Top Lyndenhurst ever for Dunnuck:
The second wine of this flagship estate, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Lyndenhurst checks in as 75.4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15.9% Merlot, and smaller doses of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec, aged 20 months in 59% new oak. Crème de cassis, graphite, crushed stone, and spicy wood notes all shine here, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a beautiful mid-palate, ripe tannins, and a beautiful finish. It's a true gem of a second wine that will shine for 15-20 years if well stored. Drink 2025-2040.
Also best ever for Decanter:
Spottswoode’s second label builds with blackberry fruit, tobacco, fine cedar, pressed violets, and liquorice. Neatly compact tannins underscore velvety, juicy red berry fruit and baking spice, while an earthy mineral character fuels the long, succulent finish. The perfect complement to the estate Cabernet, as this is readily enjoyable while the flagship slumbers a little longer before you should pop corks.
And best ever for Jancis Robinson:
Deep purple. Elegant black fruit and violet floral notes to the nose. Fresh, juicy acidity, lithely muscular tannin and just-ripe aromatic fruit with medium body. Precise, focused and very fine.
Best ever for Perrotti-Brown, too:
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2023 Lyndenhurst Cabernet Sauvignon comes bounding out with exuberant notes of red currant preserves, wild blueberries, and cassis, leading to hints of menthol, pencil lead, and wild sage. Medium-bodied, the palate is wonderfully elegant and vivacious, delivering red, black, and blue fruit layers with minerally sparks and fine-grained tannins, finishing long and refreshing.
Best in a decade for Suckling:
A ripe, supple and refined red with flair, showing layers of black and blue fruit, violets, graphite, boysenberries, spices and ink. Lovely purity and juiciness bring early-drinking appeal. The palate is smooth and textural with fine-boned tannins and a luscious finish. A delightful representation of many AVAs across Napa Valley, from sourced and estate-grown fruit, including all five red Bordeaux varieties.