Aromas of espresso, cocoa nib, bramble and a hint of menthol show themselves after some initial reticence. Dark, coating and layered on the palate, with a deceptive amount of power. The finish is chewy, dense and firm. A powerhouse considering the vintage, and should continue to age effortlessly for a decade or more.

The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, with 8% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot in the blend, is medium garnet in color with a touch of brick. It delivers notes of kirsch, redcurrant jelly, and wild thyme with suggestions of warm cassis and unsmoked cigars plus a waft of black olives. Full-bodied on the palate, it is rich and spicy, with loads of red and black fruit layers and a long savory finish. 3,300 cases were made. This was the year Aron Weinkauf took over as winemaker.

The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate shows the cooler nature of the vintage, revealing some herbal, green notes as well as ample cedar, chocolate, and darker fruits. Classicly Cabernet aromatically, it’s medium to full-bodied on the palate and has great tannins, plenty of sweet fruit, and a seamless, elegant texture. This is another wine offering a classic, old school, yet pure, balanced, classy style that’s a joy to drink. Complex and nuanced today, with a supple texture, drink this beauty over the coming 10-15 years.

Even tasted blind, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon is obviously from a cooler vintage, showing some slightly drying, astringent tannins and more herbal notes than usual. The cherry fruit is redder tinged, the tannins less creamy and more pronounced, but one would have to consider this medium to full-bodied wine a solid example of Spottswoode nonetheless, and a huge success in the context of the vintage. - Joe Czerwinski

Impressive depth and color in the glass, this has an array of ripe dark fruits with toasty oak combining in flamboyant style. The palate is both bold and soft; the tannins are bold and sweet, bathed in dark ripe sweet fruit, leaving a swashbuckling impression and a hint of bell pepper to close. -NS

The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon is just starting to head into its early first plateau of maturity. Silky and medium in body, with terrific depth, the 2011 has aged exquisitely well. Sweet pipe tobacco, dried herbs, leather and mocha lend tons of aromatic complexity and savoriness. The 2011 is a terrific choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years. , By Antonio Galloni on October 2021