Freemark Abbey - A Change In Winemakers, Not In StyleAnother single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Freemark Abbey; the Sycamore Vineyard is slightly more than a mile south of Bosché, and is situated up against the Mayacamas Mountains. Bright, deep ruby red; aromas of black cherry, blackberry and violets. Excellent ripeness, subdued wood notes, good acidity. Silky tannins and balanced acidity. Peak in 10-12 years. Excellent

Freemark Abbey - A Change In Winemakers, Not In StyleThis Cabernet Sauvignon from the Bosché vineyard in Rutherford has been the signature wine of Freemark Abbey for more than three decades. Bright, deep ruby red; aromas of black currant, black cherry and violets. Rich mid-palate, excellent persistence. Lovely wine, with beautiful complexity as well as impressive depth in the finish. Excellent persistence, good acidity. Approachable now, but this will be more impressive with additional time in the bottle. Peak in 12-15 years, perhaps longer. Outstanding

Freemark Abbey - A Change In Winemakers, Not In StyleAromas of black cherry, raspberry and red poppy. Medium-full with very good concentration. Quite harmonious, with round, elegant tannins and good acidity. Very well made, this offers bright, ripe Cabernet Sauvignon fruit that is very appealing. Approachable now, but best to wait another year or two, with peak drinking in 7-10 years. Excellent

Freemark Abbey - A Change In Winemakers, Not In StyleBright ruby red; aromas of black cherry and red flowers. Medium-full - 60% of the fruit is from Howell Mountain - the tannins are quite soft and the wine is nicely structured. Balanced acidity, elegant finish. Enjoyable now- drink over the next 5-7 years. Excellent

Freemark Abbey - A Change In Winemakers, Not In StyleLight yellow; aromas of lemon peel, orange blossom, and a hint of grapefruit. Medium-bodied, elegant, with finesse; a subdued style. Good acidity and nicely balanced; oak notes are nicely integrated. Enjoy over the next 3-5 years. Very Good

Freemark Abbey - A Change In Winemakers, Not In StyleTextbook varietal aromas of grass and light herbs (coriander, basil), with delicate notes of melon and pear. Medium-bodied, with very good freshness; touch of spearmint on the palate. Medium-bodied, this is clean and nicely balanced with good acidity. Refreshing - enjoy over the next 2-3 years. Very Good

Find a Beauty of A Sleeper WineMy friend Alan contributed two wines he considers sleepers, as well: the 2015 Capensis Chardonnay, a Chardonnay from the Western Cape of South Africa...

Enjoy Italy's Best Wines at HomeTenuta di Arceno had a terrific offering of a Chianti Classico and two Super Tuscans, one Merlot-dominant (2013 Valadorna) and one Cabernet Franc-dominant (2013 Arcanum). Both were delicious but I favored the Valadorna which was a blend of 74% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Full of ripe plum, blueberry, and sweet spice, this wine showcased Merlot at its finest.

Enjoy Italy's Best Wines at HomeTenuta di Arceno had a terrific offering of a Chianti Classico and two Super Tuscans, one Merlot-dominant (2013 Valadorna) and one Cabernet Franc-dominant (2013 Arcanum). Both were delicious but I favored the Valadorna which was a blend of 74% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Full of ripe plum, blueberry, and sweet spice, this wine showcased Merlot at its finest.

Murphy-Goode Sauvignon Blanc - North Coast NectarDry, delicious and highly recommended, the Murphy-Goode North Coast The Fumé Sauvignon Blanc.The 2018 Murphy-Goode Sauvignon Blanc begins with very pleasing aromas of lemongrass, citrus and a little tropical fruit. Tasting the wine reveals a smooth, slightly creamy texture from the deft addition of barrel fermentation to 13% of the juice. You’ll also find refreshing notes of pear, pineapple and citrus with a bit of a herbal touch and bright acidity in this tasty wine. It finishes crisply and with surprising length silently begging you to take another sip.This is a great option for seafood, spicy foods or just sitting on the porch in warm weather. Highly Recommended!

This is a wine with personality and attitude. Not a 'pretty pretty' Pinot but shows the grape’s wildest face, with soy, spice and rosehips and a hint of ferrous bloodiness layered on top of wild strawberries. The tannins, though fine, are raspy, the acidity focused and taut. Drinking Window 2025 – 2042.

Although this is a bit closed on the nose, the wine opens up on the palate to reveal very pure and precise lemon and yuzu fruit, with complexing notes of stony minerality and orange blossom. Precise and linear, with a long, luminous finish. Potentially one of the best Chardonnays in Australia. Drinking Window 2026 – 2042.

The oak is still quite present on the nose but there’s plenty of fruit on the palate to absorb it over time. Brooding and dense palate of dark plums and blood orange but enlivened by some very pretty red cherry and raspberry fruit and a hint of lavender. The tannins are supple and fine but firm enough to lend structure. Poised and approachable in its youth but should age well. Drinking window 2024 – 2042.

Dense and taut mid-palate with fine tannins that grip gentle on the long finish. The palate blends blood plum and orange with something altogether more wild and earthy, although the finish is perfumed with notes of violets and rosehips. Great freshness.

There’s almost a waxy texture to the rounded, fleshy mid-palate. Layers of flavour and great concentration of yuzu, mandarin and pink grapefruit, along with subtle traces of ginger spice and salty. Minerality. Brisk acidity provides balance and helps extend the long finish. Drinking Window 2025 – 2040.

A slightly reductive, smoky note on the nose, and an incisive, focused palate with precise, taut acidity. The citrus fruit – yuzu, Meyer lemon – is subtly inflected with notes of ginger spice, and there’s a twist of salty minerality on the finish. Great ageing potential. Drinking Window 2025 – 2040.

There’s something slightly green and crunchy about this wine, in the best possible way, and it adds brightness to the rich palate of dark cherries and strawberries. The tannins show some gentle grip, and the long finish is dusted with pepper. Drinking Window 2026 – 2040.

Chiselled and precise, with layers of lime, grapefruit and lemon fruit on the palate and a hint of something riper and more tropical to add richness. Taut and austere in its youth but should age very well. Drinking Window 2025 – 2040.

Deep plum colour, confident and dominant Cabernet aromatics, violets, bright vivid fleshy dark fruits, crushed raspberries, plum, greengage and even touches of cherry pit, squid ink, liqourice root, perhaps a little more bright and crunchy fruit than in richer years, but a success. A great classic St Emilion.

Not the most vivid of noses but the wine opens up on the palate to reveal notes of raspberry and blood orange, along with some tertiary notes of sandalwood and forest floor. Still surprisingly primary, though, sustained by lively acidity and fine, powdery tannins. Drinking Window 2024 – 2032.

Incredibly perfumed and dense, with notes of rosehips, cranberries, red cherries, wild herbs and orange zest, with a thread of spicy sandalwood grounding the ripe fruit. Very fine, supple tannins and lively acidity. The layered finish shows a suggestion of earthy autumn leaves hinting at the start of some development. Drinking Window 2024 – 2038.

Still remarkably youthful and primary, with a suggestion of oak spice inflecting a palate packed with lemon curd, candied grapefruit and pineapple, as well as a hint of toasted nuts. Nicely balanced, with a long finish. Drinking Window 2024 – 2035.

This tastes like a citrus grove has exploded on your palate, with mandarin zest, yuzu and pink grapefruit all partying together. There’s some stone fruit and hazelnuts along with a hint of honeyed richness and a salty mineral note. The texture is thick and weighty, but thanks to the lively acidity there’s focus too. Beautifully balanced, despite the power. Drinking Window 2024 – 2035.

A delicate wine that’s all about elegance rather than power. Notes of bergamot, white blossom and toasted hazelnut, with a note of pickled ginger on the long finish. Crisp and seamless. Drinking Window 2024 – 2035.

The fruit here is spiced red cherry and raspberry, with an unexpected twist of tamarillo. The subtle oak is already beginning to integrate well. Silky, supple tannins show some gentle grip. Drinking Window 2024 – 2032.