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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 94.4 pts. and median of 94 pts. in 45 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by MC2 Wines on 8/4/2023: Another wine that absolutely shocked me with the youth. This was really almost too young to be drinking full stop. Again got better with time in the glass and maybe more than the other wines appreciated the different meats as a pairing. Very good as always but I think we need to wait on our other bottles (1740 views) | | | Tasted by MC2 Wines on 2/25/2022: Weekend at Bernie's; 2/25/2022-2/27/2022 (Vero Beach): Like it's brother the '93 this wine was just in an excellent spot. I wish we'd opened them maybe a bit earlier so they had some time to breath but they did so in the glass and I found myself going back for extra pours. Both wines have that nice subtlety that you find in old world and yet still a good fruit and style to them. Really enjoyed. (4209 views) | | | Tasted by MJP Hou TX on 2/18/2022 & rated 94 points: Anticipation for night of Madrona started back in July of 2021 when I went in on these bottles with JonathanJ & Deandrew8649. Sourced through Benchmark Wine Group in what turned out to be perfect condition. After a few months of trying to schedule we landed on a date Feb 18th (little did we know it was national drink wine day). The venue of Bludorn was kind enough host and we were all set for what turned out to be an amazing experience.
94 & 95 double decanted back into bottle.
03 & 04 splash decanted and sediment filtered (lots of sediment in the 04)
Madrona is a special site and these wines showed terroir and vintage wonderfully. Spanning 28 years and two different winemakers (Rick Forman/Brad Grimes) this was an experience in which I will never forget.Night of Madrona at Bludorn Houston.
1994 Madrona Ranch
Double decant back into the bottle. This bottle was in perfect shape. Many of the restaurant staff absolutely loved the 94 & 95. By the time we had it before our meal I'm afraid we might have missed the peak window and expression of the 94. Of the two bottles from the 90's the 95 edge this one out over the length of our meal.
Depending upon storage this wine still has a lot of life yet. Drink or hold. (4711 views) | | | Tasted by MC2 Wines on 2/13/2021: Just totally rocking and maybe my WOTN. It’s in a sweet spot. Very balanced. Fruit still very there but lots of secondary too. Elegant and more restrained in style. Really enjoyed this and was glad to see we own more. (4359 views) | | | Tasted by buckeye76 on 5/25/2019 & rated 94 points: Beautiful color did not reveal its age. An elegant wine that has aged gracefully like a fine claret. Plenty of dark fruits in the nose with blackberries, blueberries, plums, and black currants along with licorice, earthiness, and some coffee. Deep berry fruit in the flavor. Very well balanced, medium to full bodied, nice complexity, and a long smooth finish. 94/95 (6568 views) | | | Tasted by MC2 Wines on 9/30/2018 & rated 95 points: Charleston IV - Return of the Collectible; 9/27/2018-9/30/2018 (Charleston, SC (various locations)): Wine #2: I wasn't 100% sure how this was going to show. We've had some old Abreus that were very good but we've also had some that just didn't age quite as well as they should have. This drank young. Lovely, but there's still more time needed for the oak and tannin to integrate into the right spot. The fruit is very much there - lots of lovely dark ones. Some lavender and cigar which made it feel a bit 'pretty' but there is also power there. Will lay the others down for awhile. This is a wine built to last. (5437 views) | | | Tasted by retired_and_roving on 9/30/2018 & rated 94 points: Charleston Offlineorama IV; 9/27/2018-10/1/2018 (Charleston, NC (various locations)): 2/6 wines tasted blind. The nose is not very expressive. The color is ruby red no bricking. On the palate, dark mature fruits, bramble and dry forest floor. Very integrated an pulled together. (6960 views) | | | Tasted by Vinomnivore on 5/7/2018 & rated 88 points: Tasted over 5 hours. Fine but not special and a disappointment given the price tag. Offering little on the nose and very little in the way of fruit. I wonder if this bottle was heat damaged (purchased at auction)? It was fine, balanced from an acid and body perspective, but gave very little in terms of the nose and very little fruit. (5270 views) | | | Tasted by jdtonic on 11/23/2017 flawed bottle: From Perfect Magnum of Perfect Provenance:
CORKED! D’oh.
(if i hadnt had a bottle of Schultze Windy Oaks SC PN and glass of Beringer Cab on hand with two carafes with which to build my monster, i dont what i’da done! Bought at RETAIL?? [shudder])
DillaStien’s Monster Wine : 93-94 points, EZ.. (5008 views) | | | Tasted by galewskj on 9/30/2017 & rated 95 points: Guys Night Part III (Jason's House): I believe pop and pour. This was one of the best California cabernets I have had. The nose is classic Bordeaux. The palate leans towards saddle leather and red fruit, which makes me think it's California cabernet. Really well done. (3611 views) | | | Tasted by rocknroller on 9/28/2017 & rated 95 points: Mostly Cali at Jason's: Very dark red color. PNP, Drank 1 glass over 90 minutes. Wow, what a masterpiece this is. Brilliant from the start. Great nose with deep earth, dark berries, cassis, leather, funk. The palate picks up where the nose left off, elegant, layered and deep but with lift an great earthiness, soil, seamless, long, wow! 95+pts to 96 pts. (3371 views) | | | Tasted by Rezy13 on 1/31/2017 & rated 94 points: Tuesday Night Double Blind $50+ (Alpharetta, GA): Dark opaque core with garnet rim; Bordeaux nose with cigar, tobacco, weedy, stones, gravel, earth, black currant, rich darker fruit, taut, green pepper, slight funk, good structure, in the secondary/tertiary, mushroom, some bitter chocolate, slight Bretty leather and sweaty animal note adds nice complexity rather than taking hold of the wine, very good balance, violets on the finish, slight medicinal licorice finish; very good, great vintage; fooled most as Bordeaux. (4422 views) | | | Tasted by KenK on 10/8/2015 & rated 95 points: Nice dark rich fruits with nice cool slate minerality. Smooth texture and solid stucture with lots of black spice. Long and concentrated, drinking great and more youthful than expected. Impressive. (5223 views) | | | Tasted by bengti on 7/28/2015 & rated 98 points: Ginsberg and Chan Singapore Steak Supreme (Wooloomooloo Steak House): An outstanding bottle that was piercing like a garnet, a concentration of fruit and integration of alcohol that I have only encountered in 1-2 other bottles, and reminded me of the Artadi El Pison 1995. Subtle undergirth of strength gives this wine presence and approachability. Gorgeous. (4307 views) | | | Tasted by Burgundy Al on 4/24/2015 & rated 93 points: Wine Dinner Extravaganza (North Lincoln Avenue Loft - Chicago IL): Much leaner and more elegant vs Bryant in the next glass. I like the balance and persistence and the harmony of ripe (maturing) black fruit, rosemary and licorice and well-integrated tannins. (5014 views) | | | Tasted by rcg62 on 12/25/2014 & rated 93 points: Very purple red color. Fairly subtle plum nose. Fairly light on the finish, but long palate of dark berry and plum. Opened up a little more with time. Very elegant. Probably at (or just beyond?) peak. Bought at auction, can't speak to storage although my bottle seems to lack the size others have described. (4106 views) | | | Tasted by jkoenen on 9/20/2014 & rated 96 points: 94 Napa: a 20-year retrospective @ my place (Netherlands): Very primary, deep and dark. Loaded with potential and promise. Black fruit, very floral and luxurious like an expensive perfume. Broad-shouldered and masculine, yet well dressed and very sophiticated. One for the cellar. 96+/100 (group scores 94-99) (4743 views) | | | Tasted by Zweder on 9/20/2014 & rated 97 points: Napa 1994 (@ JK): Luxurious bouquet with red and dark berries, eucalyptus, cedar and sweet spices. On the palate dark berries, licorice, beautiful acidity and round but still firm tannin. Enormous length. Has a future of at least another 5 years. (2023 views) | | | Tasted by bonedoc on 4/3/2014 & rated 95 points: Dark ruby/purple, concentrated and perfectly balanced, long finish. Can't comment on secondaries, as this was overshadowed by '95 vieux telegraphe. Showing younger than its age. (3532 views) | | | Tasted by Jeff Leve on 3/3/2014 & rated 96 points: With its scents of cassis, blackberry jam, truffle, caramel, coffee bean and cherries, the nose grabs your attention. Full bodied, concentrated, rich and intense, the wine is powerful, complex and long, but it lacks the same level of elegance and finesse tasted in the current vintages. (3680 views) | | | Tasted by thepeng1 on 1/10/2014 & rated 97 points: Wonderful. Soft, smooth. But, it tightened up over the course of the evening and lacked a really long finish. Hence, 97 not 100 (3110 views) | | | Tasted by bonedoc on 11/23/2013: 1994 Napa Tasting (Bin 54): (++) great fruit, richer, less minerals, beef (3254 views) | | | Tasted by Fiorano on 6/11/2013 & rated 95 points: Smooth, elegant, mature and beautiful. (3647 views) | | | Tasted by mappleton on 5/24/2013 & rated 95 points: An elegant beauty. "Margaret Thatcher" maybe? Elegance and strength. Power and Beauty. Delicious. Still in awe of most of these 94's. What a year (2938 views) | | | Tasted by Old Vino on 3/1/2013 & rated 94 points: Poured in decanter. Character kept on changing for up to 6 hours. Last glass was most enjoyable. Medium plus finish. Very little if any tannins remaining. I'd drink before it hits 25 years of age. (3232 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Looking Back at Napa Valley Icons (Oct 2014) (9/1/2014)
(David Abreu Cabernet Sauvignon Madrona Ranch Napa Valley) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (5/25/2003)
(Abreu Cabernet Sauvignon Madrona Ranch) 1994 Cali Cabs Blindtasted (Screaming Eagle, Harlan, Bryant, Araujo, Abreu, Shafer HS) (Skirball Center, Los Angeles, California): Blackberry nose; berry, eucalyptus, menthol palate with firm tannins; medium-plus finish 92 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Abreu Producer website
Abreu Vineyards is of famed vineyard manager David Abreu. Mr. Abreu’s farming skills are in extremely high demand, and he oversees many of the Napa Valley’s most prestigious vineyard properties.
Region: Napa Valley
Sub Region: St Helena
David Abreu and his winemaker, Brad Grimes produce four single vineyard red wines under Abreu Vineyards company. The labels are; Madrona Ranch, Cappella, Thorevilos, and Las Posadas. There is a fifth wine which is a blend of all four properties called, Rothwell Hyde. Wines are available for purchase though their direct mailing list only.
This is a highly sought after label that is owned by vineyard manager-extraordinaire David Abreu, also known as, “the grower to the stars.” He has farmed for many illustrious estates including current and past clients such as; Colgin, Staglin, Bryant, Kenzo, Sloan, Marciano, Harlan Estate, and Screaming Eagle.
David Abreu, a third-generation rancher from St. Helena, founded Abreu Vineyards in 1980 after working briefly at Caymus Vineyards. That year he formed David Abreu Vineyard Management, working with pioneering winemaker Richard Forman to manage ranching operations at Inglenook Winery.
Abreu and Forman became friends and traveled frequently to Bordeaux, where they observed French winemaking operations. They brought back French rootstock, trellis designs, and Bordelais planting and farming techniques.[1]
Abreu's fame spread as more wineries hired David Abreu Vineyard Management company to plant and manage ranching operations. By 1999 he was considered the premier viticulturist for premium grapes in Napa Valley.[2] Abreu's company has raised grapes for some of the most respected wineries in Napa and Sonoma Valleys including Blankiet Estate, Acacia Vineyard, Staglin Family Vineyards, Jones Family Vineyards, Bressler Vineyards, Colgin Cellars, Pahlmeyer Vineyard, Sloan Estate, Bryant Family Vineyard, Fisher Vineyards, Oakford Vineyards, Araujo Estate Wines, Grace Family Vineyard, Viader Vineyards, and Harlan estate, among others.
In 1998 eminent wine critic Robert M. Parker, Jr. included Abreu in his list of the "most influential wine personalities of the last 20 years."[3] In 2006 Abreu was hired to replant the Screaming Eagle Winery vineyards.[4]
The wines
Abreu Vineyards concentrates exclusively on estate-grown cabernet sauvignon blends. Robert Parker gave the 1997 Madrona Ranch cabernet perfect 100-point score, one of only 140 wines in the world to receive the honor.[5] In the "Judgment of Sauternes," in October, 2006 the 1997 cabernet was judged the #1 wine in the world by the Grand Jury Européen.[6]
In the late 1990s Abreu and Forman jointly purchased and planted the 20-acre Thorevilos Vineyard. They released Abreu's first cabernet from that vineyard in 2000.[7]
Distribution is extremely limited, although a number of online wine sellers do advertise Abreu wines at $100 to $600 or more per bottle. Production was 500 cases in 1999.
References
^ Forman (2000). Launching Bordeaux-Style Wines in the Napa Valley:. University of California, Berkeley, Regional Oral History Office, pp.106-109.
^ Forman, 2000, p. 37
^ Parker, Robert. "The most influential wine personalities of the last 20 years", The Wine Advocate, December 23, 1998.
^ Murphy, Linda. "Worth its weight in gold? Why some people happily pay $500 for a bottle of wine", San Francisco Chronicle, August 3, 2006.
^ Robert Parker's 100 Point Wines. Wine-Searcher (May, 2005). Retrieved on January 27, 2007.
^ Anson, Jane. "California in pole position yet again", Decanter.com, October 24, 2006. Retrieved on January 27, 2007.
^ Foreman, 2000, pp. 124-125
Cabernet SauvignonCabernet Sauvignon is probably the most famous red wine grape variety on Earth. It is rivaled in this regard only by its Bordeaux stablemate Merlot, and its opposite number in Burgundy, Pinot Noir. From its origins in Bordeaux, Cabernet has successfully spread to almost every winegrowing country in the world. It is now the key grape variety in many first-rate New World wine regions, most notably Napa Valley, Coonawarra and Maipo Valley. Wherever they come from, Cabernet Sauvignon wines always seem to demonstrate a handful of common character traits: deep color, good tannin structure, moderate acidity and aromas of blackcurrant, tomato leaf, dark spices and cedarwood.
Used as frequently in blends as in varietal wines, Cabernet Sauvignon has a large number of common blending partners. Apart from the obvious Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the most prevalent of these are Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere (the ingredients of a classic Bordeaux Blend), Shiraz (in Australia's favorite blend) and in Spain and South America, a Cabernet – Tempranillo blend is now commonplace. Even the bold Tannat-based wines of Madiran are now generally softened with Cabernet SauvignonUSAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Napa Valley Napa Valley Wineries and Wine (Napa Valley Vintners)Napa ValleySt. Helena |
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