The wallet is in tough shape due to the recent releases but I took (1) 3-pack of my total (4) 3-pack allocation. Hard to pass on a Graeme project, even on a tough vintage.
If anyone in the NYC/Long Island area is interested in individual bottles or up to (3) 3-packs at cost, please feel free to reach out.
MacDonald did release a 2020. The quantity was significantly reduced as only 150 cases were made, from their oldest vines. 525 cases were made in 2021.
Thanks! What about Ecotone producers?
Thereās a risk. But since passing on the 2019 didnāt keep you from getting an offer for the 2020, itās far from certain youāre going to be cast out for passing on the 2020. And then there is whatever are the broader demand issues for $200+ Napa cab.
I purchased the 2019s, opened one, and enjoyed it. Obviously it was young, and could have used a few years, but I do think the quality is there and I donāt doubt that Graeme made a beautiful wine in 2020 as well.
As others have mentioned, with the recent other 2021 vintage releases of Kinsman, MacDonald, and a few releases from newer producers as well, Iāll have to pass this time around. Whether or not Iāll receive an allocation for their 2021s, after supporting their inaugural vintage, will be seen. Regardless, wishing them the best!
Weāll see and I actually never received an offer for their inaugural release (signed up late and it was already sold out by then).
Who all is making an Ecotone cab now? I know of this, VV, Kinsman, and I think there are a few othersā¦ Curious what the hierarchy is in terms of whoās picking the most prime fruit. I know people are praising the new Abreu Thorevilos cabs too. I wonder if weāll feel better or worse off, having so many wines coming from this site.
Well the name Thorevilos is trademarked (as was shared at the dinner) and didnāt get the sense Abreu was taking anymore Ecotone fruit for it (since the lease expired in 2018). So I donāt think any recent vintages will be grape to grape comparison.
Thatās a shame, I was going to name the heroic warrior King in my epic fantasy novel Iām writing Thorevilos.
Iāll have go to my next choice, King Herb Lamb. Heās more known for his hunting and feasting than as a warrior. Iāll have to adjust the script some.
Didnāt he die in a raging fire? Legend speaks of a day he will rise again like a phoenix.
I didnāt even know they grew Cabernet in Phoenix. Seems way too hot there.
Thanks for the notes! I had similar impressions, the power of Ecotone vineyard was immediately apparent in the 2019 and 2021. The terroir seems captured quite well, as they had very similar notes to some older wines I have tried from the vineyard.
I consider the 2020 very different from the rest, as it tastes very familiar to those who like another superb vineyard 
I have my reservations of all 2020 wines in general but was very pleasantly surprised by this 2020, and honestly I feel that whoever opts to skip this one is missing out big time on a unique offering. No smoke taint detected on my palate.
I believe Accendo sources from Ecotone for their cab, and I know Impensata currently produces the only merlot from Ecotone fruit.
Impensata makes a killer Merlot from Ecotone. I had it in February, and took a bottle to TFL that evening.
in for a few bottles
Im in, agree with trusting them
I was fortunate to also get some KE Aphex 2021 and it will be curious to see how it compares to the 001 2021 down the line. Jack has really focused on getting the ecotone fruit into some of the best hands in Napa so it will be interesting to detect winemaking differences and perhaps some block differences, however subtle or not.
Iām also very curious to see the comparisonā¦ a tasting contrasting 21 VV Mysterons, 21 Aphex, and 21 001 would be very interesting ā maybe throw in a 2021 Abreu Thorevilos for comparison too
Maybach also makes one i believe
I was under the impression from all the reading Iāve done that as of the 2019 vintage Abreu Thorevilos comes from a new vineyard and not from what is now known as Ecotone or formerly Thorevilos.