Boasts concentrated pear, apple and citrus notes that are smooth and spicy, with vanilla bean and crème brûlée accents on the finish. Drink now. 100,000 cases made.

A big, buttery, beautiful trip down RRV’s more robust flavor spots.

The renaissance at Freemark Abbey continues under the Jackson Family Wines banner, and in 2018, even the fruit cooperated. Winemakers Kristy Melton and Ted Edwards are behind his classic rendition of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Fragrant, mouthfilling, and awash in perfectly ripe fruit doused with cigar, cedar, and baking spices that linger forever on the palate. The tannins are dense but supple, providing just the proper structure for a wine you can drink now if you must. That said, it’s going nowhere for the next 20 years. What is more a reserve style red, 2018 mixes 87% cabernet sauvignon, 14% merlot, 6% petit verdot, 2% malbec, and 1% cabernet franc. The fruit comes from all over the Napa Valley, including the east and west valley floor and mountain sites. Primary vineyards include Keyes on Howell Mountain, Stagecoach Vineyard on Atlas Peak, and JFW Oakville Vineyard, with a smattering of cabs from Oakville, Calistoga and Rutherford. It all aged 27 months in French oak barrels, of which 40% were new.

An opaque and inky black into purple, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Speciale is classic and plush, with layers of fresh leather, blackcurrant, pine, and forest floor. Fullbodied and refined, with ripe velvety tannins and a plush cushion of savory fruit, sage, mocha, and turned soil, it has a long, wonderful finish and delivers freshness throughout.
This is prime for cellaring for several years and drinking over the following 2-3 decades

From this high elevation vineyard at 2400 feet above sea level, the 2014 Cabernet
Sauvignon Christopher's Vineyard pours a deep inky red. A robust and ripe profile with
layers of fresh leather, graphite minerals, forest floor, and cassis emerge from the glass. This full-bodied and plush red is velvety in texture, with ripe tannins, savory herbs, black cherry, and a good spine of acidity to keep the wine propelling forward for ages. This library release is going to be something to get excited out and snap up next year when it’s re-released. 400 cases will be released on the market in 2024.

A ripe golden hue, the 2021 Chardonnay Far Coast Vineyard offers more broadness right
away with its perfume of jasmine, ripe tropical fruit, toasted spice, and apricot. Fullbodied, with a soft, viscous texture and notes of honeyed citrus and ripe salted pineapple, it’s long on the finish, with a sunny, opulent feel. It’s approachable now or over the next 6-8 years.

Deep purple with a tinge of ruby, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Crown Vineyard has a more floral and red-fruited tone and is lifted with wet stone, pure cassis, and rosy floral perfume. Ripe with notes of framboise, fine sweet tannins, and turned soil, I find this quite attractive and well-balanced. Drink 2025-2045.

The 2020 Chardonnay Upper Barn Vineyard has a lush perfume of ripe pineapple, apricot, and toasted spices. Full-bodied and well-balanced, it’s long and graceful on the palate within its large frame. Offering notes of marzipan, ripe melon, and lemon pastry, as well as a floral finish, it takes on a seamless nature in structure and balance and should have significant longevity over the next 8-10 years.

I really love the perfume of the 2021 Zinfandel Highwire Vineyard, which has the scent of walking into the forest after a fresh rainfall. Pouring a saturated ruby-purple, notes of blackberry, candied raspberry, and forest herbs are followed by a medium to full-bodied red with a bit more linear and fresh spine of acidity. It packs in compelling structure, with fine tannins and a brightness to the fruit that is long on the palate, revealing notes of fresh peach, dusty soils, and sweet herbs. This may be my favorite of these Zinfandel offerings from Hartford

Similar in appearance to the Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard, the 2021 Zinfandel Dina's
Vineyard boasts a woodsy tone, with aromas of wild medicinal herbs, pine sap, and black raspberry. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, this is another favorite for me in this range of Zin. Offering fresh mineral earth as well as notes of crunchy berries and ripe black cherries, it’s dry and inviting, with fresh acidity, good tannin structure, and a more vertical mouthfeel. Allow it another year and drink 2025-2037.

The 2021 Pinot Noir Arrendell Vineyard is expressive of sassafras, brambly wild berries, and toasted cedar. Full-bodied, with a lot of balance but no harsh edges, it has fresh acidity, an ultra-fine tannin structure, and a long, graceful finish, with candied roses, black raspberry liqueur, and dusty earth. A very attractive wine, it’s drinking well now and will certainly be worth enjoying over the next 15 years.

A deep but transparent red, the 2021 Pinot Noir Jennifer's is a bit more reserved initially but opens to reveal raspberry liqueur, pine sap, and a bit of classic cola spice. Full-bodied, it offers juicy fruit throughout, with fine tannins and fresh acidity that lifts it cleanly off the palate, with fresh berries as well as fresh forest herbs. It’s attractive and charming now, with a lovely floral finish. Drink 2024-2036.

Taking things to the next level, the 2018 Syrah Outer Limits is highly aromatic and expansive in its aromas of pine sap, black cherry preserve, black pepper, and wild lavender. Full-bodied, it has good lift and fresh acidity, with more energy, and notes of olive brine, and charcuterie. This red offers classic appeal, with a good balance of fruity and savory elements. Drink 2023-2040.

Deep ruby, the 2021 Pinot Noir Fog Dance Vineyard is savory and woodsy, slowly evolving in the glass as it opens to notes of pine sap, black cherry preserve, eucalyptus, and dusty earth. Full-bodied, it boasts expansive fruit that fills the palate with fine tannins, a velvety texture, and a long finish, noted with a core of concentrated raspberry, turned soil, and spices on the finish. It’s long on the palate, with a good freshness underneath to
tie this otherwise very opulent wine together. Drink 2025-2040.

Pouring a golden yellow, the 2021 Chardonnay Radian Vineyard brings forward pure, fresh aromatics of candied lime citrus, well-managed oak spice, and wet stone. Mediumbodied, with a cleansing mineral texture and fresh lift, it’s fresh with green melon, bright acidity, a light saline note, and a hint of crushed earth. It’s a very pretty style of white to hold or drink over the next 10 years.

A vibrant and pure Chardonnay with great energy, the medium gold 2021 Chardonnay Three Jacks Vineyard is lifted with flint and dusty earth, as well as lime zest, white pepper, and green apple. Medium-bodied, it has ripe, sweet fruit throughout, and a balanced, fresh feel. Offering remarkable evenness in its balance,
with floral notes of white flowers and lemon curd continuing through to its long finish, this is my favorite of the whites in the lineup. Drink 2024-2032

An opaque inky purple, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Smothers-Remick Ridge is
luxurious with vanilla oak spice, blackberry preserve, and leather. Full-bodied and lush in its texture, with velvety tannins and notes of black plum, mocha, and tea leaf on the
palate, it’s ripe and fleshy, with good structure. This needs time to develop into a more savory realm.

A medium golden hue, the 2021 Riesling has fresh and attractive aromatics of ripe peach,citrus blossoms, and lime candy. Fully dry, this medium-bodied white has a wonderfulcore of fresh acidity and concentration. It off ers a beautifully elegant texture and revealsnotes of savory herbs, mouthwatering salinity, fresh lime zest, green apple, and darkminerals. I love this wine for its impressive, layered aromatics and its savory character.Drink it over the next 10 or more years.

Pouring a youthful yellow with a shimmering green hue, the 2020 Chardonnay Broken
Road Vineyard has the most energy and focused drive in this lineup. Its aromas of lemon curd, honeycomb, ripe pear, and wet stone are followed by a medium to full-bodied white with a cushion of fruit, a driving feel, and a stony texture that’s balanced well with melon,
peach, and delicate spice. Drink 2024-2034.

Medium yellow with a tinge of silver, the 2021 Chardonnay Jennifer's is ripe but has lift, with aromas of flint, yellow flowers, chamomile, and fresh yellow apple. Medium-bodied, with a driving, vibrant structure, it has more dryness and citrus tones on the palate, with
Meyer lemon, smoky earth, and green apple skin. It’s long on the palate, with a more
linear feel. Drink 2024-2032.

Taking a darker and savory tone aromatically, the 2021 Chardonnay Fog Dance Vineyard is a youthful yellow with a tinge of silver and lifts with notes of salty earth, hay, lime leaf, and mango skin aromas. This medium-bodied Chardonnay is ripe up front, with juicy melon followed by a nice spine of lemon-lime citrus on the finish and a more persistent sense of acidity. Give it another year and drink 2024-2032.

A ripe golden hue, the 2021 Chardonnay Far Coast Vineyard offers more broadness right
away with its perfume of jasmine, ripe tropical fruit, toasted spice, and apricot. Fullbodied, with a soft, viscous texture and notes of honeyed citrus and ripe salted pineapple, it’s long on the finish, with a sunny, opulent feel. It’s approachable now or over the next
6-8 years.

Medium ruby, the 2021 Pinot Noir Warrior Princess is lifted with wild herbs and spiced
with clove, raspberry, and orange oil. Medium-bodied, it has fine tannins and fresh acidity throughout, with a bright and ripe nature, including notes of fresh herbs,
grenadine, and lifted menthol. Drink 2024-2034.

A medium ruby hue, the 2021 Pinot Noir Velvet Sisters is minty and fresh with ripe
raspberry, menthol, cinnamon, and quinine. Medium-bodied, with a clean mineral feel,
ripe dusty tannins, and notes of tangerine, grenadine, and fresh earth, it’s a refreshing
wine in the range. Drink 2024-2034.

The ruby-hued 2021 Pinot Noir Seascape Vineyard is expressive in its floral and spicy
perfume of candied roses, wild cherry, and cinnamon spice. Medium-bodied, with fine
tannins and bright acidity, it’s ripe with fresh cranberry, orange zest, and smoky earth. It has a good, snappy finish, with wild forest herbs and a lightly musty note. Drink 2024-2032.