Category: | Red Wines |
Sub-Category: | Red Wines |
Producer: | Harlan Estate |
Label Name: | Napa Valley |
Vintage: | 2012 |
Country: | United States |
Region: | Oakville, Napa Valley, California |
Volume: | 750ml |
ABV: | 14.5% |
Grape(s): | Cabernet Sauvignon 78%, Merlot 14%, Cabernet Franc 6%, Petit Verdot 2% |
Acidity: | 3 |
Tannins: | 5 |
Sweetness: | 1 |
Body: | 5 |
Length: | 5 |
Aroma Intensity: | 5 |
Best Temperature: | 16-18°C |
Awards/Ratings
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: 99+ (2012). Vinous/Antonio Galloni: ~97–99. James Suckling: 98. Wine Spectator: ~93. Widely acclaimed on the secondary market; frequently cited as collectible and long-lived
Tasting Note
Inky blackberry, cassis and plum with lavender, forest-floor and scorched-earth notes, plus mocha and dark chocolate. Extremely concentrated, opulent and layered with high-but-sweet, ultra-fine tannins and a very long, majestic finish.
Food Pairing
Western: grilled ribeye, roast lamb, braised short ribs, aged hard cheeses. Asian: Korean BBQ (galbi/bulgogi), Peking duck, Cantonese char siu, Sichuan beef or rich noodle dishes.
Production Method
Estate-grown fruit, hand-harvested and destemmed; small-lot fermentations; matured in 100% French oak barrels (predominantly new) and typically aged c.24–36 months before release.
Vineyard Info
Founded by Bill Harlan in 1984, Harlan Estate is an Oakville cult property (≈240 acres, ~40 planted) built to produce a Bordeaux-style "first growth" Cabernet-led wine.