Norman

9.5

Solid 9.5. Did not match up to the Maybach/Abreu/SQN last night but still excellent. Much lighter on the palate even less than than an Aubert Pinot, great aromatics, classic Cab flavors but not the rich, dark, deep flavors of last night. — 4 years ago

with Nicholas

Jim McCusker

9.7

I really can’t remember another time when an Alban Pandora was the third best wine of an evening...but then again, it was preceded by a 2017 Aubert Lauren chardonnay and a 2004 Abreu Thorevelos cabernet. Tough room. — 5 years ago

with Vanessa

Prescott Paulin

9.6

Calistoga, CA vineyard. Sits 300 ft above valley floor. Planted 1992 by David Abreu and Heidi Barrett until 2008. Then Thomas Rivers Brown took over. Nearly $100/bottle — 6 years ago

Richard Alfred

9.0

At Dan & Karla’s house after return from France.March 29, 2019. — 7 years ago

Richard Adams

9.9

The ‘17 UHE wine dinner...
Marcassin ‘11, La Mouline ‘99, Cheval Blanc ‘00, Margaux ‘00, Maya ‘02, Palmer ‘66, Promotory ‘09, Abreu ‘07 — 8 years ago

Ron R

9.3

ABreu fruit. This has shed its puppy-fat. Much more ethereal presentation. Lovely cedar notes, complemented by lightly roasted coffee.
On the palette, the wine is clean and pure. Nice density with oodles of barrel toast. Ripe black cherry fruit act as a perfect counter-point. Beautiful tannins with bright acidity. Very enjoyable. — 8 years ago

with David

Bill Bender

9.4

This is a behemoth!! Dense and chewy after a 4 hour decant. Extremely dark and inky in the glass, crushed rocks, blackberry, toasted oak. This reminds me of an Abreu Madrona Ranch. A rich, hedonistic beauty but I would say it's at least 5-8 years from it's optimum drinking window. Hold or decant. — 9 years ago

I S

10

Religious experience. First expensive (for me) wine that I've had. My wallet was disappointed to learn that there are wines worth the price. I feel I can write an essay about it, but I'll just say it is the first wine I've ever had where the smell and the taste were equally impressive. — 5 years ago

Pedro Guimaraes

9.2

Um Chardonnay surpreendente de SC — 5 years ago

John Pesce

9.3

Still very young. Complex. — 5 years ago

with Sandy and LeMel

Edmond Bordelon

9.6

Surprisingly, this one was not as big as the Futo. I am a big fan of anything from Prichard Hill and was intrigued seeing this one on the list. Gave it an hour to open up and had a fantastic ribeye to pair it with! In retrospect, I think I would have flipped the sequence. (All bullshit aside on sequencing, this is still an amazing wine and I am just being anal).. The color was still a nice deep violet with strong dark fruits. Great pedigree with Helen Turley on the planting and David Abreu on the vineyard management. What could ever go wrong? — 6 years ago

Kimberly Anderson

9.7

Full on raspberry jam on the nose. Cocoa, black fruit. Lush and plush. Mark Aubert is the winemaker. Abreu is a consultant. Worthy of another F word. — 7 years ago

David L

9.5

05' All Abreu Vineyards. @Ron R Loving this wine buddy. Thanks again for the invite! -at Restaurant North Armonk, NY — 8 years ago

with Ron

Anthony Biagi

Winemaker Hourglass, Owner Patria

9.3

Classic Thackery wine. Vineyard is situated between Abreu Madrona and spottswoode winery (spottswoode vineyard across street). Sean says he thinks it's Syrah, walked the vineyard and have seen a lot of Petite but what a site. Classic camphor tinged that screams thackery as the Eukalptus that covers his bolinas winery always finds its way in. He always had a knack for finding the best sites. Such an original — 8 years ago

with Benoit

Paul Casey

9.5

Showing beautifully, big dark fruit with a long finish. A great wine, full of life 16 years in... — 9 years ago

with Zac

Ron R

9.7

My wife to the left, David’s wife to the right. This is drum tight. 11 years in. Superb. Abreu pips this, but still excellent. — 5 years ago

with Mike, Diana and 3 others

Paul T HB

9.6

15 years makes a difference.
$40.00 makes it even better.


Facts and Figures
2005 Bressler Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaker: Mia Klein Vineyard Manager: David Abreu Release Date: January, 2009 Release price: $85
Bottling Date: Jan 11, 2008
Pick Date: October 5 through 14, 2005
Vines: Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 7 on St. George root stock (1986)
Cabernet Franc Clone 332 on 420A root stock (1999)
Petit Verdot Clone 181 on 420A root stock (1999) Cabernet Yields: 9.5 tons
Aging: 24 months in new French Oak
Blend: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot Cooperage: Barrels from: Taransaud, Nadalie and Treuil
Production
750ml 527 cases
Magnums 24 cases (144 bottles) 3.0L 6 bottles
6.0L 2 bottles
Notes from Mia Klein:
The 2005 vintage gave ample rain in the winter, charging up the soil water profile for a very nice growing season. Temperatures were moderate and consistent from early spring through October. Both the mature, established Cabernet Sauvignon vines and the now five year old Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petite Verdot vines produced some wonderful juice.
— 5 years ago

David Wanek

9.7

Side by side w 2004 Abreu. Contrast in styles but both still drinking incredibly well. Nod to HA in my opinion — 7 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.3

Leviathan is the creation of husband and wife team Andy Erickson and Annie Favia-Erickson. They also collaborate on their Favia label, each bringing a resume boasting serious cult winery experience. Andy has spent time as winemaker at Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, Ovid, Dancing Hares and Arietta, with prior work at Harlan and Staglin, while Annie got her start with John Kongsgaard and Cathy Corison, before spending more than a decade as a viticulturist with David Abreu. The San Francisco Chronicle’s Jon Bonné said about the Ericksons, “Together they could probably create a 98-point wine in their sleep.” Their 2012 Leviathan is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 16% Merlot, and 14% Syrah all coming from Northern California, and mostly from Napa. There’s no dispute that this is rich and extracted, but there’s an underlying savoriness that balances out this fruit bomb. Blackberry, black cherry, licorice, mocha, cigar box, crème de cassis, and sweet tannins that carry with them that savory herbaceousness. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

This is an elegant, feminine beauty. It's a back to back night of 2003. On the nose, liqueured black cherries, cherries, poached strawberries, warm, slightly chard toast, anise, black cherry licorice, baking spices and dark fresh & dry florals. The mouthfeel is resolved, rich and elegant. Fruits of; black cherries, cherries, poached strawberries, a blend of black raspberries & raspberries. Bright vanillin, cinnamon, medium spice, toast, bright red florals, violets, dark & milk chocolate, rich, moist loamy soils, touch of crushed rocks, delicate volcanic minerals, mouthwatering acidity and a polished, rich finish that lasts & lasts. This is somewhere around it's peak. It's incredibly delicious! Photos of; their beautiful vineyards, amazing Italian style villa estate and front entrance. Producer history and notes...Blankiet was started by Claude & Katherine Blankiet in 1996 with 46 acres ranging over several volcanic hills above the town of Yountville. I believe Claude made his first big money as the creator of Stone Washed Jeans. David Abreu was hired to develop the land and Helen Turley made their first eight vintages. The winery is connected to a deep underground network of caves and were designed by architect John Lail. Blankiet’s current winemaker is Bordelais Denis Malbec, the former cellar master at Chateau Latour. Blankiet is located in the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains. Their Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are planted in volcanic soils while the Merlot is planted in gravelly-clay alluvial soils. Blankiet has great Terrior locations and have spared no expense in their winemaking facilities. If you haven't had their wines, they are definitely worth acquiring. — 8 years ago