2017 Freemark Abbey Sycamore Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Winemaker Notes:  The nose opens with aromas of blackberry, blueberry, black current and boysenberry. The fruit elements are complimented with notes of forest floor, cigar box, dark chocolate and espresso. The wine is rich and balanced and French oak barrels add the ideal amount of complexity with notes of baking spice and warm vanilla. This is a full-bodied wine with integrated tannins that give it a long, lingering finish. Stunning. Primary Vineyard: Sycamore Vineyard—Rutherford (100%): Small 24-acre vineyard located about 1.2 miles south of Bosche, right up against the Mayacamas Range, this vineyard has a rich clay loam. Sycamore Vineyard produces small berries reminiscent of mountain fruit berries, with intense extract of color and flavor. The color is very dark early in the fermentation, with flavors of black currant and black berry with a forest floor complexity.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


James Suckling - "Mint, spearmint, dark-berry and blueberry aromas. Leaves and sage, too. Full-bodied and firm with fantastic depth. Cool fruit with menthol and mint. Spice. Refreshing. Firm tannins. Fantastic 2017. Drink or hold. "


Wine Enthusiast - "This deeply colored Cabernet sees small additions of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. It is soft and supple, with red fruit at its core. A mix of cherry and currant play well against the savory components and graceful structure."


Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - "The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Sycamore Vineyards was aged for 27 months in French oak barrels, 74% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose features compelling notions of crème de cassis, blueberry compote and boysenberries with suggestions of black olives, fragrant earth and fallen leaves plus a waft of Indian spices. Medium to full-bodied, taut, muscular and packed with black fruit layers, it has a solid structure of firm, grainy tannins, delivering a long, refreshing finish. "


Jeb Dunnuck - "The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Sycamore Vineyard is a bigger, darker, more structured wine with firm tannins as well as outstanding purity in its blackcurrant-like fruits as well as notes of candied violets, tobacco, and gravelly earth. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and tannic, hide bottles for 4-5 years. Rating: 90+"