2016 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate
Trade tasting- pop and pour and enjoyed over about 45 minutes
deep purple black color, dark brooding nose, blackberries, chalk, cassis, black plums, a very evident presence of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, on the palate firm and grounded with serious structure- and yet there is a exciting and almost exotic character like one gets with a young Lafleur or Trotanoy, chocolate notes, long full finish, with time the tannins become almost burly in character but remained soft and silky around the edges, where the 2013 was a dark monolith- this has a lot of fire and life to it despite being similarly backward and primary, notes of new saddle leather, fine long finish with chalk notes, with time in glass a wild ripe cherry note appears underlying the deep pool of blueberry and cassis fruit on the middle, this is quite an exciting wine with the greatest potential, far too young to show its best- but giving some electric glimpses into what is to come, as good as it gets.
(*****), 2031++