Freemark Abbey "Bosche" Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
(Napa Valley, California) - [WA 98+] [WE 94]

About the Winery:
The history of Freemark Abbey began in 1886, when Josephine Marlin Tychson became the first woman to build and operate a winery in California. The historic site where Josephine's winery, Tychson Cellars, once stood is now known as Freemark Abbey.

In the years that followed, Freemark Abbey went through a period of several different owners until 1966, when a group of partners purchased the winery. In only their second vintage, their Cabernet was selected to compete in The Judgement at Paris!

For four decades, until 2020, Ted Edwards was the winemaker, and while he is still on staff as winemaker emeritus and participates in various blending trials, day-to-day winemaking is now helmed by Kristy Melton, the winery's second woman winemaker. Since 2006, Freemark Abbey has been part of the Jackson Family Wines (JFW) portfolio.

About this Wine: 
Freemark Abbey’s bottling of Cabernet Bosché has been an established Napa Valley wine for many vintages. It was, in fact, one of the valley’s first vineyard-designated wines.

Tucked away behind a row of creek-fed trees west of Highway 29, Bosché Vineyard has, as of 2020, been connected to Freemark Abbey for 50 years. The first Cabernet Bosché came out of the 1970 harvest. Since then, it’s been what in France would be called a monopole, or a vineyard entirely under the control of a single winery.

Ratings & Reviews:

98+ Points - Wine Advocate:
"The famous Bosché Vineyard is a spot in Rutherford composed of gravelly, loamy soil and situated just at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains. A blend of 93.8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6.2% Merlot, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Bosché Vineyard was aged 28 months in French oak. This vineyard has turned out many a classic wine capable of lasting 30-40 years, and this 2013 is one of the all-time great Bosché Cabernet Sauvignons. It offers an inky ruby/purple color, a gorgeous nose of graphite, black cherry, wood spice and barbecue notes, enormous body and richness, and a heady, full-bodied, long finish of 50+ seconds with moderately high tannins. This is a great classic from Napa, but not one for drinking over the near-term. Give it 7-8 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 50 years." – Robert Parker (Oct 2016)

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"From a 22-acre site in the middle of the appellation, this is an impressive wine, softened by the addition of 6% Merlot. It boasts crushed rock, black currant and licorice flavors, with an attractive sanguine note. Pencil shavings, black pepper and cigar accents are present throughout." – Virginia Boone (May 2017)