Jay Kline

9.2

Opened with the assistance of a Durand and decanted about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 1981 Rubicon pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a combination of dried, ripe and tart, red and black fruits: mixed brambles, red and black currants, black cherry, tobacco, Poblano pepper, old leather, dried flowers, a mix of organic and inorganic earth, minerals and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+ and sanguine. A rather remarkable ‘81 that seems almost evergreen when considering the color and condition of the fruit. In fact, it seemed to gain energy with air. Impressive. Drink now with a short decant and through 2041. — 6 months ago

Walter Fahr

9.3

Excellent Pine Ridge Cabernet from Rutherford region. Fruit forward of course, deep ruby in color with great texture. Smooth, Great with a variety of red meat and pastas. Drank January 2026 — 10 months ago

Flora Bokma

9.3

A gift from a special brother-in-law enjoyed with our last dinner of 2021. Very dark in the glass releasing smoked mango notes when nosed. A sip suggests cocoa-dusted dark cherries in velvet. It goes down easy but finish is long and lingering warm and pleasant. I really enjoyed this bottle of wine! — 5 years ago

Louis Martin

9.2

Fennel and pepper, silky smooth, pairs beautifully with cabbage and lamb and with chocolate. — 6 years ago

Karen Larson

9.0

Super smooth zin! Dark berries with spice on finish. Would be wonderful with Spicy ethnic or BBQ but great on its own — 7 years ago

with Craig

Henry Fuseler

9.0

11.18. Good stuff. Paired well with the rib eye. Enjoyed the flavor and easy to drink. — 8 years ago

Steve Haro

9.3

Beautiful and silky with chocolate and blueberry torte notes. Tea and earth on the back palette. The tannins are still big but harmonious and the finish is long while taking on floral and raspberry flavors. Fantastic. — 10 years ago

Ed Tostanoski

9.5

Killer. Thanks Yannick for the rec — 11 years ago

Ole Nielsen

9.6

Fantastic! — 13 years ago

Rafael Landestoy

9.6

Wow! What a beautiful wine. Wine of the night for sure. Was opened for a few hours and decanted but as good as it was it probably would have been better as a pop and pour. — 13 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Presented to me double-blind. The wine pours a deep garnet/purple with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears and some signs of very fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of mostly ripe with some tart and drying fruits: cassis, blackberries, pipe tobacco, Serrano pepper, purple flowers, leather, and a pleasant mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and the alcohol is medium+. FWIW, this is an impressive wine on the nose and the palate.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Cabernet Sauvignon (or blend there of) or Sangiovese-blend, or Tempranillo (or blend) from the United States, France, Italy or Spain. However, the shear generosity of fruit and lavish oak treatment leads me to Napa. Additionally, there’s a structure that gives me mountain fruit vibes. Final conclusion: this is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend from the United States, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain, 2015. Perhaps I was trying to be a bit too clever but scoring lots of points nonetheless. Probably one of the more memorable, contemporary Freemark Abbey’s I’ve had. Really impressive. Drink now through 2050. — 6 months ago

Tom Garland

9.4

1.5 hour decant(some chunky sediment). A remarkable inky purplish garnet color with some bricking. On the nose: exquisite notes of ripe dark berries, cassis, smoked meat, floral, black olives, mint. Taste: velvety, elegant, structured mouthcoating wine with blackberry, cassis, earth, licorice, crushed stone, and a spiced-mineral-dark chocolate espresso long finish. YUM!! — 8 months ago

with Brenda

Aaron Rankin

9.1

Not sure what the fuss is about. — 5 years ago

with Ryan

Marc Melser

9.4

We had the 2013 Vintage on 5/2-3/21. This was a terrific full bodied, well balanced wine. Tastes of blackberry, plum, kirsch and vanilla on the palate. The tannins were smoothed out. A great example of the Napa floor. — 6 years ago

Joe Gillies

9.0

Excellent value! Can't beat it for $19! Green apple, pear, grapefruit, lime and subtle pineapple flavors. Very good! — 6 years ago

Lisa Knowles

9.3

Fabulous Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon. A ruby red/purple, it has both the dark red and black fruits. The tannins are smooth, with the acid well balanced....a smooth finish. Count me as a fan. — 7 years ago

Kristin the Wine Girl

9.1

Just love the Bordeaux blend. Cab, cab franc, Merlot, petite Verdot. Jam on. — 8 years ago

Jonathan S

8.9

Juicy rich and robust red blend with dominant plump ripe blackberry and plum. juicy fruit, mouthwatering, full bodied, balanced medium tannins, medium acidity and slightly oaked richness. This wine will please the palate for those who love juicy ripe black field berry fruit-forward and full bodied California reds. @jonsteeves rated 89/100 tasted May 2016 — 10 years ago

Nick Del Grande

9.1

Dry with some earthy tones. — 13 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

I have said before, they farm some of the best Napa Bordeaux blended fruits. There are likely different opinions on what happens in the winemakers process after harvest. But on pure fruit, yeah they do. This 23 is no exception.

The fruits are ripe, lush, ruby; blackberries, black raspberry w/ awesome purple & blue fruits. It is round, elegant, very balanced. Softly layered baking spices with candied red, dark flowers with violets, rainfall acidity with a finish that lasts two-minutes and lands on moist clay & fruit.

Tasted at Roy Estates. The view from Roy Estate is one of the very best, if not the best view of Napa rolling vineyards. — 6 months ago

Cary Jones

9.3

My last bottle of this special, super smooth wine. Did not disappoint. — 6 months ago

Dan Casagrande

9.0

Love it. Thanks Tom, had it with prime Chuck smash burgers. Smooth, dark fruits, so good. — 3 years ago

Jeff Orlowski

9.3

Big lovely Napa Cab. Plums, blueberries on a nice dry palate. — 5 years ago

with Michael and Joe

Andrew Keenan

8.9

2017 Vintage — 6 years ago

Ned Clark

9.7

Elegant and powerful. — 7 years ago

Amy McEwan DiChiara

9.5

Excellent! Noses well. Forward tasting. Slight tartness. Light finish, but smooth. Rutherford one of rare wineries in NAPA with a Pinot. This is 2012 vintage. — 8 years ago

Shannon Richter

9.4

One of my go-tos. I love this cab. It always has a fantastic flavor, aroma, smooth body and perfect finish. And for the price, I don’t feel as guilty opening it as I do opening some of my other inglenook favorites. — 8 years ago

with Ryan

Mike R

9.2

An amazing wine. My first Napa in years, forgot how awesome they can be. Will go well with my steak. — 11 years ago

Rob Wojo

8.9

Best Mike Smith value out there. Rutherford GIII. Nice. Needs some time but a bargain. — 12 years ago

Lisa Schaffer

10

Smooth night for a cab. More like a merlot. — 14 years ago