2003 Spottswoode - Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - USA - California - Napa - Napa Valley - Red

($110; includes 4% cab franc) Ruby-red. Complex aromas of currant, plum, leather, tobacco, cedar and menthol, along with a faint dusty note. Then supple, rich and layered, with a very smooth texture. Not yet as sweet as the 2004 but plenty full in the mouth and more suave. Finishes with serious tongue-coating tannins that call for at least five or six years of cellaring.

Still very purple. Some floral notes on the nose ? extremely youthful! Rather similar to 2002 ? though with more acidity and bite. More prominent tannins because there is decidedly less flesh here. This may outlast it and even overtake it though? Briney finish. (LM)

Another strong Cabernet Sauvignon from the estate vineyards, the 2003 has a dense ruby/purple color and a beautiful nose of graphite intermixed with blueberry, creme de cassis, and acacia flower. The wine is full-bodied, has decent acidity, sweet, well-integrated tannin, and subtle wood. This is a beauty and certainly one of the more impressively constituted and elegant wines of the vintage. The final blend was 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc. It should drink well for 15+ years.

Subtle aromas of red currant, black cherry and plum carry over to the palate in an elegant, supple manner. Excellent balance, depth, complexity and length. The finish is long and persistent, keeping the emphasis on the fruit. 3,699 cases made.

A finely focused nose of mint, cassis, structured blackberry, the fruit is superbly polished and balanced. Black figs and mocha lend filling to the finish.

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