Freemark Abbey · Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon · 2019
Freemark Abbey's 2019 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon brings together fruit from Bosché, Sycamore and Red Barn Ranch. Dark chocolate, black cherry, fresh cedar and graphite lead into a rich, layered palate of espresso, plum pie, blackberry and forest floor. Structured, dusty, well-integrated tannins give the wine its characteristic Rutherford profile.
Producer & Heritage
Freemark Abbey's story began in St. Helena in 1886, when Josephine Tychson built and operated the original redwood cellar, producing Zinfandel, Riesling and “Burgundy” wine. After phylloxera devastated the vineyard, she sold the property in 1898 to her foreman, Nels Larsen, who later sold it to Antonio Forni. Forni named it Lombarda Cellars after his Italian birthplace and constructed the enduring stone winery in 1899 using hand-hewn stone from Glass Mountain.
After a twenty-year closure during Prohibition, Charles Freeman, Marquand Foster and Albert “Abbey” Ahern reopened the winery in 1939, combining their names to create Freemark Abbey. A Sampling Room followed in 1949. Seven partners purchased the winery in 1967, establishing its signature Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon style and earning it the nickname “University of Freemark.” The partners were Dick Heggie, Brad Webb, Bill Jaeger, Frank Laurie Wood, Jim Warren, Chuck Carpy and John Bryan.
Cabernet Bosché debuted in 1970 as an early California vineyard-designate wine. In a 1971 tasting involving 88 participants, it earned top honors ahead of the 1970 Château Lafite-Rothschild. Freemark Abbey participated in the 1976 Judgment of Paris with both a red and a white wine, among 11 selected American wineries. Sycamore Vineyard became part of its story in 1980, and Ted Edwards became winemaker in 1985, sustaining the winery's classically structured Cabernet style.
In 1989, Wine Spectator described Cabernet Bosché as “The truest embodiment of Rutherford-style Cabernet,” with James Laube praising its “elegance, depth, and longevity.” In 1995, the publication called Bosché “a Napa Valley original,” praised its “elegance and finesse,” and described the vineyard as “a special spot.” These are historical comments about Cabernet Bosché, not reviews of this 2019 Rutherford bottling. In the New York Times' 1996 recreation of the Judgment of Paris, Frank Prial placed Freemark Abbey at the top of his favorites.
The Jackson family acquired the winery in 2006. Renovations completed in 2016 preserved the historic stone building while introducing modern updates. That year, Freemark Abbey produced the NFL's Super Bowl 50 commemorative wine, the 2013 Fiftieth Reserve, a Spring Mountain Bordeaux-style blend. Its 1969 Cabernet Sauvignon took first place at the 2017 Judgment of Tokyo reenactment.
Kristy Melton became winemaker in 2020 as Ted Edwards celebrated his 40th harvest and became Winemaker Emeritus. The estate introduced Colline Cabernet in 2021, its first new single-vineyard Cabernet in nearly four decades, from southern Oakville near To Kalon. Colline is a separate bottling known for dark fruit, graphite and a rich palate. Edwards retired in 2023, passing full winemaking responsibility to Melton. Celebrating its 140th anniversary in 2026, Freemark Abbey continues to emphasize tradition, sustainable practices, precision and site expression.
Winemaker Description
Freemark Abbey · Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon
Sourced from Bosché, Sycamore, and Red Barn Ranch, this wine displays all the classic notes of the Rutherford AVA. The aromatics conjure up notions of dark chocolate, black cherry, fresh cedar, and graphite. The palate is rich and complexly layered with flavors of espresso, plum pie, blackberry and forest floor. The tannins are reminiscent of Rutherford dust; structured, dusty and well integrated, making this wine lovely now with the ability to cellar well for decades. 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc.
Expert Review
Jeb Dunnuck, 91+ Points · 2019 Vintage: "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."
The producer-stated blend includes 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Cabernet Franc; Jeb Dunnuck's review quotes 82% Cabernet Sauvignon without Cabernet Franc.
Pairing Suggestions
Try with grilled steak, roast lamb or braised beef to complement its dark fruit, savory depth and structured tannins.
Details
- Producer: Freemark Abbey
- Vintage: 2019
- Bottle size: 750ml
- Country: United States
- Region: California
- County: Napa County
- Subregion: Napa Valley
- Appellation: Rutherford
- Primary grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
- Producer-stated blend: 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc
- Type: Red wine
- Vineyard sources: Bosché, Sycamore and Red Barn Ranch
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