This firm, fairly vibrant moderately fruity young wine draws back a bit as far ripeness goes and keys on spry, lightly briary, black-cherry fruit. While its tannins are tame, it shows a bit of acid-pushed on the back end and will be much improved by a few years of rest in the bottle.

Looking for a delicious, full-bodied cab? Here it is. Opulent blackberry and chocolate aromas with hints of clove and rich cherry and cassis flavors.

Initially a bit closed, but opened to reveal aromas of dark berry fruit, violets, spicy cinnamon and touch of chocolate. Flavors mirrored the nose with abundant ripe fruit qualities supported by firm-but-approachable tannins and notes of clove, new leather and cola nut.

Small amounts of merlot, cab franc, malbec, petit verdot and petite sirah are in the blend, which adds complexity. The ripe fruit grabs you first, but there are other subtle flavors lurking in the background - vanilla, cedar and mint - and the tannins are well-integrated.

Small amounts of merlot, cab franc, malbec, petit verdot and petite sirah are in the blend, which adds complexity. The ripe fruit grabs you first, but there are other flavors lurking in the background - vanilla, cedar and mint - and the tannins are well-integrated.

Black cherry scents are joined in the aromas by background hints of currants, loam and briar all in good depth and proportion, and the wine, while not being pushy, delivers medium-depth, nicely balanced flavors that repeat its attractive varietal themes. A bit dry and tannic as it finishes, this one can grow with age.

We loved the intense, complex flavors of this powerful cabernet sauvignon. It has loads of blueberry, cassis and cola flavors with hints of cedar and chocolate.

A cab with firm tannins. Aromas and flavors of currant, black cherry, cedar and dark chocolate. Long finish.

Aromas and flavors of black cherry, blackberry, cedar and chocolate. Great integration. Nice mouth-feel. Long finish.

Vibrant blackcurrants, exotic spice overlay; juicy black fruits, lovely fresh acidity, gentle tannins, long, fresh finish. Very pretty. Up to 2 years.

Freemark Abbey Cabernet Bosché is a Napa Valley Classic I’ll admit that I spend my wine days and nights in New York chasing the obscure. Bring me all your wonderfully weird wines! Sometimes, though, this is at the expense of the classics. Case in point would be the Freemark Abbey Cabernet Bosché. I had the pleasure of tasting this wine with Ted Edwards, director of winemaking. He’s been responsible for the wines at Freemark Abbey for over three decades. Now that’s a hell of a tenure. After a very nice 2016 Chardonnay (extremely satisfying for $30) we dove into two library wines. The 2003 was in an outstanding place. I have to confess to not liking super-old wines. OK, if you want to open a top Bordeaux from 1945, 1961, 1982, etc. for me I would be absolutely delighted. But in general I do not like wines that have lost all their fruit, particularly white wines. So at 15 years, this wine was perfect. Plenty of primary fruit flavors with a blend of those secondary, more savory characteristics that only come with bottle age. The decade-old 2008 was remarkably youthful.

The day after his keynote address, Spurrier led a tasting at the CIA Greystone of current and older vintage wines from estates that participated in the 1976 tasting. My notes from my favorites appear below... The Napa Valley, Rutherford, Bosché, Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 has rich earthy aromas, round and spicy in the mouth and chewy tannins needing time to pull it all together. The 2002 Napa Valley, Bosché Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 shows how beautiful the 2014 can be when it does come together. This wine is seamless and balanced with cassis flavors with a note of dark chocolate and smooth with silky tannins.

This dry, crisp, floral white is not for all palates. It may take years to build up your experience to appreciate a complex wine like this — and when you do, it’s a revelation. It’s an intense perfume of honeysuckle, essence of orange, sweet lichee nut, coconut and the bitter pith of citrus. In the mouth, that floral, herbal quality translates into a pungent, bitter-sweet personality that totally sets it apart.

Napa Valley: pale yellow color, rich, with aromas and flavors of vanilla, apricots and tangerines.

Aromas of white flowers and vanilla, soft and rich, with vanilla and citrus flavors.

There's a tangy fragrance to this white from California's Napa Valley. The flavor offers crisp pear and green apple flavors balanced by a slight buttery quality. Serve with fried cod, shrimp salad, pork tenderloin with apple sauce.

Wines of the Week Freemark Abbey winery dates back to the pre-prohibition days of the late 19th century when the historic stone winery was constructed by Antonio Forni and named Lombarda Cellars after his birthplace in Italy. Today, the winery follows traditions going back to 1967 and modern era Napa winemaking. Look for bright aromas of citrus, grass and melon with tropical flavors and a refreshing crisp finish.

Emphasis on good acidity over fruit, great structure, classy approach. 2 stars, very good.

Recommended Wineries and Wines in St. Helena Appellation

Screw cap. An excellent, fine quality Sauvignon. It is supple, full bodied, balanced, and long on the finish, tasting of peach, apple, honeysuckle, lemon grass, white pepper, and lime. Excellent value. 4.9% Semillon. Fermented and aged: 62% in stainless steel, 38% in French oak barrels. 4+ stars, excellent.

Wine of the Week Lime, lemongrass, and a trace of peach are only three of the many subtle aroma Notes. The wine is dry (think oysters!), but succulent enough to work with slightly broader food as well, especially if it is not too cold.

This is a zesty sauvignon blanc with notes of grapefruit, melon and edgy lemon-grass. Bright acidity. This sauvignon blanc has a big personality. Tasty. 3½ stars.