Abreu is worth the tariff (?)

Ryan_A · June 27, 2021, 6:18pm

Zachary- the ‘16s are off the charts. Brad’s first vintage as you know was 2000 and I think he has only gotten better and more knowledgeable through the years. I had the ‘16s in barrel and they were absolutely killer. I think you will be happy to have these tucked away as if the individual barrel samples are anything similar to the in bottle final blend they will be amazing.

Ryan_A · June 27, 2021, 6:28pm

Ravi- unfortunately it has to do with marketing and Abreu’s refusal to do so. There is literally no marketing and limited distribution so those that know the name buy it and when it’s off DTC there is not the brand recognition like Colgin, Harlan, Bordeaux, Etc. Even HSS and others have a name recognition where Abreu does not.

Think of it this way, if you walked into a restaurant or party, mixed level of wine drinkers and pulled out five bottles below and told them to each pick one glass, which would the crowd gravitate to, be most excited about)?

Abreu
Hillside Select
Caymus Special Select
Colgin
Opus One

I would bet, big bet, the majority would pick Opus and second Caymus Special Select as the wine they wanted (between the group). If you break off the wine drinkers, I don’t mean nut jobs like (me) WB/CT group but a level below, they would throw HSS and Colgin into the mix. Very few if any as the must have one glass would choose Abreu as it has no name recognition. Yes I have hosted many dinners and something similar occurs every time- very rarely without knowing my preference would anyone pick Abreu even though IMO it’s the best wine on the table

Zachary_Mancini · June 27, 2021, 11:06pm

Perfect thanks for the info! What was your favorite? I have 3 Madrona’s, 2 Capella’s, 2 Theo, and 1 Las Posadas. Thanks!

Peter_Petersen · June 27, 2021, 11:29pm

In this vein, I’m wondering what people think about Bond, I’ve heard great things, but whether they are worth the tariff?

Ryan_A · June 27, 2021, 11:31pm

I don’t know your palate preference so I can only speak to mine which I will give you a more generic opinion rather than vintage specific:

My personal favorite in order:
Thorevilos (perhaps because it is so unique)
Las Posadas
Capella
Madrona (I buy multiple X of the three above so I am less familiar with Madrona and therefore am not as knowledgeable across vintages as I am with the others).

I know your purchase are reversed (sorry what do I know any way) but I have yet to have a recent Madrona in bottle).

Zachary_Mancini · June 27, 2021, 11:38pm

Interesting. I have heard Madrona is the most consistent across the board. How is the rothwell hyde? I might get a 3/6 pack of that instead of the 17 madrona this upcoming fall.

JosephW · June 27, 2021, 11:42pm

Recently had a 2017 Matriarch and it reminded me why I love Bond wines. Harlan at a discount IMO…

Zachary_Mancini · June 28, 2021, 12:25am

Interesting. I have been offered. But being on s many great lists, haven’t purchased yet.

Zachary_Mancini · June 28, 2021, 12:53am

I know there are other threads out there, but just having recently had a Thoreveilos 2010 and a Capella 2009 , I felt compelled to say this is one of the high-end wines that are “worth” the money for me. I joined a number of wine lists back in 2011/2012 when I was drinking more Cabernet and after waiting to get on the list and then waiting to get some of these wines into their drinking window, I realized that many were just not “worth” it to me (a very subjective thing). Abreu certainly is. As a point of conversation, what other wines might fall into that list of “worth it wines” for you?

Ravi- it’s funny I recently had this exact conversation with a few buddies. I don’t believe there is a better expensive wine out there for $500 nor is there a better one over $500 worth the difference between say the $900 Harlan (caveat I have not had the ‘16 or more recent vintages so I reserve the right to retract this statement and have the well received ‘12 on deck) and the $525 Abreu Thorevilos (Las Posadas, etc). Now I am not saying it’s worth spending $500 on a wine but they are incredible as ‘early drinkers as well as 15 years in the cellar. I also enjoy Scarecrow and Eisele Vineyards (formally Araujo) but they do need time before drinking. I would argue many of the $250 wines can often compete at that level but don’t provide the same experience that Abreu can deliver.

Now in Bordeaux there are some killer wines that arguably fit in that category however these also need a lot of time before drinking and some of these wines are at the same level (in excellent vintages) but in Bordeaux they aren’t as expensive (Vieux Chateau Certan & Trotanoy come to mind) but of course Lafluer, Ausone, Mouton, Latour, Cheval are examples.

Not sure if that was helpful or worthless but it’s my two cents.

The best wine that I have ever tasted in my opinion was the 2014 promontory. I got the 16 promontory on the founders list at 625. Can anyone compare how promontory stacks against abreu?

Ravi_Raju · June 28, 2021, 1:00am

Zachary, I have only tried the Thorevilos, Madrona Ranch, and the Capella. All were stellar, but there are differences in the general blend. I believe that Thorevilos has the highest amount of Cab Franc followed by Madrona Ranch. The Capella is Cabernet Sauvignon dominated. As a Cab Franc lover (thank you Aaron Pott!), I have enjoyed them in that order (T/M/C). I have only had a few bottles of each, but I have yet to open one that was not absolutely fantastic.

HoosJustinG · June 28, 2021, 1:35am

For me, Thorevilos and Madrona are my favorites. I had an 02 Madrona a couple months ago I’m still thinking about.

NED_VALOIS · June 28, 2021, 2:46am

I bought Abreu 2005-2013 and love them all.
BUT stopped due to space & price concerns.
Still holding above 60 btls.

Zachary_Mancini · June 28, 2021, 2:51am

Thanks everyone. Anyone have any insight on Rothwell Hyde?

Zachary_Mancini · June 29, 2021, 1:12am

I literally just bought another 16 Posadas because of this thread ha.

Nate_Simon · June 29, 2021, 3:03am

No.

Zachary_Mancini · June 29, 2021, 5:00am

Reason?

Nate_Simon · June 29, 2021, 5:38am

Uh…the price?

Zachary_Mancini · June 29, 2021, 5:50am

Doesn’t really explain much but ok.

Ryan_A · June 29, 2021, 7:04am

Sorry for the delay on Rothwell Hyde. IMO I thought the RWH under performed as a stand alone wine at what is now a $225 price point. However since 2012 the wine has really started to showcase a mini aggregated me of the portfolio which is very unique and fun. I tend to really long long and hard at that $200 - $250 price point as that is a sweet spot for me on some killer wines… if you lined up my favorites would RWH be out of its league - for sure no. Would it come in the top five m, probably not. So I seek it out on the secondary market all the time and twice on Sundays. Would I ever buy direct/have I bought direct yes but it’s Vonage dependent. Would I do this for 2018, highly probable.

Hope that helps as it relates to my reasoning- yes it is worth grabbing some as it’s a really well made enjoyable wine.

Zachary_Mancini · June 29, 2021, 1:30pm

Sorry for the delay on Rothwell Hyde. IMO I thought the RWH under performed as a stand alone wine at what is now a $225 price point. However since 2012 the wine has really started to showcase a mini aggregated me of the portfolio which is very unique and fun. I tend to really long long and hard at that $200 - $250 price point as that is a sweet spot for me on some killer wines… if you lined up my favorites would RWH be out of its league - for sure no. Would it come in the top five m, probably not. So I seek it out on the secondary market all the time and twice on Sundays. Would I ever buy direct/have I bought direct yes but it’s Vonage dependent. Would I do this for 2018, highly probable.

Hope that helps as it relates to my reasoning- yes it is worth grabbing some as it’s a really well made enjoyable wine.

Ya I was wondering specifically for the 2018 vintage of RWH vs the 17 of Madrona/Capella. I figure the 18 vintage of RWH would be good, but I’ve never had the wine.