David Abreu is probably Napa Valley’s most respected viticulturalist. His list of clients reads like a who’s who of Napa royalty – Harlan, Screaming Eagle, Grace Family, Sloan, Blankiet, Staglin, Colgin and Araujo all use his services. If you need the best advice on where to plant, what to plant, how to prune, train and handle your vines so as to ensure you reap only the finest fruit possible from any given vineyard in Napa, the man you want to call is David Abreu.

So it’s hardly surprising he has some pretty stunning vineyard sites of his own. With Brad Grimes in the winery, the pair strive to articulate site above all, with a less is more approach to the actual winemaking. Most of the wines are the result of co-fermentations of varieties based on pick dates from each site, an unusual yet growing philosophy which many believe creates better harmony in the final wines. The results are what Antonio Galloni refers to as “some of the most compelling expressions of Napa Valley terroir readers will come across.“

There are four single vineyards and a blend of all four sites in the Rothwell Hyde. Selection is so stringent that grapes David and Brad aren’t totally happy with are sold off to some of Napa’s finest wineries.