International Wine Cellar | Rating: 97
($350) Deep medium ruby. Superripe aromas and flavors of roasted black raspberry, licorice, mocha and minerals; just this side of liqueur-like. Thick, dense and silky but tightly wound and still youthfully closed. This compellingly deep wine boasts outstanding sweetness without coming off as over the top. Finishes with huge but sweet tannins and great length.Author: Stephen TanzerIssue: May/June 2007Rating: 98
Another rating identical to that which was given in 2007 (when first tasted from bottle), the 2004 Harlan Estate is performing essentially the way I suggested in 2007 as it is one of the more precocious and accessible of the Harlan Estate wines to date. A great showing at this retrospective, this wine, which seems like a hypothetical blend of a Pauillac, St.-Estephe and Graves, represents around 1,500 cases from 40 acres of beautifully manicured hillside vineyards overlooking Oakville. Still dense purple to the rim, with notes of creme de cassis, charcoal, blackberry and sweet toast, the wine is full-bodied and voluptuously textured with the tannins largely resolved. But the density and richness suggest this wine can go a long, long way, even though the window for drinking it seems open and inviting already. A world-class, first-growth wine if there ever was one from Napa, this is simply an exquisite Harlan Estate that has atypically reached mid to late adolescence at the age of ten. That is great given the fact that these are 30- to 40-year wines - possibly even half-century wines. Drink it over the next 30 years.Author: Robert ParkerRating: 98
Starts out closed, but very intense and concentrated, with tight currant, spice, cedar, anise and blackberry flavors. Maintains a long, vibrant finish.--Non-blind Harlan retrospective (2010). Drink now through 2030. 2,126 cases made.Author: James LaubeRating: 95
(14.5% alcohol): Deep red with ruby tones. Deep, sexy nose conveys a liqueur-like ripeness to the aromas of blackcurrant, dark chocolate, tobacco and warm stones. Plush and incredibly fine-grained, showing compelling thickness and density to the slightly high-toned flavors of black raspberry liqueur and minerals. This very ripe, large-scaled wine saturates the entire palate, finishing with big, broad, lush, chocolatey tannins and outstanding persistence. This impressive, very powerful wine is great right now but has the stuffing to go on for years. - Stephen Tanzer
Self | Rating: 98
Author: winefolioSelf | Rating: 92
Author: Sechang PSelf | Rating: 96
Author: afikesSelf | Rating: 96
Author: sikora398Self | Rating: 96
Drink Dates: 2015-2030Author: Edward C731Self | Rating: 92
A bit disappointing. I would drink the 04 sooner rather than later.Author: Ronn LSelf | Rating: 97
amazing ruby red wine, great nose of blueberries, red berries and cassis, great thick mouthfeel with a long 60+ second finish. great wine, will dring well for 20 more yearsDrink Dates: 2015-2035Author: David 429Self | Rating: 97
Awesome!!! This is every things you expect Of this vunerable very fine cult wine. Has everything in such balance! Is extremely floral and blue fruits and little toast aromes! Then it has a sweet, new world, lush and distinctive frut flavor...is potent buy Pleasant, depth but easy to enjoy, dense and full flavor...what so nice and profound tannins that are powerful but delicate At The same time. Simply awesone with a bright future for The next 15-20 years :)Drink Dates: 2014-2030Author: Jito72Self | Rating: 98
Extraordinary!Author: PLevensohnSelf | Rating: 97
Had this @ my mothers 70th @ Morton's. Decanted for 1 hour (could have used at least 1 more hour) Show & paired perfectly with the tenderloin. Long finish. OutstandingAuthor: Derald LSelf | Rating: 88
Intense fruit but scorched earth and burnt rubber scent and taste. May be bad bottle. Disappointing for price.Author: JohnnymdSelf | Rating: 97
Strong deep tanins. A little bitter, but a superb wine. Should mellow and evolve nicely. I would still give this another 3-5 years, but it is a great wine.Author: VinoDepartureSelf | Rating: 98
Wow. Gorgeous currant, silky tannins already, lengthy finish!Drink Dates: 2011-2020Author: JMC22
Harlan Estate, owned by Bill Harlan, is located in the western hills of Oakville. Harlan is known for its commitment to creating a wine that is a California "First Growth," on par with those of the old world. The entire estate consists of 240 acres, including a homestead and plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Consulting oenologist Michel Rolland and winemaker Bob Levy lead the production of Harlan's wines, producing two Bordeaux-style blends: Harlan Estate's namesake proprietary red and "The Maiden." These wines have been received to great acclaim by reviewers and collectors alike, commanding high prices and a competitive waiting list. Both wines are complex, full-bodied and have the ability to age for decades. With an opulent style, rich with dense fruit and elements of black currant, spice, and minerals, Harlan is both graceful and elegant, ranking it among the top tier of California Cabernet producers.
See other similar producers:Opus One,Pahlmeyer,Sloan Estate
See other similar producers:Opus One,Pahlmeyer,Sloan Estate
California is the heartland of wine production in the US, and the state that brought prestige to American wine thanks to the pioneers who built early wineries like Staglin, Beringer, Ridge, Mayacamas and Chateau Montelena in the 1800s. Its large geographic area ensures a great diversity in growing sites, varieties grown, and quality levels. Generalizations about the state's wines have numerous exceptions; however, a few key facts generally hold true—ample sunshine, dry weather during the growing season, and moderate winters prevail. Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon continue to dominate the state's production—albeit in continually smaller percentages, as growers continue to diversify. More than 100 different varieties can be found throughout the state.
Collector Data For This Wine
- 2976 bottles owned
- 618 collectors
- Average collector rating: 96
(Out of 618 collectors)