Interesting the difference between this and a Heredia Tondonia 2011 opened generously by a new friend last night–the current release, I believe. Where the Rioja was sharp and alive and so blisteringly young, rife with everything good Gran Reserva is capable of while this valley mainstay shows fatigue along brilliant lines. Musty and dank in the nose, the liquid dark amber brick: BROWN, really. Edgy cardboard and India ink surfacing redwood and walnut levels–I own a ton of these and they are easily the fastest-fading of my 2011 stash. As one would expect. These *might* be the last 13-5’s the world will experience from Napa Valley, so dig them deeply.

Time to open them up! In the mouth, gobs of dark tertiary cherry going wet leather and dirty velvet. Beautiful to drink, but showing signs of fatigue where *fruit* is a maraschino memory and *briar* a distinct vegetal spectre. Flaccid and wanting, though glorious acid and respectable tannins exist, it exists as a door-mat to wines fulfilling the goal of 2011. They pulled off a great wine here–despite the nay-sayer’s predictions–it’s… just… fading. Plentiful black cherry and blackberry throb the middle, a bit of heat still clinging to the finish, a superb drop in the glass, but with asterisks. Drink these SOON.

2011 FREEMARK ABBEY Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 13.5

www.freemarkabbey.com/