Abreu Vineyards Thorevilos 2014, Napa Valley, USA
$ 1,164.00
Thorevilos was one of David’s favorite haunts as a child. There were no vines then. Just pine trees, redwoods, an old olive grove. And a rusted hog wire hanging from a tree—“Hook Man” in Abreu family lore. These days it’s the dirt that engrosses him. White tufa that turns to fine powder when you grind it beneath your foot. Tannish soil peppered with orange-brown pebbles. Streaks of dry, red earth. Sitting 800 feet above the valley floor, wedged between the St. Helena and Howell Mountain AVAs, Thorevilos doesn’t belong to any sub-appellation. “It’s an outlier,” David says. When the AVA boundaries were being determined, he could have argued to have it included. “But it wouldn’t have made any difference to the vineyard. Or the wine.”
Sitting 800 feet above the valley floor, wedged between the St. Helena and Howell Mountain AVAs, Thorevilos doesn’t belong to any sub-appellation. “It’s an outlier,” David says. When the AVA boundaries were being determined, he could have argued to have it included. “But it wouldn’t have made any difference to the vineyard. Or the wine.”
One of the gems in the lineup is the 2014 Thorevilos and this awesome wine comes from a site on the eastern side of the valley, just behind the luxury Meadowood Estate, and is comprised of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 14% Petit Verdot, and 4% Malbec. Notes of crème de cassis and blue fruits intermixed with spicy oak, spring flowers, and graphite all emerge from the glass and this crazy good 2014 offers a full-bodied, powerful, yet graceful, elegant style on the palate. It’s a gorgeous 2014 that shows the more sexy, approachable style of the vintage, yet has enough tannin to warrant hiding bottles for at least 4-5 years.
Grown on white volcanic ash soil, the deep garnet-purple colored 2014 Thorevilos Proprietary Red has a very meaty nose with charcuterie, beef drippings, truffles and wood smoke over spice cake, blackberry tart, warm blackcurrants, earth and anise plus a waft of cedar chest. The palate is very firm, grainy, lively and taut with loads of earthy/savory layers and great length.
Steeped in feel, with a core of fig, blackberry and boysenberry fruit showing a heady edge as this throws off mulled spice, anise, mesquite and Turkish coffee notes. Sage, juniper and alder details are buried deeply on the finish, with the fruit easily holding sway. Massive, but distinctive and very detailed. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Best from 2021 through 2042.
Blackberries, blackberries, licorice and violets. Full and round with a velvety tannin structure and a juicy finish. Chewy and tannic. Needs time to soften. Try in 2020 to let the tannins soften. Blend of cabernet sauvignon (52%), cabernet franc (30%), petit verdot (14%) and merlot (4%).
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