Freemark Abbey Sycamore Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

There's not much more we need to say after reading the frothing praise of Mr. Parker's Wine Advocate, but we do have some pairing suggestions for the Freemark Abbey Sycamore Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Grab everybody's attention right out of the gate with white pizza laden with pancetta, blue cheese and grilled onions to go with your first glasses. The hearty, ripe fruit is perfect opposite the tang of the blue cheese, and who doesn't love pizza with a good Napa Cab? If it's a casual get together, continue the carbs and serve panninis hot off the press with chorizo, melty Manchego cheese and arugala. Your diners will thank you. Short ribs braised with mushrooms and root vegetables are a terrific option if you've got some time on your hands. Or, you could live out the old adage of a slab and a Cab, and grill up some ribeyes, drizzle them with a Cabernet reduction, and offer an orange-mint gremolata on the side to really pop your palates and give the fantastic depth and complexity of this Freemark Abbey something to hold onto. Bon appetit wine lovers!

Winery: "This opaque dark ruby wine has aromas of black currant and blueberry, with nuances of blackberry jam on toast, dark chocolate truffle and forest floor. The oak adds the right amount of complexity with aromatic cedar, cinnamon and clove. The wine has great depth of black fruit flavor, with a strong expression of sweet black cherry and dark plum. There is a complexity in the nose that hints of tobacco, Mexican spice and a briary thicket. This full-bodied cabernet sauvignon has expressive tannin, and, with good acidity, shows great aging potential.

Sycamore Vineyard – Rutherford (100%): Rutherford is a 24-acre vineyard located about 1.2 miles south of Bosche Vineyard, right up against the Mayacamas Range. The sloping rich clay loam soils were formed by alluvial deposits. Sycamore Vineyard produces small berries reminiscent of mountain fruit, with intense color and flavor.