2011 Second Flight
Buying options
Tasting Notes
Deep garnet colored, the 2011 Second Flight (a blend of 54% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc) offers up a gorgeous perfume of wilted roses and violets over a core of blackberry tart, raspberry preserves and kirsch with subtle baking spices and garrigue notions. Medium to full-bodied with a solid frame of grainy tannins and just enough freshness, it has wonderfully perfumed layers and an exotic spice-laced finish. It has a surprising amount of weight and concentration for this cool, rainy vintage. Winemaker Nick Gislason informed me that the last pick was on November 1 this year—which is extremely late! But this later harvest clearly paid off when you consider how ripe the tannins are on this beauty.
Critic Scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
A dark, voluptuous beauty, the 2011 Second Flight is laced with plum, grilled herbs, tobacco, smoke, violets and graphite. The style is cool, savory and precise, perhaps with a bit less body than normal, but with plenty of energy, finesse and balance. Simply put, this is a magnificent showing.
Lots of rose petal, rose stem, violets and dark fruit on the nose. Full body with firm, silky tannins and a juicy finish. Hard not to drink now. Gorgeous. 54% merlot, 42% cabernet sauvginon and 4% cabernet franc. This is not a second wine of Screaming but an interpretation of the vineyards with most merlot.. First release 2006.
(54% merlot, 42% cabernet and 4% cabernet franc): Fresh, aromatic nose combines cassis, bitter chocolate, coffee, licorice and wild herbs, lifted by violet. Juicy and slightly dry, with the cassis, licorice and herb flavors complicated by a note of wild rose that's often found in the merlot here. The least-ripe cabernet franc was declassified in 2011 owing to a hint of toughness to its tannins.
About the producer
Screaming Eagle is one of the Napa Valley’s original cult Cabernets. Right from the first release, the now iconic producer garnered huge scores and a fanatic following.