Freemark Abbey

Napa Valley Cabernet Franc

9.220 ratings
9.33 pro ratings
Napa Valley, California, USA
Cabernet Franc
Exotic Spices, Baking Spices, Hard Cheese, Blue Cheese, Chili & Hot Spicy, Pungent Cheese, Potato, White Rice, Herbs, Tomato-Based, Pasta, Mushrooms, Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Salami & Prosciutto, Beef, Soft Cheese, Chicken, Lamb, Turkey, Pork, Duck, Venison
Top Notes For
Severn Goodwin

Nose has old leather, dry garden soil, dried blackberry, dried black cherry, dark chocolate bar, roasted green pepper, wet chalk and faint vanilla/oak.

Palate has dried blackberry, ripe black currant, dried licorice, stale chocolate cake, dried blueberry, moist leather, moist garden soil with smooth tannins and a medium finish.

Purchased in February 2015, our last bottle on this vintage. This bottling can hold in proper storage until 2026-2030.

Nose has old leather, dry garden soil, dried blackberry, dried black cherry, dark chocolate bar, roasted green pepper, wet chalk and faint vanilla/oak.

Palate has dried blackberry, ripe black currant, dried licorice, stale chocolate cake, dried blueberry, moist leather, moist garden soil with smooth tannins and a medium finish.

Purchased in February 2015, our last bottle on this vintage. This bottling can hold in proper storage until 2026-2030.

Sep 19th, 2020
Cory Fierro

Cabernet franc is not the most well known expression of the varietal, but it has all the hallmarks of being from Napa and being a cab franc. Initial burst of green pyrazines on the nose give way to soft vanillin from oak influence. Softer tannins than expected on the palate but with a lingering finish. Superb.

Cabernet franc is not the most well known expression of the varietal, but it has all the hallmarks of being from Napa and being a cab franc. Initial burst of green pyrazines on the nose give way to soft vanillin from oak influence. Softer tannins than expected on the palate but with a lingering finish. Superb.

Nov 18th, 2016
Matt Austin

Owner/Winemaker, Grosgrain Vineyards, Walla Walla, WA

9.1

Great for about an hour and then it faded fast.

Great for about an hour and then it faded fast.

Jan 23rd, 2016
Matt Austin

Owner/Winemaker, Grosgrain Vineyards, Walla Walla, WA

9.2

This one threw me for a loop. Not typical Napa at all. Very Loire Cab Franc. Haven't had any Freemarks this recent, but if this is a new more restrained style (and they've already managed to stay rather old-school) I'm totally on board.

This one threw me for a loop. Not typical Napa at all. Very Loire Cab Franc. Haven't had any Freemarks this recent, but if this is a new more restrained style (and they've already managed to stay rather old-school) I'm totally on board.

Apr 2nd, 2015
Bill Belanger

Dark fruit, good acidity. Excellent with chicken dishes.

Dark fruit, good acidity. Excellent with chicken dishes.

Jul 8th, 2021
Adam Hoogeveen

Green bell pepper shines on the nose amidst other herbaceous notes. The tannins start silky smooth and then get spicy. Vanilla, dark fruit, and a touch of tobacco highlight the palate.

Green bell pepper shines on the nose amidst other herbaceous notes. The tannins start silky smooth and then get spicy. Vanilla, dark fruit, and a touch of tobacco highlight the palate.

Feb 15th, 2018
Andy Fessel

Great nose - cassis - good fruit - great finish - very nice and solid finish

Great nose - cassis - good fruit - great finish - very nice and solid finish

Jul 29th, 2016
Dennis Labita

Beautiful vintage that I wish I had more of. Strong wine with an elegant body finishing in a powerful pepper finish.

Beautiful vintage that I wish I had more of. Strong wine with an elegant body finishing in a powerful pepper finish.

Feb 18th, 2016
Payman K

Payman had this 4 years ago

Payman had this 4 years ago

Nov 11th, 2020
Atticus Honore

Atticus had this 4 years ago

Atticus had this 4 years ago

Aug 16th, 2020