No detailed notes taken. We dived into four of the 2019 Napa heavyweights. This vintage really sings a tune of density, aromatic depth, complexity, and precision, all the while maintaining a good freshness. The fruit, though ripe, doesn't quite tip into the overt ripeness we saw back in 2015. And it's structured and fresh, (but not 2013 structured), carrying its weight with grace. Given a bit more time, these wines are bound to shed their youthful exuberance, evolving into something even more compelling.
Winner was the Spottswoode (95pts) as it was the best composed and balanced wine, with the least excess and ripeness and the most earthy notes to balance the fruit. The Abreu Madrona (94pts) was a tad behind but is so wonderfully structured, with the most luxurious tannins and a incredibly high complexity that it will easily overtake the Spottswoode in a decade. The Abreu Las Posadas (92pts) is deep, highly precise, with an elegant structure but bit too exuberant today. The Bryant Bettina (91pts, from magnum) was the most weightless wine of all four but with an intensity, a ripeness and oak level that is beyond of what I would want to drink.
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During a merchant tasting, no detailed tasting notes. An amazingly good wine. Combines richness and precision of the alluvial soil vineyard with the generous Napa sun. Not overdone, fresh and aromatic with precise palate. I am much more a Bordeaux drinker, but this is very grand.
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Tasted at a merchant event, only brief notes: Ripe and extracted berry fruit, but still sufficiently fresh. Most dominant is intense cassis flavors, completed by coffee and mocha. Round and juicy palate, meticulously structured. But still a notch below Los Posadas which was just a tad more luscious.
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Tasted in barrel with Brad Grimes alongside the other 3 SVDs (Thorevilos, Las Posadas and Capella) and was tied for 1st for the day with the 18' Bella Oaks. Like many other 19's in barrel, I found many of the wines in this vintage to be surprisingly approachable so young (19' Promontory, 19' VV Dr. Crane, 19' Harlan come to mind). The 19' Abreu Madrona had a nice balance with dark fruits, beautiful tannins and some earthy components. This definitely felt like the star in the lineup with the Thorevilos nipping at its heels, followed by Las Posadas and Capella. I will be seeking all three when they release.
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3/16/2024 - Cailles wrote: 94 Points
No detailed notes taken. We dived into four of the 2019 Napa heavyweights. This vintage really sings a tune of density, aromatic depth, complexity, and precision, all the while maintaining a good freshness. The fruit, though ripe, doesn't quite tip into the overt ripeness we saw back in 2015. And it's structured and fresh, (but not 2013 structured), carrying its weight with grace. Given a bit more time, these wines are bound to shed their youthful exuberance, evolving into something even more compelling.
Winner was the Spottswoode (95pts) as it was the best composed and balanced wine, with the least excess and ripeness and the most earthy notes to balance the fruit. The Abreu Madrona (94pts) was a tad behind but is so wonderfully structured, with the most luxurious tannins and a incredibly high complexity that it will easily overtake the Spottswoode in a decade. The Abreu Las Posadas (92pts) is deep, highly precise, with an elegant structure but bit too exuberant today. The Bryant Bettina (91pts, from magnum) was the most weightless wine of all four but with an intensity, a ripeness and oak level that is beyond of what I would want to drink.
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3/10/2024 - Collector1855 wrote: 98 Points
During a merchant tasting, no detailed tasting notes. An amazingly good wine. Combines richness and precision of the alluvial soil vineyard with the generous Napa sun. Not overdone, fresh and aromatic with precise palate. I am much more a Bordeaux drinker, but this is very grand.
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3/9/2024 - sirpat00 wrote: 96 Points
Tasted at a merchant event, only brief notes: Ripe and extracted berry fruit, but still sufficiently fresh. Most dominant is intense cassis flavors, completed by coffee and mocha. Round and juicy palate, meticulously structured. But still a notch below Los Posadas which was just a tad more luscious.
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12/7/2021 - bsumoba Likes this wine: 98 Points
Tasted in barrel with Brad Grimes alongside the other 3 SVDs (Thorevilos, Las Posadas and Capella) and was tied for 1st for the day with the 18' Bella Oaks. Like many other 19's in barrel, I found many of the wines in this vintage to be surprisingly approachable so young (19' Promontory, 19' VV Dr. Crane, 19' Harlan come to mind). The 19' Abreu Madrona had a nice balance with dark fruits, beautiful tannins and some earthy components. This definitely felt like the star in the lineup with the Thorevilos nipping at its heels, followed by Las Posadas and Capella. I will be seeking all three when they release.
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