Freemark Abbey Sauvignon Blanc 2015 Napa Valley, California, USA 75cl

Freemark Abbey is one of Napa Valley’s historic estates, with a story stretching back well over a century and a place in the famous 1976 Judgement of Paris tasting, where Californian wines first stood shoulder to shoulder with the French. That heritage sits behind a range of classically styled Napa wines.

This Sauvignon Blanc is a warmer-climate take on a grape often associated with cooler regions. Napa’s generous sunshine gives a riper, rounder expression, trading the zippy green notes of cooler zones for something fuller and more textured. It is Sauvignon Blanc with a Napa accent, closer in spirit to a light Chardonnay than a lean, grassy white.

The 2015 vintage has gained a little bottle age, which suits this more substantial style and adds a mellow, settled character. It is drinking in a generous, ready-to-enjoy phase, so there is no need to hold it back.

In the glass expect citrus, fig and ripe orchard fruit, with a subtle herbal lift and a hint of waxy richness. The palate is rounded and dry, with a fuller body and a warm, gently textured finish at 14.5%. It has more weight than many drinkers expect from the grape.

This is a food-friendly white with real presence. Serve it with seafood, roast chicken, creamy sauces, grilled vegetables or a wedge of goats’ cheese, and give it a good chill. Its richer build means it can stand up to fuller dishes that would overwhelm a lighter Sauvignon. History, warmth and generosity all meet in the glass.