99pts Jeb Dunnuck

The inky colored 2017 Madrona Ranch boasts a magical mix of blackcurrants and cassis fruits as well as notes of crushed rocks, violets, and lead pencil shavings. Pure class on the palate, with full-bodied richness, it stays relatively tight and compact, with a classic, age-worthy style. It’s certainly in the top handful of wines in the vintage.

99pts James Suckling

Fabulous aromas of sweet tobacco, flowers, wet earth and blackberries. Black olives, too. Full body and chewy yet polished tannins. Dusty texture. Extremely flavorful. Tight and polished. A sophisticated, intriguing wine. Drink in 2022.

97pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Abreu's 2017 Madrona Ranch Proprietary Red features gentle tobacco nuances and dark, loamy notes to go along with its massively concentrated cassis and black cherry fruit. Full-bodied, rich and velvety in feel, it finishes long and savory, with a ripe wash of soft, dusty tannins.

97pts Vinous

The 2017 Madrona Ranch is such a gorgeous wine. Bright and energetic, the 2017 possesses wonderful vibrancy that gives it striking energy. Red-toned fruit, blood orange, mint, spice and rose petal are some of the many aromas and flavors that open effortlessly. The purity of the 2017 is unreal. Readers will find a wine that deftly balances the richness of the year with a good deal of vibrancy and energy. Like all of these wines, the 2017 Madrona should drink well with (relatively) minimal cellaring.

Winemaker Notes

If Abreu has a core, it is undoubtedly Madrona Ranch. It was the first property David fell for, and developed, back in the 1980s. The canyons and curves that snake through the site, the soils that range from red Aiken to white tufa to dark clay and rocks—it’s a magical site. Harvest picks are meticulous, often spanning weeks, but the diversity makes for incredible complexity, and plenty of blending options. Madrona is a working ranch too. In fact, livestock have laid claim to more than their share of real estate. Cattle, goats, pigs, chickens—even honeybees, which live in one of the old barns on the property. “We tend the animals and leave the bees alone,” says David. “We do collect the honey though. We consider it fair rent.”