Jeb Dunnuck (100)

A perfect wine in every sense, the 2016 Madrona Ranch comes from a site at the base of Spring Mountain and is a mix of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. It does everything right, with a magical bouquet of currants, ground herbs, licorice, graphite, spice, and who knows what else. These all carry to a massive 2016 that has a layered, multi-dimensional texture, building tannins, a colossal mid-palate, and a finish that won’t quit. It’s another heavenly wine from a great terroir and a great winemaker! Give bottles 2-4 years and enjoy over the following 30-40 years or more.

James Suckling (99)

Fabulous aromas of sweet tobacco, flowers, wet earth and blackberries. Black olives, too. Full body and chewy yet polished tannins. Dusty texture. Extremely flavorful. Tight and polished. A sophisticated, intriguing wine. Drink in 2022.

Wine Advocate (100)

Like the other vintages tasted on this occasion (2016 and 2017), the 2018 Madrona Ranch Proprietary Red is massively concentrated. But what sets it apart from those other great wines is its greater degree of integration and flow. From start to nearly infinite finish, the flavors of ripe cassis, dark chocolate and purple raspberries ease across the full-bodied palate in a seamless, velvety swell of lusciousness, without ever seeming heavy or overdone. Of all the amazing wines I tasted at Abreu this year, this one rises above the others.

Vinous (98-100)

The 2019 Madrona Ranch is a stunning, complete wine. There's not much else to say. All the elements are so impeccably balanced. The depth and purity of the fruit is just mesmerizing. Today, the typical savory notes of Madrona ranch are not particularly expressive, while the tannins are similarly buried by the luxurious depth of the fruit. This is another super-promising wine from David Abreu and Brad Grimes.

Vinous (98-100)

The 2019 Madrona Ranch is a stunning, complete wine. There's not much else to say. All the elements are so impeccably balanced. The depth and purity of the fruit is just mesmerizing. Today, the typical savory notes of Madrona ranch are not particularly expressive, while the tannins are similarly buried by the luxurious depth of the fruit. This is another super-promising wine from David Abreu and Brad Grimes.

Wine Advocate (100)

Deep garnet-purple in color, the incredibly youthful, slowly evolving 2007 Thorevilos Proprietary Red is scented of mulberries, baked plums, spice cake and crème de cassis with nuances of dusty soil, sandalwood, redcurrant jelly, roast lamb and fried rosemary. The core of full-bodied, muscular fruit is supported by a firm foundation of beautifully ripe, grainy tannins and tons of freshness, finishing with a jaw-dropping array of layers and amazing energy.

Wine Advocate (99+)

The 2012 Thorevilos is flamboyant, phenomenally concentrated, full-bodied, majestic and totally prodigious. It can be drunk young, but most readers will probably prefer to give it a few years of bottle age and consume it over the following 30+ years.

Vinous (100)

The 2013 Thorevilos is a real stunner. Deep, powerful and explosive, the 2013 possesses magnificent structure to match its vivid fruit. Deep and enveloping, the 2013 Thorevilos is an attention-grabbing wine. Crème de cassis, lavender, sage, violet, menthol, graphite, smoke and black cherry gradually flesh out in the glass, but the tannins are going to need much more time than that. Remarkably nuanced for such a big wine, the 2013 is spectacular from the very first taste. The 2013 has always been thrilling. It is all that and more today.

Wine Advocate (99)

Even better than the awesome 2016, Abreu's 2017 Thorevilos Proprietary Red takes those familiar piney-herbal notes and combines them with redder, more vibrant fruit flavors, evocative of cherries and raspberries. Yet even with this greater freshness, the wine remains full-bodied, concentrated and velvety in feel, with a tremendously long finish. This is undeniably tannic, but ripe, and it should have a long, graceful evolution in the cellar.

Wine Advocate (99)

Even better than the awesome 2016, Abreu's 2017 Thorevilos Proprietary Red takes those familiar piney-herbal notes and combines them with redder, more vibrant fruit flavors, evocative of cherries and raspberries. Yet even with this greater freshness, the wine remains full-bodied, concentrated and velvety in feel, with a tremendously long finish. This is undeniably tannic, but ripe, and it should have a long, graceful evolution in the cellar.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

One of the finest Napa Valley wines to pass my lips, the 2018 Thorevilos offers an incredible level of purity, concentration, and balance. Revealing plenty of creme de cassis, white flowers, spicy oak, and tobacco-like aromas and flavors, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a multi-dimensional texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a great, great finish. Coming from a site just outside St. Helena and mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (with a good chunk of Cabernet Franc), this is pure perfection in red wine. Although it can be drunk today, it really needs to be forgotten for 4-5 years, but it's going to cruise for 30, 40, if not 50 years.

Jeb Dunnuck (98+)

Another wine from this estate that’s going to flirt with perfection at maturity is the 2019 Thorevilos, which comes from a new vineyard located just outside of St. Helena, not far from the original site, which was renamed to Ecotone. This awesome 2019 reveals a deep purple hue as well as a smorgasbord-like array of ripe currants, crème de cassis, violets, flowery incense, and tobacco leaf. The palate is pure gold as well and is full-bodied, with a layered, elegant mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and just everything in the right place. Already complex and nuanced, this remarkably complete, heavenly 2019 will benefit from just a few years of bottle age and keep 20, 30, possibly 40 years. What an incredible example of Napa Valley and hats off to Brad Grimes. A new site but the same incredible quality.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (95)

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is in the zone right now. Crushed flowers, red-toned fruit, mint, mocha and cedar grace the bouquet. Still vibrant and fresh, the 2014 has aged impeccably. It shows the mid-weight style of the year nicely. The 2014 is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. This was only the third vintage for Bart and Daphne Araujo's Accendo, a winery that is now run by their children, Jaime and Greg.

Hailing from Napa Valley’s historical vineyards, Accendo Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 is a testament to the craftsmanship of esteemed vintner, Bart and Daphne Araujo. The encompassing 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and 8% Petite Verdot varietals have been expertly blended to unfold a wine of exquisite depth and elegance. Aged for 22 months in French oak barrels, this masterpiece reveals a luscious array of blackberries, cassis, and plum notes, with subtle essences of tobacco and cedar.

Acquiring a 98+ rating from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Accendo Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 showcases the extraordinary Araujo methodologies, reminiscent of a Bordeaux quality, but with Californian accents. Limited in production and crafted from organically farmed vines, it presents a unique opportunity to savour the Araujo's legacy. Choose Accendo Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 for an experience of luxurious refinement and unparallelled stature in winemaking.

Effortlessly embodying the richness of Italian viniculture, the Accomasso Giovanni Barolo Vigneto Rocchette Riserva 2013 is a stunning wine from the prestigious Barolo region of Piedmont. Nurutred in the famous Rocchette vineyard, this regal wine reflects the artistry of its master producer, Giovanni Accomasso. The maker's commitment to hand-harvesting and extended maceration ensures a captivating depth of flavour and an alluring ruby red hue.

Fermented in stainless-steel vats and matured in Slavonian oak barrels, this Accomasso Giovanni Barolo Vigneto Rocchette Riserva 2013 exhibits a ripe, full-bodied profile with hints of red fruits, worn leather, and tantalising earthiness. With a finish as long as it's memorable, it complements game and hearty meat dishes perfectly. Expect a tannic backbone that’s quintessentially Barolo, also promising brilliant ageing potential. This wine encapsulates the very essence of classic, traditional Barolo, rendering it a must-have for any serious collection.

Vinous (94)

The 2019 Malbec Finca Altamira hails from Paraje Altamira, Uco Valley, and was aged for 13 months in 80% new French barrels. A rich, reddish-purple in the glass. The complex aromas feature plum with hints of country herbs, camphor and thyme accompanied by whiffs of violet and mint. The aging process adds notes of tobacco and cedar. In the mouth, it delivers a nuanced, high-pitched flavor supported by a juicy, relaxed and polished tannic structure. A characterful, energetic wine that ends with a compact but lingering fruity flourish.