2010 Bosche Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

From a well-known Rutherford vineyard, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Bosche Vineyard is a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot aged 29 months in 67% new oak. Backward with a Bordeaux-like framework as well as wonderfully sweet notes of unsmoked tobacco, cassis, fruitcake and cedar, this dense, pure, medium to full-bodied 2010 needs 2-3 years of cellaring and should age for 25+. Now owned by Kendall-Jackson, but with long-time winemaker Ted Edwards still firmly in control, Freemark Abbey has produced a large assortment of wines ranging from very good to exceptional. Tel. (707) 302-3721

(tasted from tank; includes 4.5% merlot): Good deep ruby-red. Cool aromas of blackberry, black olive, menthol and licorice. Offers enticing sweetness to the flavors of candied cherry, currant and tobacco accented by flowers, menthol and cedar. Has more texture to support its rather velvety, building tannins than the basic Napa Valley cabernet. The candied cherry quality carries through to the persistent finish. Perhaps not quite as deep as the 2009 version but a very good effort. The most recent replantings here were in 1991 and 1996.