Winemaker Notes
Abreu Madrona Ranch is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc with accents of Merlot and Petit Verdot. The wine is aged in 100% new French oak for two years and receives an addition two years of bottle age prior to release.
Blend: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Beginning in 1993, Abreu's wines climb even higher on the qualitative ladder. In fact, I am not sure there is much further room for improvement. The 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon, another great wine from an often "maligned" vintage, boasts a fabulous dark purple color, as well as sweet, jammy, toasty black fruits, fruitcake, cedar, and black truffle-like smells. Packed with extract and glycerin, this is an expansive, chewy, pure Cabernet that should be cellared for another 2-3 years after its release in 1997; it will easily last until 2025. This is great stuff! In tasting through all of Abreu's commercially available wines, I was struck by how consistent in quality they are. The exceptional 1991 and 1992 have been followed by phenomenal wines in 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996. Most of these wines are 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the balance Cabernet Franc. The only exception is the 1995, which is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. The wines are worth owning; I am putting my money where my mouth is. Range: 94-96
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.