Winemaker Notes
This traditional Bordeaux-styled wine is a collection of mountain fruit, handpicked from Napa Valley's venerable Spring Mountain. The wine is dark, yet approachable, with a depth of rich, black fruit.
Blend: 67% Merlot, 14.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 5.7% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Built for the short and near term, the well-structured 2013 Freemark Abbey Fiftieth Reserve Super Bowl Commemorative Bottle exhibits the best attributes of the Napa Valley. As a Bordeaux-inspired blend, it shows black currants, earth, and a light accent of savory oak. The wine's firm palate pairs it well with grilled steak. (Tasted: November 10, 2017, San Francisco, CA)
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Above the town of St. Helena on the eastern slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains sits the Spring Mountain District.
A dynamic region, its vineyards, cut by numerous springs and streams, vary in elevation, slope and aspect. Soils differ throughout with over 20 distinct types inside of the 8,600 acres that define the appellation. Within that area, only about 1,000 are planted to vineyards. Predominantly farmed by small, independent producers, the region currently has just over 30 wineries.
During the growing season, late afternoon Pacific Ocean breezes reach the Spring Mountain vineyards, which sit at between 400 and 1,200 feet. Daytime temperatures during mid summer and early fall remain slightly cooler than those of the valley floor.
Spring Mountain soils—volcanic matter and sedimentary rock—create intense but balanced reds with lush and delicate tannins. The area excels with Bordeaux varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot and in some cooler spots, Chardonnay.