Freemark Abbey Freemark Abbey Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 750ml

Blended from portions of Sycamore, Bosché and another vineyard, Freemark Abbey’s 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford features scents of cassis, plum and hints of dark chocolate on the nose. A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc, matured in 55% new French oak, it’s full-bodied, dusty and firmly built. There’s even more structure here than in the Oakville bottling, yet the wine remains elegant on the lengthy finish.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford is vibrant and super-expressive right out of the gate. Inky dark fruit, mocha, plum, chocolate licorice and spice are pushed forward. Dollops of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc add dimension, especially in the aromatics. This energetic Cabernet has so much to offer. (Antonio Galloni)

There are roughly 2,000 cases of the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford, which comes from the Red Barn, Bosche, and Sycamore Vineyards. A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 8% Petit Verdot, this black-fruited, medium to full-bodied, nicely balanced 2019 has plenty of up-front fruit, velvety tannins, and a great finish.