While I am not surprised that the 2001 Thorevilos turned out to be perfect, the 2001 Madrona Ranch was more of an eye-opener in that it has become even more extraordinary than I predicted eight years ago. A prodigious wine, with complex notes of subtle barbecue smoke intermixed with blueberry pie, black currant liqueur, acacia flowers, lead pencil shavings, and sweet foresty floor notes, this wine builds incrementally with layer upon layer of fruit, glycerin and concentration. The finish goes well past a minute, and the wine is full-bodied and deep, with wonderfully sweet tannin. It is still an adolescent in terms of its total evolution, but it is irresistible simply because of the flawless nature of the wine and incredible perfume and flavor intensity. Simply amazing! Both of these wines are adolescents, and probably won't peak for another 5-8 years and keep for 30-40.

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The 2001 Abreu Madrona Ranch is outstanding. Hints of berries, lead pencil savings, forest floor, with layers of taste that keep opening up like an endless present. The taste lasts longer than a minute and the color is a gorgeous very deep ruby red, not inky or purple. The wine is silky smooth, very well balanced and needed only an hour in the decanter for it to open up. This wine is opulent, seductive, contemplative and a testament to David Abreu's vision. The 2001 is very drinkable now. I drank a the 2002 Madrona the night before the two wines are as different as night and day. The 2002 is big, bold but very well balanced and structurally deep but its immature compared to the 2001 which is much more polished and refined. Both are extremely good wines but I liked the 2001 so much better that I opened another bottle the following night and it was just as outstanding as it was the night before. I loved the label on the back of the bottle: 500 Cases Estate, Grown, and Produced by Abreu Vineyards. The wine is seductive, opulent, contemplative and the best of Napa Valley. With only 6000 bottles produced if you want to drink an outstanding and memorable bottle of wine then buy the 2001 Abreu Madrona Ranch because its not going to be around for long. It's an outstanding wine and absolutely enjoyable wine to drink now. The 2001 is flawless whereas the 2002 needs more time to develop. Btween the two years the 2001 is superior. There's nothing not to love about it.