Abreu, Madrona Ranch, Napa Valley

SF Wine Tasting Meetup - Jan 2026 (San Francisco) : Second-ever experience with Abreu, the last time I tried it was the 2006 vintage (which I really enjoyed). Dark cherry, dark plum, and blackberry notes. Also some nice pencil shavings on the nose, which I always enjoy in a nice Napa cab. 93+ points.

2004 vintage

SF wine gathering with Palisades Canyon (Mission Bay/SOMA) : My primary bring, bought from a large cellerage operation a couple of years ago. On the nose and palate, dark, dark, dark notes of dark berries, plums, figs, cassis and currants, earthy herbality, mocha, dried flowers, leather, anise, char and truffles. Deep crimson, very full bodied with tree trunk legs. Huge acidity and tannins, taming with much air and mostly integrating, very hot off the pour, integrating fully after hours of …

2004 vintage

Ready from the first minute. Now at its peak but no hurry to drink.

2005 vintage

Similar to prior notes after double decanting for 2 hrs; outstanding, ready to drink, no rush

2005 vintage

Two hour double decant, followed by a few hour slow ox. Deep dark ruby magenta color. Date, chocolate, sage Rice Krispy treat, blueberry, wildflowers, and subtle mint. Smooth, dry, plush palate, with dusty acidity. Firm, medium intensity tannins on the long finish. My good friend jsmorris707 brought this to a birthday party we attended in Fort Lauderdale. There was so much good wine. This Abreu was almost wine of the night. It’s big and effusive. Amazing for its age. 400 …

2005 vintage

Deep garnet. Nose with hint of bottle stink that blew off. Plums, black fruits in nose. Taste rich, smooth. Very good

2005 vintage

A really big boy! Needed to decant half a day prior to drinking. Supercharged, concentrated mission fig, blackberry and vanilla and spices. Hold another 5 years, decant aggressively and eat with a steak.

2004 vintage

Similar to prior notes after a 90 min double decant, except this bottle tasted a little younger or needed a longer decant; outstanding, drink or hold, no rush

2004 vintage

CCF Wine & Spirits BYOB with ‘55 d’Yquem and ‘55 Sandeman (CCF) : This did not disappoint anyone at the table. Utterly luscious both with the color, the palate feel and finish. Thank you Ros.

2004 vintage

Deep ruby red in the bowl with a rose colored edge. Blackberries and black currants in the nose licorice, floral and earthiness. Blackberries, black cherries, blueberries and plums in the flavor with hints of licorice. A rich, concentrated, complex wine with excellent balance and mouthfeel, full bodied and a very long smooth finish. Excellent pairing with steak and lamb.

2004 vintage

Outstanding with no signs of slowing down. Drink or hold. I’d bet this would still be good 10 years from now.

2004 vintage

Enjoyed this on Christmas Eve and wow — a really fantastic showing of that Abreu magic. No solid notes here, but what’s distinct is more just the degree of complexity here. I was put off at first but it really grew on me. There’s this complexity in the earthy, mushroom, truffle secondary notes behind the cassis on the nose that really sets this apart from lesser wines. This is the second time I’ve seen Madrona Ranch, the first being a …

2004 vintage

Brought to Abreu cave in Napa, had the luxury to pop with Brad Grimes. Just all around naughty experience. Tasted 2024 vintage Madrona and Theorvilos straight of the barrel, which served as a great primer to popping the 2003. Boy oh boy, it showed excellent. Just classic cassis, eucalyptus, menthol, slate on the nose. Almost a blue fruit palette. Big and round with about the perfect amount of structure. It is not at peak, but really damn close. Long bursting …

2003 vintage

Drank side by side with a 2009 Sammarco and 2000 Calon Segur. This came out as WOTN. The classic Napa eucalyptus and licorice undertones with a romantic and elegant balance of acidity and structure. Still feel the fruit has some time to come out, drink at peak in another five to ten years.

2005 vintage

A large scaled powerhouse of a wine that opens with plum, blackberry, bbq smoke, clove and savory herbs. This needs several hours to unwind in the decanter still and it just gains in complexity. The only complaint is that it does get a bit overtly alcoholic at times, but this element settles in and integrates as the wine decants. Excellent.

2004 vintage

Last tasted five years ago and this wine surpassed that one. Drinking absolutely beautifully at 21 years old. Still deep in color, purple in the bowl and garnet on the edge. Rich concentrated fruit in the nose with blackberries, black cherries, and black currants along with licorice, leather and hints of coffee and floral. Loads of concentrated dark fruits in the flavor, blackberries, black currants, and black cherries, with plums and blueberries and hints of chocolate and licorice and spice. …

2003 vintage

Similar to prior notes after double decanting for 2.5 hrs; outstanding, ready to drink, no rush

2005 vintage

CDV713/MacDonald One of the many wines tasted throughout the evening and this showing was stellar! I will sub classify this one on the more youthful bottles outside of the MacDonalds vertical. This reminds me of the Forman wines from the 90's. 98+ Drink or hold

2004 vintage

Served blind. Brought by Bill to tonight's tasting. Opaque dark garnet in the glass. Nose of black fruit and anise most prevalent. Big alc and big acidity notes. Depth is surprisingly less deep than you would think but it's very concentrated, especially for an '03. This one drinks much younger. The alc % seems a bit higher than the stated 14.5%, too. The high alc notes take over for me, personally. 94-95 but I don't see it getting any better …

2003 vintage

Drinking beautiful now with many years ahead. Loved this wine with layers of fruit concentration, earth notes, hints of coffee and spice. The terrific balance just elevates this wine to a higher level. 98

2004 vintage

From memory after a 2 hour double decant; outstanding, another great bottle, drink or hold, no rush

2004 vintage

Similar to prior note after double decanting for 2 hrs, except that this bottle had entered peak drinking; outstanding, ready to drink, no rush

2005 vintage

Similar to prior notes after a 2 hour double decant, WOTN again against some good wines; outstanding, drink or hold, no rush

2004 vintage

This wine is in a fantastic place. Fully integrated, still showing abundant fruit alongside beautiful secondary notes. First experience with Abreu and I am a big fan, just wish they weren't so expensive.

2003 vintage

Similar to prior notes after a 2.5 hour double decant, WOTN against some good wines; outstanding, but I suspect it will still improve, drink or hold, no rush

2004 vintage

Decanted 1 hour.

2004 vintage

Similar to prior note after a 2 hour double decant; outstanding, but needs a longer decant or more time; outstanding, drink or preferably hold

2004 vintage

A very big wine and obviously very well made. Dark and brooding wow. Explosive fruit but not jammy or over extracted. Not for the AFWE crowd. That explains why there was wine left to take home. I admit that on second day this fell flat. Double decanted into the bottle two hours before.

2004 vintage

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 …

2003 vintage

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 …

2004 vintage

Ok so it’s uncomfortable to type our lineup out but I find as I get older if I don’t write it down I won’t remember but wow a top wine night it was. Started at Anhelo in downtown Phoenix and then consumed rest elsewhere. No ratings as I am still recovering from COVID palate syndrome and some wines didn’t taste right while others were perfect (no clue why). Wednesday NV Legras & Haas Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs 2000 …

2005 vintage

Double decanted for 2 hrs, deep ruby, dark fruit, med/firm tannins, long finish; outstanding, but still a little young, hold for another year or so. It was outdone by the 05 Futo that was fully open for business

2005 vintage

Wonderful! Still a lot of fruit and rich dense to the taste and mouthfeel. At peak but with many years to go!

2003 vintage

Corked

2005 vintage

Full body, M++ tannin, M+ acidity. hazelnut, oak, vanilla, blackcurrant, violoet, clove, licorice, bell pepper. powerful bold but less Complexity. this is my first experience of abreu, little bit disappointed.😥 😞

2005 vintage

Night at the Madrona : This wine's integration and balance are impeccable - and thrilling. Brick in color and medium in body, the wine offers aromas of dried blueberry, baked herbs, espresso, and trail dust. The flavors cascade, with notes of blackberry, anise, bay leaf, and gravel, with a finish that goes on and on and on. 14.5% alcohol. Blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, along with some Cab Franc and Petit Verdot. More juicy on second day, with a note …

2004 vintage

Wow. Proving that Abreu is amongst Napa’s best. The nose is powerful yet pretty. Concentrated but elegant. There’s fruit, spice, and earth all in harmony. On the palate it’s beautifully integrated. Tannins slowly creep on the finish but this is pleasurable from front to back. California at its best. Simple as that. Enjoy it now and over the next 20+ years.

2003 vintage

Similar to prior note after a 2 hour double decant; outstanding, but still seems young. I need to try to hold off on the next one for another year or so

2004 vintage

Thanks Edward brought this wine to share in the American wines’ night. This was wow wine of the night and got most of the votes. This was also the first American wine impressed me the most, surpassing Opus One 2013 I brought the night, with elegant and expensive nose and palate. What I would compare this with Lafite in BDX. A wonderful wine to enjoy, even without food!

2004 vintage

Similar to prior note after a 2 hour double decant, except a little more tannic; outstanding, drink or preferably hold for another year or 2

2004 vintage

This wine is symphonic in every great sense of the word. First, it is “harmonious” - with elements of fruit, tannin, and acidity working in incredible unison. Second, it is “complex.” I’m not sure how many violins are in the back row, but the flavors combine force and nuance, like a soloist and orchestra playing all at once, each with a different sound but layered in the best sense. Heck, this wine might even imitate the four movements of the …

2003 vintage

Abreu's 2005 Madrona Ranch shows the usual savory quality of this vineyard but also a Right Bank quality, despite no Merlot, with notes of plum, chocolate, and truffle. Medium full body with some grip still to the tannic structure. Slight heat to the finish.

2005 vintage

Madrona savory notes, as always great fruit and concentration... although this bottle came across a little heavy handed w some heat and alcohol,

2005 vintage

Decanted 2 hours. Very little fruit at any point, but a lot of graphite / minerality. Tannins and acid were very much in balance. Big body.

2003 vintage

Double decanted for 2 hrs, deep ruby with no brick, dark fruit with a touch of leather on the nose, black cherries on the palate, med. tannins, long finish; outstanding & has entered its drinking window which I suspect will last years. A beautiful bottle shared with great friends!

2004 vintage

There's a hard oaky elbow, particularly on the finish, that lends Abreu's 2003 Madrona Ranch an austere quality. Given the other notes here perhaps just the bottle but I also wouldn't expect this vintage to be long lived.

2003 vintage

Abreu's 2004 Madrona Ranch is a wine of elegance with an understated nose of blueberry, black cherry, pencil shaving, and licorice. Plushly textured, full bodied but doesn't show the weight. Soft tannins but slightly drying on the finish. Very Pomerol/Merlot-like despite this being 85% Cabernet sauvignon.

2004 vintage

Pop and pour. Felt big and plush out of the gate. Very nice structure still holding things in place after 17 years. Great balance. Felt almost too extracted and big. Just skirted the line there. Lovely with our steak. About an hour later the raisiny notes slowly started popping up. Still a pleasant drink but now different. I know the vintage was crappy and this is likely one of the better performers from Napa. And I’ve had the 2003 Scarecrow …

2003 vintage

Blend of cab sauvignon and cab franc. 14.5% ABV. I let it breathe 1.5 hrs. Drank over 3.5. What a fleshy nose. Some heat on this one if you enjoy early but not after hour 2 out of the bottle. Polished, pure fruit with well balanced acidity, soft tannins and leather notes. As it gets more time out of the bottle the fruit comes out. One of the better wines of the year for me. As good on day 2.

2005 vintage

85% Cab Sauvignon, remainder a mix of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. 14.5% ABV. Aged 24 months in new French Oak. I let it breathe for 2.5 hrs. Enjoyed over 2. Cork broke in half upon opening. Never a good sign. A lot of heat on the nose. Lots of oak notes. Perhaps the cork did not make it all these years. I'm seeing a lot of bottle variation in the CT notes, so perhaps mine was among those that …

2004 vintage

Are you sure?

Abreu, Madrona Ranch, Napa Valley

Vintages

No vintages

Community Reviews