(I tasted Spottswoode's Lot 18, which will make up the heart of the blend; picked before the October rains): Good bright ruby. Black cherry and floral flavors dominate on the nose and palate. Glyceral, sweet and surprisingly full for this cool year, with an attractive high-toned quality. Turns a bit more clenched on the back end, where the tannins build. Excellent potential here but dominated by its structure today.

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Spottswoode's 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon flows across the palate with gorgeous depth and purity. Warm hints of mocha, espresso, exotic spices and plums blossom in the glass in this dark, voluptuous Cabernet. The 2010 is surprisingly open at this stage, but I expect it will shut down over the next few years. Readers who want to taste the 2010 should do so within the next 6-12 months. This stunning wine remains incredibly primary, but it promises to drink well for several decades. Graphite, menthol and violets are layered into the precise, delineated finish.

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