Abreu’s newest baby, the Cabernet Sauvignon Thorevilos, is fashioned from a vineyard he co-owns with Ric Forman. It is truly monumental, if not immortal stuff. The amazing, virtually perfect 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Thorevilos (85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot) boasts an opaque purple color along with a tantalizing perfume of blueberry liqueur intermixed with scents of espresso roast, chocolate, and black truffles. Voluminous in the mouth, revealing flavors of cedar, chocolate, cassis, blueberry, and flowers along with a striking minerality, this full-bodied, opulently-textured 2001 is as good as any red wine can possibly be. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2030.
This is an irrefutable blue chip superstar, but, sadly, the small production is all sold via a mailing list. David Abreu, the first-rate viticulturist to many of Napa Valley’s best run vineyards, is an uncompromising perfectionist whose “take-no-prisoners” policy and demanding formula for producing top quality fruit does not always sit well with some. However, if readers are looking for great wines, David Abreu is the real deal. Longtime readers know that I have long regarded his wines as monumental examples of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Abreu has not endured a bad vintage to date, and even his off years are better than most winemakers’ top years.
David Abreu owns another vineyard called Capello in St. Helena. The first vintage from this vineyard planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (4 acres), Merlot (1 acre), and Cabernet Franc (1 acre) will be 2004. I can’t wait!
