisfying finish. When the last drop was gone, all I wanted was another bottle. One of the very best cabs I've ever had...right up there with the '91 Montelena.
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10/8/2012 - clarktoews wrote: 94 Points
a wonderful wine with loads of fruit and depth. nice dark colour and browning on the edges yet. decent weight on the palate and a medium length finish.
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9/29/2012 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 97 Points
This is a beautiful wine drinking at its peak. Lovely fruit and cassis. Tannin completely integrated. Great balance.
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9/20/2012 - EJKIII wrote: 95 Points
Opened at our club for my wife's birthday. Wonderful 10-year-old that is just starting to peak. Opened beautifully over the course of dinner (2 hours). Anise and black cherries on the nose. Wonderfully integrated.....beautiful Bordeaux-style Cab. Alas.....no '02 left. We'll have to move on to later vintages.
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8/28/2012 - onholiday wrote: 94 Points
More restrained than I would have thought. Tough competition with Insignia 2002 and JFTLOI. Very well integrated. Minimal tannins and those that are there are soft and meld the flavors of the wine. Alone this would have been a great wine, but I think the alcohol of its competition did this wine a slight diservice. I had a taste early on, before comparing with the others, and it was seamless. No faults, just a great cab in a slightly restrained style. Clearly paired better with the lamb than the fruit forward Insignia.
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8/18/2012 - MattMauldin wrote: 96 Points
Wine Bloggers Conference- Napa Vintners 2002 Napa tasting (Portland, OR): Here's one to love, with aromas of currant & blackberry, cedar, cracked pepper and hints of vanilla. Intricately layered on the palate with black olive, black tea, leathery cassis and other rich savory fruit. Silky and elegant with grippy fine tannin. Complex and still very young. Full lingering finish with added floral and herb notes.
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7/27/2012 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 91 Points
nice wine but i'm frankly surprised at the high scores/comments from others, this wine to me was too big/extracted/alcoholic (says 14.1% but feels higher), nose was nice but hot - some savory notes, some sharp fruit, palate was rich thick and a little too much so, red fruited and just slightly heavy for my tastes, for those who like the BIG wines i would guess this plays well
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3/27/2012 - Marcyrillo wrote: 94 Points
Confraria - Napa vs Bordeaux: Muito complexo no aroma. Leve adocicado que nao agrada. Um grande vinho mas nao eh o meu preferido. Retrogosto de chocolate.
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2/23/2012 - jeff nowak wrote: 93 Points
14.1% alcohol. not decanted, but you can and probably should. followed in the glass over three hours. initially, i was quite surprised at how alcoholic this showed. i thought, uh-oh, maybe this isn't gonna be what i expect. that's when i should have reached for the decanter. nevertheless, things improved within an hour, but the wine was never feminine in a way i recall previously in this vintage. very opaque and possessing a backbone of tannin even now; however, i don't get the sense that it's the kind that will resolve all that much with significant more time in the bottle. therefore, i declare this at virtual peak with a reasonable drinking window to enjoy now - 2017, longer if you want to risk losing it's current depth of fruit. i don't.
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2/2/2012 - g-man wrote: 94 Points
Still youthfull but opens up over a couple of hours. Bright red fruit and menthol followed by a long finish. This still has room to improve and develop greater nuance.
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12/26/2011 - jasontheslacker wrote: 96 Points
Drank from magnum. This is aging impeccably. Really deep, dark berry, chocolate flavors. Wonderful body and balance. Can last another 10+ years, but is in a great drinking window now. Might have benefited from aging in a larger format. Decanted for a couple hours to half a day depending on when we drank it. Real winner of the night (bested a 2001 Lokoya Diamond Mountain among others).
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11/10/2011 - PASimon wrote: 91 Points
Give it an hour in the decanter and enjoy! Great nose, still very primary and full of life. No bricking, extremely clear and pure in color. The tannins are still very prevalent and my only slight complaint would be a touch of "grip" or chalk on the palate. But the finish is amazing! Long, encompassing and wonderful. No hurry to drink this...it'll go another 7/10 years. But solid!
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11/2/2011 - davidspieker wrote: 92 Points
Decanted two hours. Clear, dark garnet color. Aromas of dark fruit, earth, and mint. Rich dark fruit, cassis, and chocolate flavors initially with some coffee and herbal notes. Concentrated flavors with nice balance and lingering finish.
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9/28/2011 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
Inky dark in color, scents of chocolate covered boysenberries, coffee, truffle, licorice and blueberry waft from the glass. Opulent, intense, concentrated and deep, this California Cabernet Sauvignon wine is packed and stacked with pure, ripe, juicy, sweet, fresh, jammy dark berries and chocolate, in the hedonistic finish. This is drinking perfectly today. There is no reason to wait on popping a bottle.
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9/10/2011 - dd wrote:
one of the finest wines i ever had
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8/8/2011 - kgh wrote: 94 Points
Dark ruby color with nice floral nose. The cassis, tobacco, and leather notes show through on mid-palate, with a lingering finish. Solid structure and balance. This has aged gracefully and is holding on nicely.
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7/24/2011 - Yamadori wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 2 hours and rebottled. Very attractive nose of cassis, vaniila oak and a little green vegetable. Good attack of red and black fruit on the palate with notes of chocolate and a little tar and tobacco. Medium finish with integrated tannins and a little chalkiness. This was certainly very good but, as my first experience of this producer, i found it a little disappointing, especially from the '02 vintage which i regard highly for Napa wines. However, i have not let that influence my score. Very good but not much complexity and ultimately i don't think this is worth the retail price.
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5/29/2011 - DHutch wrote: 96 Points
Everything I expected from this beautiful 2002 vintage - my favorite vintage of all the 00's with the exception of '07. A wine that showed a classic medley of berry fruit, earth, meatiness in a lovely well rounded style. Tannins were integrated but present which will allow this to continue to age for at least another 5-10 years.
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3/9/2011 - Jhcwine Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tasted at February 11, 2011 Toronto Wine Cru Event, Wine Spectator Off-Line Event. Limited or no notes, as tasted 28 wines. Nose - 91, decent. Palette - nice, some complexity. 96. This was the 2nd best wine of the night (the first was the L'Evangile 2001).
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1/23/2011 - sdwineguru wrote: 93 Points
Dark garnet color; complex earthy, wood, mint, herbaceous nose; mid-Napa Cabernet undertones; balanced; good fruit; ripe; rich; long finish. Match with beef and classic sauces (Richelieu, mushroom, etc.).
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1/22/2011 - huntly wrote: 92 Points
Decanted three hours, and I would recommend this for those of you who are natural "pop and pour" folks. Dark, intensively ruby in colour with a very inviting nose. You get early hints of the red fruit, cassis and chocolate. The mid-palate is well integrated. The tannins are clearly articulated but largely soft and sweet. The fruit is well extracted but not overly dominate--and there is plenty of complexity with herbs, a bit of tar and chocolate. The finish in not complicated, but leaves a lovely and warm longing for another sip.
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9/3/2010 - Rob MacKay wrote: 93 Points
An excellent wine with lots of ripe red fruits framed by some vanilla notes and a touch of spicy oak. Really starts to come together nicely with some airtime. The 05 and 07 Spottswoode have really been 'stand up and take notice' wines for me recently and I'd put the 02 just a tad behind them if I was to rate the three together but that's like saying I'll put the Porsche just behind the Ferrari and Lamborghini.
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8/31/2010 - wine maestro wrote: 92 Points
A fine Spottswoode displaying a seductive, luxurious color with a warm and inviting
nose of black cab fruits and spice. An upfront red which offers black currant, cassis,
blackberry, and a touch of nutmeg. The finish is marked by dark chocolate which is
long lasting and pronounced. The tannins are refined, smooth and sail over the palate.
A nice drinking stage for this cabernet. Main course pairing with prime rib, Thoroughbreds,
Myrtle Beach.
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8/11/2010 - jeff nowak wrote: 91 Points
14.1% alcohol. not decanted. well rounded, sweet tannins, vanilla oaked, decent balance, cassis dominant fruit. this has petite verdot, doesn't it? smells like it. i like the wine, but it's hardly a knockout, lacks depth/complexity, and although this is my only CT! note, i have a vague memory of tasting it about 4 years ago, and liking it better. i no longer see this producer as something to cellar, but rather to drink in it's youth. frankly, i think time has passed spottswoode by. vacillating between 91 and 92...going with the former.
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7/28/2010 - GA wrote: 93 Points
7/10 Concentrated fruit and steep oak finish - will probably have a double curve - approachable now - seems to have legs. 93 pts.
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6/16/2010 - Dave Dalluge wrote: 93 Points
Pre-Twins Game Wines (Zind, Cos, PM Pavots, Spottswoode): Decanted about one hour before tasting. The color is a youthful ruby red. On the nose this delivered mostly clean red fruit. Beautiful to smell, but by far the most one-dimensional of the wines tasted tonight. On the palate this is pure pleasure. No rough edges, now obvious flaws, but also no peaks or valleys. Delivers plenty of perfectly ripe fruit with just enough structure. Flavors come on strong at the attack and then plateau there through a good finish. I guess you can tell that I liked it but there was just no intrigue -- no wow factor. Based on this bottle I doubt this is likely to improve much, but it should drink well for the foreseeable future. This is my first time tasting Spottswoode, and, while impressive, it seems a bit overpriced relative to what you get.
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5/14/2010 - *Vine* wrote: 95 Points
Popped and poured. Medium-plus garnet hue. Pronounced aromas of fresh berries, black cherry, leather, fresh herbs, and a touch of smoke. With air, the aromas grow in complexity and depth. Medium-plus body. On the palate, the fruit is striking...ever present, pure, and focused but never forceful, with flavors of dark fruits, black currant, mocha, anise, minerals, and more fresh herbs (basil & mint?). Tannins are surprisingly somewhat chalky and a bit astringent but compliment the fruit perfectly on the lengthy finish. Truly a wine that is both mentally and hedonistically fulfilling, each successive sip more enjoyable than the last. Tannic structure certainly suggests further aging, perhaps 10+ years even...but really, this is in the perfect midlife spot right now.
Well-balanced, regal and classy - what more could one hope to find in Napa Cabernet? Not much!
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5/10/2010 - tkoby11 wrote: 95 Points
Exactly what I wanted and what I was expecting, how often does that happen?
Color: Beautiful red edges and dark core of black and blue, still promising some youth. Right away you can tell this is an exceptional vintage by the color and some aroma flowing up just getting a visual on the color.
Nose: Currants and creme de cassis, pencil shavings; all constantly fight for dominance and change over the 5 hours the wine was open and consumed (decanted 3 hours). Some violets and sweet oak throw secondary aromas.
Palate: The aromas unfold as flavors wonderfully and are cradled in a superb tannic and acid structure. Fine but taught tannins frame a beautifully pure palate of cassis, currants, and black cherry. Minimal, but the spice and oak are well integrated.
Classic Napa, classic Cabernet. Cheers to the ladies of Spottswoode!
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4/7/2010 - kgh wrote: 95 Points
Dark color, perfumed nose. Decanted three hours. Shows dense, concentrated currant, chocolate, and mineral flavors, with a solid core of tannins which have softened with age. I think this is drinking near its peak of development.
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1/31/2010 - kenv wrote: 93 Points
Lugeresque V: California Table #6 (Pratt's Inn, Yorktown, NY): Backward black fruit nose. Classic Napa Cab. Riveting long finish. Needs 10 years, but terrific stuff. 93-95 points.
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1/22/2010 - Night Train wrote: 93 Points
A reminder of why I spend more than I can afford to for wines like this. Opened about 1/2 hour before tasting. Nose of cassis and coffee seemed to jump out of the glass. Plenty of cassis and coffee on the palate, along with some chocolate and pumpkin pie spices. Rich, plush mouthfeel and a long finish. Beautifully balanced right now. In spite of rather low acidity, it should last another two or three years.
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12/31/2009 - Stan wrote: 95 Points
what a way to drink out 2009. one of our faves, the '02 Spottswoode continues to impress.
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12/26/2009 - dsimmons wrote: 92 Points
Very nice bottle of cab but did not come up to my expectations for a wine at this price point. maybe a few more years in the cellar before I drink my last bottle. The wine seemed to have good potential when it was opened but did not seem to openup with decant time.
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10/3/2009 - Jozefs wrote: 94 Points
Consistent with previous note. Drinking well now, especially with a short decant.
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9/29/2009 - AlexHop wrote: 97 Points
Amazing, one of the best wines I've tasted in a long time. Great balance with a facinating interplay of different nuances on every sip. Long finish, a real classic.
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7/4/2009 - hkfoebee wrote:
1 of 13 bottles consumed. No notes.
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11/29/2008 - Jozefs wrote: 94 Points
Blackberry, fresh prunes, leather and sweet spices on the enjoyable, very aromatic nose. On the balanced and meaty palate cinnamon, ripe black fruit (blackberry), black coffee, black chocolate and refreshing acidity. Long aftertaste. Delicious.
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11/8/2008 - futronic wrote: 92 Points
Wino Guys Weekend (WGW) #2; 11/7/2008-11/8/2008: Dark ruby/black colour. Huge, almost porty nose with aromas of vanillan/oak, blackcurrant, figs, black plums, and cassis. Full-bodied, lush, good acidity, with licorice/black nibs, tea, and black fruit. Moderate-long finish, ~40s, with black licorice, tea, coffee and toffee notes. Nice.
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11/8/2008 - mimik wrote: 93 Points
Wine Guy Weekend Chez Doktas Take 2; 11/7/2008-11/8/2008 (Collingwood, Ontario): Wine Guy Weekend Chez DoktaP's: Black inky colour with licorice, vanilla, spicy plums and blackberry on the nose. Almost smelled like a Argentinian malbec to me. Palate is lush, with low acidity and more fruity black fruit notes that lingers in the mouth on a long long fine tannin finish. Tasty.
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8/31/2008 - g-man wrote: 93 Points
This is definately improving. I still had to wait until day 2 before it really started to show it's stuff. Still reticent on the nose but showing cola and black cherry on the palate. Nice finish that lingers on. I'm not planning on opening again for at least another two years.
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4/13/2008 - dd wrote:
very nice drinking great right now, and will go
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3/8/2008 - Phin wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Rich and well balanced with blackberry shining through. Solid finish.
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2/2/2008 - Scooter wrote: 95 Points
Very good classic Cab. Rich berry and cherry flavor and nose. Can't go wrong with this.
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10/27/2007 - futronic wrote: 94 Points
Ruddy ruby/burgundy colour. Aromas of herbs/dill, vanilla, and crushed black fruit. Full-bodied, lush, with vanilla, blackcurrant, and cassis notes. Moderate-long finish, ~40s, with vanilla and black fruits. Great stuff!
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10/24/2007 - Pluckemin Inn wrote: 94 Points
Licorice, currants, full bodied, lush, underlying velvety tannins. Very good, needs time to intergrate
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8/24/2007 - keithgg wrote: 94 Points
Bolder than the typical Spottswoode. Multi-layered and complex.
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6/16/2007 - shine wrote: 94 Points
Lush ripe fruit on the nose.. Fruit forward with red berries and moderate tannins. Moderate finish. Very drinkable and enjoyable.
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5/28/2007 - g-man wrote: 91 Points
Others have said that with some decant time this is ready to go but I have to disagree. IMHO this needs at least another 4-5 years to really show its' potential. It's nose is muted showing only a hint of mocha. The tannins are not harsh but are strong enough to mask the fruit you can tell is lurking underneath. On the 2nd day this showed more of it's personality but only time will allow this to offer the maximum pleasure.
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4/29/2007 - WineForRob wrote: 96 Points
Had after the very opulent Coup De Foudre and this was a beautiful changeup. Had very clean aromas of very classic napa cab. Very elegant on the palate with more red fruits showing. The finish was seemless with ultrafine tannins and a long finish. Very nice
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3/11/2007 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
Tasted double blind. Deep garnet color. Big and tight, with dark fruit and mint notes. Very firm and tight tannins clamp down hard on the palate, with some chewy dark fruit flavors, yet it has a balance to it, despite its power & structure. Identified correctly as Napa Cab. Lots of potential, but needs some serious cellar time.
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3/10/2007 - strulock wrote: 96 Points
Scott's Birthday Dinner (Dallas, TX): Deep, dark wine with intense nose of dark fruit and spice. Vanilla, sandalwood, black cherry, blackberry, and leather. Loved this one. Two bottles plus one from magnum.
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2/12/2007 - Vino Me wrote: 94 Points
This was the Estate Vineyard. Pinot Envy took this to dinner at the Sycamore Inn. This was the first Spottswoode wine that I recall having. We did not decant this and in hindsight I think that was a mistake. Could have used a few hours. It was a purple blue color. 14.2% alcohol. Rich but very tight at first. it only opened a little as the dinner progressed. Very concentrated at present with notes of black licorice, coffee and blackberry. Powerful tannins. Very young. Most of my score is based on potential unless you like drinking this style of wine very young. 94+ points.
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1/6/2007 - keithgg wrote: 96 Points
Probably the best Spottswoode I have drunk. Even though it is definitely more of a CA style than their prior offerings. Gorgeous, sweet fruit - blueberries. deep and satisfying. drinking beautifully young.
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12/31/2006 - jlittlefield wrote: 96 Points
Maybe the best Napa Cab I've had - drank at Troquet with FP, JP, and PMac
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8/13/2006 - bdenuyl wrote: 94 Points
A very elegant Spottswoode, with excellent depth and richness but with great balance. I liked it a little less than the 2001 because it didn’t have as much structure, but a wonderful wine nonetheless.
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7/3/2006 - dd wrote:
a really beautiful wine chocolate and dark fruit just a great wine
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6/29/2006 - MarkC wrote: 95 Points
Drank at the "Judgment of San Diego" offline. Drank blind. Super dark, rich, and intense, yet good balance between the fruit and the structure. Plum, strawberries, hints of chocolate mocha, with a velvety mouthfeel. Long finish. Superb stuff!
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4/21/2006 - MarkC wrote: 95 Points
Dark purple color. After 30 minutes of airtime, this had an enticing nose of dark fruits. On the palate this was incredibly pure (stylistically the purity of the fruit had some overtures of a SQN wine). The mouthfeel was delicate yet very lush. There was a ton of plum and blackberry, with some creme de cassis, and a bit of cedar. The palate was pretty long. This may end up being a conservative score, more for how it's drinking now.
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3/30/2006 - Tubbs wrote: 93 Points
Monthly Methuselah Tasting (The McCrary's): Oooh - dark, inky purple. This looks promising! Lovely toasty nose shows black fruits and hints of chocolate. The palate shows waves of dark fruits and chocolate with silky smooth tannins. This is an excellent wine showing excellent balance and nice length.
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3/23/2006 - burningstarIV wrote: 96 Points
Dark garnet, flecked with ruby near the rim. The nose is very quiet, but shows pure red currant and cherry fruit along with very mellow oak. The palate is classically balanced yet carries an immense charge of perfectly ripe currant fruit. Long, firm finish. Holding everything back. 50+5+12+20+9=96
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3/4/2006 - Jozefs wrote: 91 Points
Slightly lactic nose. Vanilla, spices, ripe black fruit, some pepper. On the palate ripe black fruit and its syrup, liquorice, exotic spices, pepper, zeste, sweet somewhat dusty tannins. Good balance. Long, spicy-fruity aftertaste. Delicious, but still very primary. Has enough material to warrant some bottle age so it can develop some additional complexity. Might merit a higher score.
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12/6/2005 - rudylai wrote: 97 Points
Really an outstanding wine that's drinking really well right now. The densest most opaque Spottswoode that I can recall; it really seems like they have made an effort to make more concentrated wines of late. Both the '01 & '02 seem to be made differently than older Spottswoodes that I have tasted. Unfortunately I didn't get to taste those when they were young, but at this point, the '02 is proof to me of a new direction in the winemaking.
The wine is extremely rich and concentrated with excellent structure and pure dark fruits including blueberries and black cherries. There's a definite earthiness to the nose with notes of licorice and chocolate. The wine is very approachable with sweet, silky tanins and a luxurious mouthfeel. Full bodied with a long, elegant finish. I really loved this wine; I'm looking forward to seeing how it develops down the road.
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11/9/2005 - GlenD wrote: 91 Points
Ultra 2002 Napa Cab (Chicago): Very tight and tannic. It opened up some with time. I guessed it was all cab, but apparently there is 3% cab franc. Needs a bunch more bottle age. 14.1%
5th overall, my 7th.
"E"
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7/6/2005 - fine137 wrote: 95 Points
Yeah it's real good.
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