1997 Spottswoode, Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena, Bottle (750ml)

RP98 "A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, the 1997 is just short of perfection from this great vintage in Napa Valley. A spectacular wine, it was the first made by Rosemary Cakebread. Production was quite high, as the new plantings started to fully produce, with 4,800+ cases declared. This is wine that fills the olfactory senses with gorgeous ripeness, blueberries, black raspberries, blackberries and cassis, while spring flowers and a touch of oak still lingers in the aromatics. When the wine hits the palate, the extraordinary intensity, purity and multi-dimensional complexity all seem to converge with a cascade of fruit, glycerin and richness. Like most Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignons, it is only 13.8% alcohol. This is a magnificent wine, a young adolescent in the scheme of its potentially fascinating evolution and should have a good 25-30+ years left in it – although it’s strutting its stuff at present. Certainly in the first two decades of Spottswoode wines this is clearly one of the most compelling efforts." RP Aug 2016

LP98 "The 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon, with 5% Cabernet Franc in the blend, is deep brick in color. It shoots from the glass with notions of blackcurrant pastilles, prunes, blueberry pie, and Indian spices, followed by hints of unsmoked cigars, dried flowers, and tilled red loam. The medium to full-bodied palate is still tightly wound, with black and blue fruit layers supported by fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with loads of floral and mineral sparks. Still very youthful, this wine will still be going strong for another 20+ years. This was the year Rosemary Cakebread took over as winemaker." LPB for TWI Sep 2022