January 19, 2024 - From a 3L, gifted this one many years ago. Opened for the kids today with family visiting......decanted for around 3-4 hours. Enjoyed by everyone but it's pretty plain. Not much stands out. The nose is very average, the palate is very average. Red fruited with adequate tannins. It's a solid wine, but nothing spectacular in any way.
July 4, 2023 - Wine is in a very good place. PNP but consumed over three hours. Balanced with good structure and a moderately long finish. Best beginning at hour two. Still a decent QPR for a Napa cab.
June 29, 2023 - 94 Jun 2023 at first too coying, but after 30 min it balanced out to a full, silky (but still some acid), cassis dominated wine. After a fantastic burgundy, this ended up being a great follow up. Would buy again to see if the brilliance can be repeated.
May 20, 2023 - Dark indigo in color. Rich and fruity in the palate. Dominated by blackberry, dark cherry, eucalyptus and tobacco. Really big and robust. Full bodied with grippy, bold tannins. Good now but will improve for at least the next 5 years.
April 29, 2023 - Black pepper very noticeable
December 11, 2022 - Dark ruby. Fragrant. Black fruits, cassis, plum, dark chocolate, tobacco. Delicious full body with smooth mouthfeel. Balanced, with soft tannins and a long finish. Previous bottle had cork taint so I'm so happy. This is Freemark Abbey the way I remember from bottles back in the 1978 vintage.
November 23, 2022 - What a difference 3 years has made. Very nicely balanced with dark fruit then smooth tannins to finish. Very nice.
August 30, 2022 - See 6/26/22 notes. If I had re-read them first, I would have waited before pulling this out.
June 26, 2022 - Dark Cherry color. Dark berry, plum, chocolate and a hint of menthol on the nose. Blackberry, cassis, cocoa and green pepper on the palate. Medium, balanced acidity. Full bodied with still strong tannins. This is opening nicely with at least 5 years of improvement possibility left.
June 5, 2022 - 05062022 - Bkk trip with the fam. Almost opaque dark ruby core with bright hue edges at its rims & moderately heavy legs. Nose; dark berries, plum, cherry, some currants, cocoa nibs & hint of bell pepper. Palate; plethora of dark fruits, tasted some blueberries, chocolate milkshake with cocoa powder, oak, & spicy cedar notes. Medium bodied with mid-high acidity, still grippy tannins but after 4 hours breathing in the bottle, the wine is more ready - plenty of poise and elegance with a enjoyable velvety long finish