While all these wines have a certain Bordeaux-like character, the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is unquestionably a dead-ringer for a great vintage of Château Margaux and has an incredibly complex, full-bodied, layered style carrying ample darker currant fruits, lots of chocolate, spice, smoked earth, and incense notes, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It opens up nicely with time in the glass and is fully mature yet should continue evolving for another 15-20 years.

A beautiful Cabernet nose with masses of black currants and sun baked stones. Full bodied, with heavy tannins and a big complex structure. The long finish rounds out this sleeping giant. Six to eight years from now this will be very ready to go. Pull the cork in 2018.

A small crop of 1,953 cases and a final blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc emerged from the 2008 vintage, that was known for the damaging fires north of Napa and Sonoma that caused smoke damage to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyards in Anderson Valley and sites on the Sonoma Coast. The wine from Spottswoode is pure and rich with deep ruby/purple color, a touch of blackcurrants and floral notes, a medium to full body, slightly chunkier and less profound than the 2007, but still another top-notch effort from this first-growth terroir. It should continue to drink well for another 15-20 years. - RP

Firm, dense and chewy, deep and concentrated, with complex currant, dried berry, blueberry, mineral, sage, cedar and tobacco flavors. Very tight, this needs of aeration and/or cellar space. Ends with an aftertaste of loamy earth. Best from 2013 through 2022. 1,954 cases made. — JL