Particularly pale with lots of brick to orange on the rim. Classic mature claret nose. A real trip down memory lane for me of my early days in the wine world ? like a 1960s red bordeaux. Again a slight marine/oyster shell note plus a little bit of menthol. Relatively lightweight but lovely balance in a delicate way. Transparent. It made it into the Wine Spectator top 100 wines and put Spottswoode on the map. (LM)

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Although I have been disappointed with some earlier Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignons, that cannot be said about this extraordinary effort. Still youthful, backward, and immensely promising, this rich, powerful, concentrated wine displays sensational extract, admirable purity, layers of ripe black-cherry and cassis fruit, fine integrated acidity for focus, and sweet, ripe, tannin in a lengthy finish. Unevolved and young, it is capable of 15 more years of cellaring. I have always felt this was one of the finest Cabernet Sauvignons Spottswoode ever made, and this tasting confirmed those thoughts. California's answer to Chateau Margaux?

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Still fruity and elegant. A delightful surprise after 25 years!