Jay Kline

9.4

Presented to me double-blind. The wine pours a deep garnet/purple with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears and some signs of very fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of mostly ripe with some tart and drying fruits: cassis, blackberries, pipe tobacco, Serrano pepper, purple flowers, leather, and a pleasant mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and the alcohol is medium+. FWIW, this is an impressive wine on the nose and the palate.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Cabernet Sauvignon (or blend there of) or Sangiovese-blend, or Tempranillo (or blend) from the United States, France, Italy or Spain. However, the shear generosity of fruit and lavish oak treatment leads me to Napa. Additionally, there’s a structure that gives me mountain fruit vibes. Final conclusion: this is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend from the United States, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain, 2015. Perhaps I was trying to be a bit too clever but scoring lots of points nonetheless. Probably one of the more memorable, contemporary Freemark Abbey’s I’ve had. Really impressive. Drink now through 2050. — 8 hours ago

Lauren Young

9.3

Needs decanting, — 12 days ago

Mark Mannebach

9.4

Smooth like silk, red fruit still there with soft tannins and long finish — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

I have said before, they farm some of the best Napa Bordeaux blended fruits. There are likely different opinions on what happens in the winemakers process after harvest. But on pure fruit, yeah they do. This 23 is no exception.

The fruits are ripe, lush, ruby; blackberries, black raspberry w/ awesome purple & blue fruits. It is round, elegant, very balanced. Softly layered baking spices with candied red, dark flowers with violets, rainfall acidity with a finish that lasts two-minutes and lands on moist clay & fruit.

Tasted at Roy Estates. The view from Roy Estate is one of the very best, if not the best view of Napa rolling vineyards. — 12 days ago

Inseon Hwang

9.2

Black cherries and blackberries, balanced tannins and structure, minerals, slight graphite. — 14 days ago

Tom Garland

9.4

1.5 hour decant(some chunky sediment). A remarkable inky purplish garnet color with some bricking. On the nose: exquisite notes of ripe dark berries, cassis, smoked meat, floral, black olives, mint. Taste: velvety, elegant, structured mouthcoating wine with blackberry, cassis, earth, licorice, crushed stone, and a spiced-mineral-dark chocolate espresso long finish. YUM!! — 2 months ago

with Brenda

Joel Lara

9.3

Nicely balanced with fresh acidity and soft tannins that leave a slight dryness on the finish. Notes of cassis, raspberries, blackberries, and bitter chocolate on the palate with underlying hints of cloves, pepper, and black olives. Lovely, persistent finish. Went really well with dry-aged ribeye. — 12 days ago

Cary Jones

9.3

My last bottle of this special, super smooth wine. Did not disappoint. — 11 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Pale straw lemon color with aromas of tropical fruit, lime citrus and grassy aromas. On the palate flavors of pear and grapefruit with herb notes, vivid acidity. Medium+ finish, ending with fruit, grassy noted and mineral tones. — a month ago

Ed Chin

9.2

Restrained in a really good way. Tannins were a little dusty that added some character. A few years would be beneficial — 3 months ago