Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
(Napa Valley, California) - [WE 93] [WS 92] [JD 91]
Regular price $80.00 Sale price $79.97 Save $0.03
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:
At Freemark Abbey, the twin pillars of its success over many years have been the single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons: Bosché and Sycamore, that have graced its labels since 1970 and 1985, respectively. To create its other Napa Valley red wines, Ted Edwards, Kristy Melton, and their winemaking team currently work with at least 15 additional vineyards. Beyond Rutherford, Freemark Abbey’s story is told through vineyard sites up and down Napa Valley, from Calistoga down to Yountville, and in mountain vineyards on both sides of the valley.
Notes from the Winemaker:
Our 2019 Napa Valley Cabernet is our interpretation of a quintessentially classic style. The color is deep garnet and the nose yields aromas of dark chocolate, pomegranate, cedar shavings, blackberry, and leather. The palate exhibits flavors of blueberry compote, black cherry, espresso, and cigar box with bright and juicy fruit forward sensations. The texture is rich and bold with well-structured tannins that make it approachable now and will yield great results in the cellar for decades.
Grape Composition: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 2% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc
Vineyard Composition: 33% Oakville, 20% Atalon, 5% Keyes, 2% Sycamore, 40% other Napa growers
Aging: 24 months in French Oak barrels (41% new)
Alcohol: 14.5%
Ratings & Reviews:
93 Points - Wine Enthusiast:"This bold, ripe but nicely polished wine wraps black cherries, black currants and mint in moderate, fine-grained tannins that will help carry it for several years. Subtle cinnamon, clove and cedar accents keep it interesting on the finish. Best through 2030." – Jim Gordon (Jul 2023)
92 Points - Wine Spectator:
"A fresh, polished style, with a relatively open-knit core of boysenberry and black cherry compote backed by friendly singed vanilla and licorice notes. A crowd-pleaser. Drink now through 2031. 25,000 cases made." – JM Oct 2023)
91 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"A wine that’s been made since 1967, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is a beautifully textured, medium-bodied, sweetly fruited charmer that has lots of cassis and redcurrant fruit, some spicy oak, ripe tannins, and the balance to evolve and drink nicely for a decade. I think it’s outstanding." (Feb 2023)