2019 Thorevilos 0,75 l Abreu Vineyards Napa Valley

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.

The 2019 Thorevilos is a dense, full-bodied wine that marries the opulence of the vintage with notable precision. Inky dark fruit, graphite, plum, licorice and a host of savory notes all open in the glass, supported by bright tannins that extend the finish effortlessly. This is the first edition of the Thorevilos made in a new vineyard that replaces the original source for this bottling. The 2019 has really come together nicely during the last phase of élevage. (AG)

The 2019 Thorevilos is the first wine from a site just outside St. Helena that replaces the former vineyard where this wine was made. David Abreu planted the 'new' Thorevilos (previously Arns), which is very close to the former Thorevilos (today Ecotone). Naturally, the 2019 has to be considered a wine of transition. From barrel, the 2019 offers plenty of dark fruit with a softer tannin profile than readers have come to expect for this wine. There is quite a bit of redevelopment going on here. It will be interesting to see how things shape up in the coming years.