Abreu Las Posadas | Napa Valley Red Wine 2015 / 750 ml.

Abreu is now calling his vineyard on Howell Mountain (a tract of 33 acres with 15 planted) Las Posadas, after the road high on the mountain that seems to be the Fifth Avenue of Howell Mountain vineyard sites. The seamless 2015 Las Posadas Proprietary Red nearly redefines opulence, extravagance, and intensity in its haute couture style. A candidate for perfection, the wine has notes of fruitcake, licorice, black truffle, forest floor, spring flowers, and black fruits that literally soar from the glass and continue across the palate with a cascade of earthly delights. This is a magnificent, almost chillingly perfect wine that has to be tasted to be experienced.

The 2015 Las Posadas comes from an estate vineyard on Howell Mountain that lies at 2,000 feet in elevation, above the fog line. This singular effort has a flamboyant, mineral-laced bouquet of black and blue fruits, forest floor, camphor, chocolate, and exotic flowers, and is an incredible expression of this mountain terroir. With great, great intensity, beautiful purity of fruit, and again, this savory, mineral-driven character, it has enough tannins to warrant 2–4 years of bottle age and will keep for 4–5 decades. This cuvée is 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Cabernet Franc, 14% Petit Verdot, and the rest Merlot and Malbec. (Jeb Dunnuck)

The 2015 Las Posadas is dark, sensual and totally inviting. Plush fruit and silky tannins push the black plum and blackberry fruit forward. Deep and resonant on the palate, the 2015 exudes class from start to finish. Like the rest of the other Abreu 2015s, the Posadas will drink well upon release. Hints of lavender and spice meld into the pliant, inviting finish. There is so much to like here.