The Black Abbey Brewing Co.

Freemark Abbey

Napa Valley Merlot 2021

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Fruity nose and full bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate and complex.

Showing black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, toast, light vanilla, spices, dark chocolates, licorice, coffee, tobacco, light earth, herbs and peppercorn.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Merlot from Napa Valley. Rich and fruit forward. Nicely balanced with nice complexity. Tangy and interesting.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 90 minutes of airtime.

Still young, and needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly, but already drinking beautifully.

A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with food.

A blend of 94% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 19 months in (32% new) French Oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$55.
— 3 days ago

Douglas, Tom and 6 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Their Merlot is consistently good, year after year.

Bedrock Wine Co.

Dolinsek Ranch Heritage Red Blend

Young and fresh but showing many of the Dolinsek’s traditional traits: a big nose of blue and black fruits followed by a fruit forward wine of the same. It’s got bright acidity and firm tannins with a hint of black olive and pepper deeper in the wine. Drinking well now with loads of potential. — 2 months ago

Freemark Abbey

Bosché Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 1992

Decant and pour. A fabulous still dark garnet with bricking. On the nose: Intoxicating musky sweet notes of cherry/plum, wet forest floor, stewed meat, black olives. Taste: creamy, silky smooth wine with dried cherry, prunes, soy sauce, pepper, smokey earth, mocha and a medium plus finish. Sure, on the downside, but showing its 31 year age beautifully and fun to drink tonight. Won a charity auction of old wines direct from the winery so more old vintage reviews down the road — 3 years ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Steve and 9 others liked this

Clos du Val Wine Co.

Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1992

Greg Ballington
9.2

Perfect wine to celebrate the wife’s birthday this last week. Medium garnet red and clear in appearance. Well rounded nose with truffles, damp earthiness, cherries and some black berries. Medium tannins (5.5/10), balanced acidity and medium plus body. Balanced palate with tobacco, leather, earthiness, black plums and cherries. Long finish. Drink till 2027. — 4 years ago

India Okoh
with India
Alex, Paul and 17 others liked this

Site Wine Co.

Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah

Rob N
9.3

2016 syrah. Terrific. Ripe black fruit with a bite of red fruit. Great value for $40. — 6 years ago

Cruse Wine Co.

Monkey Jacket North Coast Red Blend 2017

Fresh berries, pomegranate, black currants, with hint of cacao and chalkiness on the finish. Light and easy to drink with mild tannins. Valdiguie shines through. — 7 years ago

Cruse Wine Co.

Charles Heintz Vineyard Syrah 2014

Floral, med + acid, crunchy red and black fruits ⚡️😋 — 7 years ago

Iwan, Shay and 6 others liked this

La Jota Vineyard Co.

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Black and blue fruit, coffee, black rock, dried herb, mint, dark chocolate and tobacco. — 2 months ago

Joel, Bob and 8 others liked this
Brian S

Brian S Influencer Badge

Black and blue fruit, coffee, black rock, dried herb, mint, dark chocolate and tobacco.

Clos du Val Wine Co.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Actually a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (77%), Merlot (12%), Malbec (5%), Cabernet Franc (4%) Petite Verdot (2%). Dark ruby color with some purple highlights. Aroma of ripe black fruit, violets, cedar and burnt caramel. Flavors of black berry/currant/plum fruit, black tea, savory herbs and spices. Lingering finish, plush, well balanced with fine grained tannins. Solid value. Enjoyed at Thyme Rooftop Restaurant with Keith S! — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister, Dave and 2 others liked this

Matchbook Wine Co.

The Arsonist California Petit Verdot Blend 2021

Very hipster tattoo styled label. 52% Petite Verdot, 25% Cab Sauv, 23% Malbec. Dark, dark maroon color. Aroma is gravel and molasses. Maybe a hint of berry. Flavors are beefy and big. Lots of dried black cherry. Some molasses. Tannins are well represented. Has that classic Matchbook herbal streak. This went well with the lamb and mushroom dish I made. A great blend. Lots of zip and zing. Delicious. — 5 months ago

Dave, Douglas and 1 other liked this

Cameron Winery

Abbey Ridge Pinot Noir 2019

Gor
9.2

Signs of cemi carbonic maceration tastes like a cru beajolais with an extra layer of complexity. Black pepper, red currant, cherries, roses. Cool stuff. — 4 years ago

Freemark Abbey

Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

In a dumb phase, but when it opens it’s good. Black currant, licorice, dusty black cherry. Fine acids paired with subtle sweetness. — 4 years ago

Peter, Andrew and 24 others liked this
Josh Morgenthau

Josh Morgenthau Influencer Badge

Well maybe it wasn’t the absolute smartest but it WAS charming as hell and a good value to boot. They can’t all be card-carrying mensa member @Lyle Fass wines.
Lyle Fass

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@Josh Morgenthau sounds like the women I date. 😁
Lyle Fass

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@Severn Goodwin KAWS >>>>> FAWS (gotta google this one)

La Jota Vineyard Co.

Anniversary Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2000

Nose has mashed blackberry, ripe black current, ripe black cherry, wet saddle leather, horse barn, dried mint, fried green herbs, chopped bacon, muddy garden soil, constantly developing...

Palate has mahogany shavings, black cherry 🍒, dried garden soil, day old bacon bacon 🥓, over-ripe black currant, warm dark chocolate, (minor) baking spice with a very long and intense finish. This wine has at least a decade in front of it tonight. Perfect, supple cork on extraction.

Still quite tannic, decanted 4h, needs much more time to reveal it's true self.

My retailer commented this was not a standard CA Cabernet, more Bordeaux-like, and he was fully on point. The stink on the nose really pointed us away from CA right away.

Paired to some expertly grilled, medium-rare Delmonico steaks from my favorite, local farmer in Columbia Co. NY (Kinderhook Farm), well salted (in advance). Finished with Maldon smoked sea salt, best which exists in the world, IMHO. Also roasted beets with goat feta from VT, where I can only image goats listen to Phish and eat Ben & Jerry's ice cream daily, because only a stress free life like that could yield cheese this good.

I'd like to know the blend on this, should anyone know, I can't believe it's 100% Cab based on the stinky nose, which we appreciate.
— 6 years ago

Adam, Somm and 44 others liked this
Eric

Eric Premium Badge

Nice

La Jota Vineyard Co.

Howell Mountain Merlot 2014

Sanguine, mature blue and red fruit, black rock, soil, licorice/mint. — 2 months ago

Joel, Tom and 6 others liked this
Brian S

Brian S Influencer Badge

Sanguine, mature blue and red fruit, black rock, soil, licorice/mint.

Freemark Abbey

Cabernet Bosché Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

2017 vintage.
From Bosche Vineyard in Rutherford, Napa Valley.
94 % Cabernet Sauvignon and 6 % Merlot.
27 months in French oak …68 % new oak.
Ripe raspberries, black currants, black cherry and black olives.
Dried herbs, earthy and savoury with well integrated tannins.
We tasted this upon release and it was a monster…a big, brawling youngster.
It has calmed down immensely and become a well respected member of society.
— a month ago

Tom, Bob and 1 other liked this

Freemark Abbey

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Superb as always! Deep purple color. Aromas of black currant, blackberry, pencil lead, tobacco and oak. Black fruit on the palate, cigar box and nice tannins.

🍇95% Cab, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Merlot.

🏅94 Points - James Suckling
— 8 months ago

Dave, Tom and 21 others liked this

Bedrock Wine Co.

The Bedrock Heritage Sonoma Valley Red Blend 2021

The 2021 Bedrock Heritage Wine is a great expression of this site. Black cherry, chocolate, spice, leather and tobacco are front and center. This dark, virile Zinfandel-based field blend packs a serious punch. There's plenty of detail and nuance behind all of that intensity. The 2021 is a big wine, but also less monolithic than some previous editions. There's a bit more whole cluster in the 2021 than in the past, so perhaps that explains the wine's nuance. The 2021 is one of the best wines I have ever tasted from the Bedrock vineyard, and I say that as someone who is not yet fully convinced of the potential here. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2023) — 3 years ago

Clos du Val Wine Co.

Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Christmas a day late! Dark, concentrated but not overpowering - black fruit and mocha - dry finish — 5 years ago

Bedrock Wine Co.

Monte Rosso Vineyard Zinfandel

Ahhhh this was so damn tasty!!!! Super clean, delineated, rich black fruits with perfectly balanced acidity. Mouth watering delights abound. I could see this getting even better. This was a stunner. — 6 years ago

Shay, David and 2 others liked this

Cedar Knoll Vineyard Co (Palmaz)

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

This is a tasty Napa Cabernet. Showing black fruits, cedar, vanilla, licorice, tobacco, chocolates, mocha and coffee.

Full-bodied and smooth with soft tannins with nice length on the finish.

Good by itself or with food. Showing a nice mouthfeel with nice complexity. Spicy and tangy.

This will be beautiful in 5 years.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$80.
— 7 years ago

Paul, Eric and 17 others liked this