2016 Kongsgaard The Judge Chardonnay - My first time tasting this elixir. The nose was somewhat reticent with a hint of lemon. On the palate, there are layers of rich, honeyed fruits, mouth-watering acidity with nice minerality. It’s a mouthful of wine, early in its evolution that I would love to try in 5 years or longer. There’s no rush. 98 pts with upside.
2007 Futo - Double decanted 2 1/2 hours prior to dinner. Ripe, full-bodied and opulent. Beautiful from the word go featuring blueberries and blackberries. Large CF component. Very smooth and great purity of fruit. Right in its prime for me. 98 pts
2007 Abreu Madrona Ranch - The most complex of the three reds we devoured. Wasn’t sure it was going to come around when I first opened it but 90 minutes after double decanting it certainly did. A nice amount of CF I’m sure. It’s black-fruited with a streak of red berries and a hint of spice. Tannins are ripe but firm. It’s great and will stay there for years to come. 98 pts (Do you sense a theme?)
2007 Outpost True Vineyard - Tight at first. I would recommend a 60 minute decant if consuming now. Surely will have the longest life of the three reds. Deep blue and black fruited with nice minerality. A powerful 100% Cabernet and, yes, 98 pts.
While qualitatively very similar, they took turns as WOTN which I found enhanced the experience. Futo out of the gate was on top, then Abreu and the last sips of the Outpost were it’s best. What was surprising to me was that only two of us are big fans of big, rich and ripe (modern) Cabernets. One was decidedly old world and one right in the middle. And yet, we all agreed on these beauties.
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I’m in complete agreement with the prev two connoisseurs. Even on the cork, which I too think is a non issue. Remove it, decant some (or not) and get swept away.
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Purchased from BWG late last year. Nicked label & slightly depressed cork.
At PNP this wine is rich & ripe with a plush expressive palate and nose. A beautiful inner sweetness helps create a super long finish. A bit more opulent than the recent 04. I believe this bottle will benefit from continued slumber as there is still plenty of fruit and structure for the long haul.
This rich and integrated Cabernet blend is the best 2007 I've yet tasted from Napa - and one of the best Abreu wines I've ever tasted - so, yeah, it's good. Garnet in color and medium in body, the wine offers explosive aromas of black cherry, cocoa bean, graphite, and dried oregano (so pungent it's like one of those potpourri bags). The flavors are lively and integrated, with notes of boysenberry, mulberry, leather, and espresso, with a silky and lifted finish that reflects all the nuance of its 14 years. Blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, and 6% Merlot. 14.5% alcohol. Decant two hours.
This was far more nuanced and original than a (completely awesome) 2007 Colgin Cariad I had last night (which, ironically enough, was made from Abreu grapes). In my mind, this is what a truly great wine does: it breaks the barrier as to what you expect is possible: Klay Thompson is great, but Steph Curry is greater. As cos65 observed earlier, too, this is a wine for all types: you could give this wine to a newcomer, who would appreciate its integration and openness, or you could give this to an old hand, who would appreciate its nuance and balance. Just incredible.
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Fair amount of fine sediment, dbl decanted 3 hours before serving. Still opaque ruby black, crystal clear. Still with a large amount of sweet upfront oak, tons of dark fruit, huge, but overall balanced and very drinkable now. Impressive, yet still easily a crowd pleaser while avoiding getting too far over the top to keep this serious
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Rich and opulent. Initially quite a bit of oak but time in a decanter reveals gobs and gobs of cassis with purple flowers and underbrush. Medium-full body, rich and dense, fine tannins, very good with air. (50% Cabernet sauvignon, 39% Cabernet franc, 6% Petit verdot, and 6% Merlot)
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Near perfect, voluptuous and bold,with amazing dark fruit, wonderfully soft tannin, balanced minerality, and a glorious finish, this one has it all. Decanted for 5 hrs. Thank goodness we still have another 5 bottles. Wow. A work of art.
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An altogether different wine from my bottle a year ago, sporting more of a Bordeaux-esque savory profile with blue fruit, graphite, and dried herb. Soft texture even though the tannic grip is still there. A year ago this was stellar. Maybe a dumb phase; maybe an off bottle.
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Opulent Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, with a palette of cassis and dark plum, pencil lead, toast, and mouth-coating, silky tannins. Elegant depth and structure, with an unusually long finish. A superb wine drinking beautifully, with 10+ years ahead.
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Multilayered with super rich, opulent purple and dark red fruits, this is big and bold done to perfection. Expressive aromas of underbrush, coffee and spice round out the voluminous bouquet. The dark fruit driven profile finishes with epic length and a compelling graphite minerality. A powerful and intense wine that is beautifully balanced by its creamy and elegant textures, the ‘07 Madrona Ranch is absolutely brilliant!
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Right out of the gate there's just a sensory overload, with the 2007 Madrona Ranch exuding underbrush, plum, and violet. Absolutely gorgeous with dark fruited flavors and a hint of truffle, a plush texture, and youthful, almost abrasive tannins that soften with air but never let you forget this wine's best days are ahead. Multiminute finish. Incredible.
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Winorama: A winter in Wineland III; 1/4/2019-1/13/2019 (Portland/Willamette, Eureka, Napa): 2007 isn't my year for Napa, but it's hard to argue with what Brad does. We were tasting with a friend who generally prefers to avoid cab but I believe the exact words were 'I'd drink cab if it was like this'. Just a beautiful wine. Very much fresh for '07. Lots of plum and spice and maybe a bit of licorice. Really lovely and a treat to try.
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Slow O for 6 hours. Drinking fantastic! Gorgeous nose of dark cherries, violets, coffee, and fennel. Palate is full and caressing with impeccable balance and grip. Very elegant. Long finish. Great wine!
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This was a big, bold and rich Cabernet that was remarkably different after 2 hours. 2 Hour+ decant highly recommended. Big spicy pepper and jammy black fruit emerged with a elegant back-end finish. Tannins are still present and this wine is easily able to go another 10+ years. I might have a problem waiting that long for my next bottle. Great effort from Abreu and the quality is top-notch as you would expect.
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One of the more unique cabs I've had in some time. Had incredibly luscious mouthfeel with long finish, but a fruit bomb. It was balanced and had minerality. Was hot out of the gate so give it some time to breathe. A real treat.
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From Zalto. Lots of sweet oak on the nose and BBQ and some red fruit as well. LIghter on the nose than Harlan and less blue fruited. Palate is dense. With some earth notes. Just opened. And some green. Not really a charmer of a wine. Very brooding. Finish on oak tannins. Maybe the Franc is showing through? Maybe it just needs more time. Warm to boot.
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Stunning wine. Dark dark in the glass. Pure nose of cab-cassis, toast, smoke, herbs. Lovely balanced fruit, acid, texture and richness. Long finish. Simply delicious.
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Double decanted at 10:00am and drank at 6:00 pm. Stunning. Gorgeous nose of dark cherry, cedar, iron, bitter chocolate. Palate is so elegant and long with the perfect tanning grip. Just amazing.
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This was decanted for 30 minutes prior to drinking. The wine was deep garnet red in colour and clear and had a nose of ripe cherries and some caramel. In the glass was a stunning wine with those same flavours of cherries, caramel, and some vanilla. The tannins were still quite strong while acidity was at a nice and not overwhelming level and even though the alcohol content is high, you would never know it. This wine showed wonderfully tonight.
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Structured, perfect tannins. Fruit was beautiful and well balanced. Just a touch of green on the nose compared to the 06 st helena bond. Longggg finish
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The Abreu offering is coming up soon. Love Abreu, but hey I'm retired. Stock market just crashed. Wine buying should be riding the deflationary spiral I not pretending it did not happen. Is this worth what it cost in today's dollars. Legendary vineyard, name reminds me of Madonna. So is this a young sexy Madonna, or just a name that wants your money. Nose is inviting, checked my glass, so similar to the Harlan. Big sip, waves of leather and fruit, make that dry leather, like the Harlan, your brain says hydrate, your mouth is dry. Another girl that is biting my tongue, but so inviting I keep sticking it back in.
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Tasted at Abreu after vineyard breakfast and tour of the ranch. Wow this was simply stunning. Dark ruby color in glass, with a nose of dark fruits and leather. On the palate this is a big wine but really well balanced with dark berries, leather, cigar box, grippy tannins and a finish that keeps going.
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Deep garnet. Nose all that. Smooth, black fruits, hints of anise and chocolate. Taste smooth, rich, mouthfilling, fulfills the nose's promise. I find these Abreu cults among the most balanced of the sort. Yum.
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California Cabernet Sauvignon might get better than this, but not by much! With layer after layer of perfectly ripe, lush, opulent black, blue and dark red berries, the wine coats your mouth and stays there for what seems like at least 60 seconds! There is a beautiful elegant texture that completely balances the intensity and power of the wine.
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Hefty wine. Big, ripe notes of coffee, spice, very ripe black fruit, and earth rise from the glass. In the mouth, slightly astringent and pushing ripeness to pretty high limits. No syrupy or jammy, at least, as some 2007s have been, but also ripe enough that the fruit overtakes some of the nuance of the wine. B+
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3/1/2024 - DVill Likes this wine:
Great. Massive and nearly integrated. Finish is a beaut — 45 seconds easy. I’d recommend another 5+ years in the bottle. HOLD.
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2/15/2024 - melsdad Likes this wine: 98 Points
2007 Cali Cab tasting...and one big white!
2016 Kongsgaard The Judge Chardonnay - My first time tasting this elixir. The nose was somewhat reticent with a hint of lemon. On the palate, there are layers of rich, honeyed fruits, mouth-watering acidity with nice minerality. It’s a mouthful of wine, early in its evolution that I would love to try in 5 years or longer. There’s no rush. 98 pts with upside.
2007 Futo - Double decanted 2 1/2 hours prior to dinner. Ripe, full-bodied and opulent. Beautiful from the word go featuring blueberries and blackberries. Large CF component. Very smooth and great purity of fruit. Right in its prime for me. 98 pts
2007 Abreu Madrona Ranch - The most complex of the three reds we devoured. Wasn’t sure it was going to come around when I first opened it but 90 minutes after double decanting it certainly did. A nice amount of CF I’m sure. It’s black-fruited with a streak of red berries and a hint of spice. Tannins are ripe but firm. It’s great and will stay there for years to come. 98 pts (Do you sense a theme?)
2007 Outpost True Vineyard - Tight at first. I would recommend a 60 minute decant if consuming now. Surely will have the longest life of the three reds. Deep blue and black fruited with nice minerality. A powerful 100% Cabernet and, yes, 98 pts.
While qualitatively very similar, they took turns as WOTN which I found enhanced the experience. Futo out of the gate was on top, then Abreu and the last sips of the Outpost were it’s best. What was surprising to me was that only two of us are big fans of big, rich and ripe (modern) Cabernets. One was decidedly old world and one right in the middle. And yet, we all agreed on these beauties.
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6/23/2022 - Teknsteel Likes this wine: 97 Points
I’m in complete agreement with the prev two connoisseurs. Even on the cork, which I too think is a non issue. Remove it, decant some (or not) and get swept away.
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4/15/2022 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine: 97 Points
Purchased from BWG late last year. Nicked label & slightly depressed cork.
At PNP this wine is rich & ripe with a plush expressive palate and nose. A beautiful inner sweetness helps create a super long finish. A bit more opulent than the recent 04. I believe this bottle will benefit from continued slumber as there is still plenty of fruit and structure for the long haul.
97+
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2/12/2022 - msuwine wrote: 99 Points
This rich and integrated Cabernet blend is the best 2007 I've yet tasted from Napa - and one of the best Abreu wines I've ever tasted - so, yeah, it's good. Garnet in color and medium in body, the wine offers explosive aromas of black cherry, cocoa bean, graphite, and dried oregano (so pungent it's like one of those potpourri bags). The flavors are lively and integrated, with notes of boysenberry, mulberry, leather, and espresso, with a silky and lifted finish that reflects all the nuance of its 14 years. Blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, and 6% Merlot. 14.5% alcohol. Decant two hours.
This was far more nuanced and original than a (completely awesome) 2007 Colgin Cariad I had last night (which, ironically enough, was made from Abreu grapes). In my mind, this is what a truly great wine does: it breaks the barrier as to what you expect is possible: Klay Thompson is great, but Steph Curry is greater. As cos65 observed earlier, too, this is a wine for all types: you could give this wine to a newcomer, who would appreciate its integration and openness, or you could give this to an old hand, who would appreciate its nuance and balance. Just incredible.
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10/29/2021 - cos65 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fair amount of fine sediment, dbl decanted 3 hours before serving. Still opaque ruby black, crystal clear. Still with a large amount of sweet upfront oak, tons of dark fruit, huge, but overall balanced and very drinkable now. Impressive, yet still easily a crowd pleaser while avoiding getting too far over the top to keep this serious
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10/8/2021 - rlove wrote: 95 Points
Rich and opulent. Initially quite a bit of oak but time in a decanter reveals gobs and gobs of cassis with purple flowers and underbrush. Medium-full body, rich and dense, fine tannins, very good with air. (50% Cabernet sauvignon, 39% Cabernet franc, 6% Petit verdot, and 6% Merlot)
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4/24/2021 - bhrubin Likes this wine: 99 Points
Near perfect, voluptuous and bold,with amazing dark fruit, wonderfully soft tannin, balanced minerality, and a glorious finish, this one has it all. Decanted for 5 hrs. Thank goodness we still have another 5 bottles. Wow. A work of art.
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4/25/2020 - rlove wrote: 92 Points
An altogether different wine from my bottle a year ago, sporting more of a Bordeaux-esque savory profile with blue fruit, graphite, and dried herb. Soft texture even though the tannic grip is still there. A year ago this was stellar. Maybe a dumb phase; maybe an off bottle.
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4/24/2020 - Wine2372 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Opulent Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, with a palette of cassis and dark plum, pencil lead, toast, and mouth-coating, silky tannins. Elegant depth and structure, with an unusually long finish. A superb wine drinking beautifully, with 10+ years ahead.
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1/23/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine: 98 Points
Multilayered with super rich, opulent purple and dark red fruits, this is big and bold done to perfection. Expressive aromas of underbrush, coffee and spice round out the voluminous bouquet. The dark fruit driven profile finishes with epic length and a compelling graphite minerality. A powerful and intense wine that is beautifully balanced by its creamy and elegant textures, the ‘07 Madrona Ranch is absolutely brilliant!
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11/30/2019 - mwgtespo wrote:
Pierre after thanksgiving. Gabrielle liked it
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7/3/2019 - rlove wrote: 97 Points
Right out of the gate there's just a sensory overload, with the 2007 Madrona Ranch exuding underbrush, plum, and violet. Absolutely gorgeous with dark fruited flavors and a hint of truffle, a plush texture, and youthful, almost abrasive tannins that soften with air but never let you forget this wine's best days are ahead. Multiminute finish. Incredible.
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1/6/2019 - MC2 Wines wrote:
Winorama: A winter in Wineland III; 1/4/2019-1/13/2019 (Portland/Willamette, Eureka, Napa): 2007 isn't my year for Napa, but it's hard to argue with what Brad does. We were tasting with a friend who generally prefers to avoid cab but I believe the exact words were 'I'd drink cab if it was like this'. Just a beautiful wine. Very much fresh for '07. Lots of plum and spice and maybe a bit of licorice. Really lovely and a treat to try.
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12/28/2018 - Lateva wrote: 98 Points
Slow O for 6 hours. Drinking fantastic! Gorgeous nose of dark cherries, violets, coffee, and fennel. Palate is full and caressing with impeccable balance and grip. Very elegant. Long finish. Great wine!
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9/9/2018 - jonleerhp Likes this wine: 96 Points
This was a big, bold and rich Cabernet that was remarkably different after 2 hours. 2 Hour+ decant highly recommended. Big spicy pepper and jammy black fruit emerged with a elegant back-end finish. Tannins are still present and this wine is easily able to go another 10+ years. I might have a problem waiting that long for my next bottle. Great effort from Abreu and the quality is top-notch as you would expect.
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6/16/2018 - bmartz1 Likes this wine: 96 Points
One of the more unique cabs I've had in some time. Had incredibly luscious mouthfeel with long finish, but a fruit bomb. It was balanced and had minerality. Was hot out of the gate so give it some time to breathe. A real treat.
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4/6/2018 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
From Zalto. Lots of sweet oak on the nose and BBQ and some red fruit as well. LIghter on the nose than Harlan and less blue fruited. Palate is dense. With some earth notes. Just opened. And some green. Not really a charmer of a wine. Very brooding. Finish on oak tannins. Maybe the Franc is showing through? Maybe it just needs more time. Warm to boot.
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3/18/2018 - michael47 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Stunning wine. Dark dark in the glass. Pure nose of cab-cassis, toast, smoke, herbs. Lovely balanced fruit, acid, texture and richness. Long finish. Simply delicious.
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1/1/2018 - Lateva wrote: 98 Points
Double decanted at 10:00am and drank at 6:00 pm. Stunning. Gorgeous nose of dark cherry, cedar, iron, bitter chocolate. Palate is so elegant and long with the perfect tanning grip. Just amazing.
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5/9/2017 - Rosengoo wrote: 97 Points
This was decanted for 30 minutes prior to drinking. The wine was deep garnet red in colour and clear and had a nose of ripe cherries and some caramel. In the glass was a stunning wine with those same flavours of cherries, caramel, and some vanilla. The tannins were still quite strong while acidity was at a nice and not overwhelming level and even though the alcohol content is high, you would never know it. This wine showed wonderfully tonight.
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7/2/2016 - iawcc Likes this wine: 97 Points
Structured, perfect tannins. Fruit was beautiful and well balanced. Just a touch of green on the nose compared to the 06 st helena bond. Longggg finish
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2/13/2016 - UBD wrote: 97 Points
I just couldn't wait. So tasty. Decanted for 2 hours. Plenty of room left for aging.
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8/23/2015 - shadow wrote: 99 Points
The Abreu offering is coming up soon.
Love Abreu, but hey I'm retired.
Stock market just crashed.
Wine buying should be riding the deflationary spiral I not pretending it did not happen.
Is this worth what it cost in today's dollars.
Legendary vineyard, name reminds me of Madonna.
So is this a young sexy Madonna, or just a name that wants your money.
Nose is inviting, checked my glass, so similar to the Harlan.
Big sip, waves of leather and fruit, make that dry leather, like the Harlan, your brain says hydrate, your mouth is dry.
Another girl that is biting my tongue, but so inviting I keep sticking it back in.
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8/20/2015 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine: 96 Points
Tasted at Abreu after vineyard breakfast and tour of the ranch. Wow this was simply stunning. Dark ruby color in glass, with a nose of dark fruits and leather. On the palate this is a big wine but really well balanced with dark berries, leather, cigar box, grippy tannins and a finish that keeps going.
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3/11/2015 - Harry Cantrell Likes this wine: 96 Points
Deep garnet. Nose all that. Smooth, black fruits, hints of anise and chocolate. Taste smooth, rich, mouthfilling, fulfills the nose's promise. I find these Abreu cults among the most balanced of the sort. Yum.
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1/24/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 99 Points
California Cabernet Sauvignon might get better than this, but not by much! With layer after layer of perfectly ripe, lush, opulent black, blue and dark red berries, the wine coats your mouth and stays there for what seems like at least 60 seconds! There is a beautiful elegant texture that completely balances the intensity and power of the wine.
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12/1/2010 - gutt22 wrote:
Hefty wine. Big, ripe notes of coffee, spice, very ripe black fruit, and earth rise from the glass. In the mouth, slightly astringent and pushing ripeness to pretty high limits. No syrupy or jammy, at least, as some 2007s have been, but also ripe enough that the fruit overtakes some of the nuance of the wine. B+
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