Region: Napa Valley, California

Composition of: 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 14% Petit Verdot, and 4% Malbec

History: Thorevilos was one of David’s favorite places as a child. So there were no vines. Just pines, redwoods, and old olive groves. And a rusty hog wire hanging from a tree – “Hook Man” in the Abreu family tradition. These days it is the earth that absorbs it. White tuff that turns into a fine powder when ground underfoot. Tan ground dotted with or dark brown pebbles. Stripes of red, dry earth. Sitting 800 feet above the valley floor, wedged between the St. Helena and Howell Mountain AVAs, Thorevilos does not belong to any sub-appellation. “It’s an outlier,” says David. When the AVA limits were determined, you could have argued to include it. “But it wouldn’t have made any difference to the vineyard. Or the wine.”

Tasting Notes:

“Grown in white volcanic ash soil, the deep garnet-purple Thorevilos Proprietary Red 2014 has a very meaty nose with charcuterie, beef fat, truffles and wood smoke over spice cake, blackberry pie, warm black currants, earth and anise plus a burst of coffered cedar. On the palate it is very firm, grainy, lively and tense with loads of earthy/salty layers and great length.” – Robert Parker Jr.

Acclaim: 97pts Robert Parker