Abacela

Abacela Winery was founded in 1995 by Earl and Hilda Jones in the heart of Roseburg, Oregon. Earl’s passion for wine began while attending medical school in San Francisco where he discovered his affinity for Rioja. Some years later he purchased the original Abacela vineyard in the heart of the Umpqua Valley and was the first to plant Tempranillo in the Pacific Northwest. His goal was to find a location that recreated the climate of the Spanish regions where Tempranillo thrives according to our Abacela wine reviews. The couple produced the first Tempranillo in the Northwest in 1997 and they have created an entire line of wines based on the Spanish grape. Today, Abacela wines are produced from over a dozen various varieties, both red and white, which are planted throughout their 55 acres of vineyards. However it is still their Tempranillo based wines that are the signature of Abacela according to our Abacela wine ratings. For more detailed reviews and ratings be sure to check out our Abacela Wine Guide below.

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Abacela 2005 South Face Block Reserve Syrah

Editors' Choice
Online Exclusive

Price $45

Look out, Hermitage, this has the grip, the earthiness, the herbs and spice, and above all the massive, ripe, complex fruit to compete. The layers of this wine just keep unfolding; the longer it breathes, the more it gives you. Crushed rock, lead pencil, Asian spice, blackberry, coffee and caramel…it never stops. What a superb achievement. — P.G. (4/1/2009)

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Abacela 2009 Blanco Dulce Viognier (Umpqua Valley)

Editors' Choice

Price $30

This late-harvest Viognier is so dense, so lush with aromas, that it defies description. Flowers, candied fruits, caramel, vanilla, English breakfast tea, even a bit of tobacco—this is one of those wines that just keeps on going. Fascinating, rich, yet vibrant with excellent acidity, this is a wine that any dessert wine lover should experience. — P.G. (10/1/2010)

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Abacela 2001 Syrah

Price $29

Spicy and beautifully balanced, this delicious wine rings out with flavor. Pretty fruit, vivid acids, hints of mineral and perfectly defined tannins make for a very sexy wine, with a long, concentrated finish that adds a bit of sweet, roasted, toasted nuttiness. Wow! — P.G. (5/1/2004)

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Abacela 2005 Estate Syrah

Online Exclusive

Price $30

This is certainly one of the most distinctive Syrahs made anywhere in the New World. It has French elegance, including some garrigue-like scents— herbs and cured meats and pepper. Big blue and black fruits, lots of spice and a chocolaty finish tag this as a serious effort. Though the alcohol is written as 14.1%, it feels lighter. The brightness of the fruit and the… — P.G. (4/1/2009)

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Abacela 2000 Malbec (Umpqua Valley)

Price $18

This rising superstar Oregon winery, best known for its landmark Tempranillo, here showcases a stunningly good Malbec. Dense, inky purple and blue colors set up an edgy and intense wine, full of mountain-grown fruit flavors. Plum, berry, baked apple and allspice light up the palate, arrayed over a powerful base of mineral, acid and earth. —P.G. — P.G. (12/31/2002)

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Abacela 2002 Estate Grown Tempranillo (Umpqua Valley)

Price $30

This is from Abacela’s own grapes, which were planted in Oregon’s Umpqua Valley because the winery’s founders believed it was the best place in America to grow Tempranillo. So far, no one has proved them wrong. Concentrated, almost black, bursting with smoke, leather, tar, blackberry, black cherry, graphite and more. Big, chewy and firm. — P.G. (8/1/2005)

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Abacela 2003 Meritage

Price $35

This is a detailed Bordeaux blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 12% Cab Franc, 8% Malbec and 5% Petite Verdot, made to emulate a European style. Muscular and trim, it has compact layers of just-ripe fruit, the winery’s characteristic streaks of mineral and earth, hints of tobacco leaf and a bit of pepper. Long, tannic, slightly earthy and smooth through… — P.G. (11/15/2005)

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Abacela 2005 Estate Tempranillo

Price $35

Fragrant and dense, this sends up a lush, intriguing mix of aromas—black fruits, lead pencil, rock and green tea. It’s a textural, earthy wine that never stops coming at you. The barrel aging brings in smoke and bacon fat also; this is full-bodied and complex, with substantial tannins and a strong, intense finish. — P.G. (4/1/2008)

Most Reviewed Designations

Estate Blanco Dulce Claret Cuvée Delfino Vineyard Estate Grown McCorquodale Vineyard Reserve Rosado Rosé Umpqua Cuvée

Most Reviewed Varietals

Albariño Cabernet Franc Dolcetto Garnacha Grenache Malbec Merlot Red Blend Rosé Syrah Tempranillo Viognier

2008 DiamAndes de Uco Gran Reserva

Blackberry, blueberry and maple aromas announce a rich, ripe wine…

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