2011 Spottswoode, Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena, Magnum (1.5L)

AG96 "I have tasted the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon enough to longer be surprised at how well it shows next to the vintages that surround it. Perfumed and floral, with striking nuance, the 2011 is exceptionally beautiful. Lavender, menthol and sweet red cherry are all laced throughout. Because of the cold, rainy conditions, the 2011 is naturally a bit more floral and savory than the norm, but it also has more than enough fruit and overall depth to balance things out. Once again, Spottswoode's 2011 is exquisitely beautiful."AG for VM Oct 2018

I tasted a large number of wines at Spottswoode this year, including a mini-vertical of the flagship Cabernet Sauvignon that spanned every vintage winemaker Aron Weinkauf has been at the estate. It won't come as a surprise that Spottswoode, one of Napa Valley's elite properties, turned out brilliant wines in top vintages like 2013 and 2016. The wine that always surprises me in this lineup of recent vintages (which I have had occasion to taste more than once) is the 2011, as it is a challenging vintage that is the true testament to an estate's commitment to quality. This is an absolutely captivating set of wines from Spottswoode and the team led by proprietor Beth Novak Milliken.