2011 Second Flight

A blend of 54% Merlot and 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, the elegant, round 2011 Second Flight offers hints of coffee beans, roasted herbs, black currants and jammy black cherries. Elegant and medium-bodied with low acidity and sweet tannin, it should drink nicely for 7-8 years. ||Under the ownership of Stan Kroenke, this vineyard has been replanted and a new cellar has been constructed. The production of Screaming Eagle has remained between 700-1,000 cases, and a second wine, the Second Flight, includes 520-800 cases. The introduction of a second wine is an attempt to keep Screaming Eagle at its mythical level of quality. This vineyard, situated on the valley floor at the Oakville Crossroads across the road from the Rudd Estate, encompasses 60 acres, but only a small percentage is used for these two cuvees. Based on the three vintages I tasted, it appears the Second Flight wines include much less Cabernet Sauvignon and more Merlot than the flagship Screaming Eagle.||Tel. (707) 944-0749 Wine Advocate.October, 2013