Under winemaker Aron Weinkauf, Spottswoode is producing more classical wines than ever, and the 2014 is one of the most tensile, tight-knit benchland Cabernets of the vintage. A classy bouquet of crushed cassis, damson, graphite and spice, subtly framed by new oak, is followed by a taut, firm palate with a serious chassis of fine but abundant tannins, and a lovely line of acidity that lends this Cabernet amazing length. Great concentration and incipient complexity; this just needs time.

At ten years of age, the 2014 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon is still an infant. Cinnamon, orange peel, mint, lavender, rose petal and dried flowers give the bouquet a gorgeous, exotic character. Medium in body and persistent, the 2014 shows the more linear style of the year. All the elements are so well balanced. It's a super-classic wine from this reference-point St. Helena estate.

Dark ruby in color, with just a bit of lightening at the rim, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon offers up striking aromas of damp moss, loam and black cherries, framed by hints of cedar and vanilla. It's medium to full-bodied, rich and velvety in feel, with a long, complex finish redolent of dried spices. It should drink well for at least another decade, probably more.