1999 Freemark-Abbey Bosche

[winoweenie]

Here's the benchmark case of absolutely forgetting a great winery and a famous vineyard. When I first started collecting in the late 60s' and early 70s' this was always a must buy. They've produced some of the great bottles in my drinking experience (70, 74, 76, 78 to name a few). Then with the proliferation of vineyards in Napa and Sonoma I somehow forgot about them. Their new packaging attracted me to this so I put away a 1/2 box and since I was on a 99 kick opened this last nite. WOW! what a bottle. Has the most defined bing cherry, red plum, and soft vanilla package I've seen. Permeates the nose, palate, ear-lobes, and fingernails. Silky tannins will carry this hummer another 2-4 and should hold 10 after. 93/88. 69 per clatter .13.7% alc. WW

[winoweenie]

Opened another of these at the club yesterday along with the 99 Napa from this producer. BRW and Mike joined me and all agreed this pair could kill every duck on the pond. The Napa looked like a 2009 in the glass but the nose said Aged, classy, yummski juice. This blend of Cab, Merlot, Cab Franc, and petite Verdot from Estate vineyards has some serious muscles. Noted that it had a solid 4+ lapper finish. probably close to the Bosche in scoring except for the 34 per tag. This gives the value a solid 92. The nose on the Bosche seemed to have rounded out but was so pretty neither of us did anything but slurp up the liquid. Can assure all that both bottles would even penetrate the Drewskis' thick tongue. WW

[This message has been edited by winoweenie (edited 03-06-2010).]