2013 Harlan Estate Proprietary Red
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Tasting notes
Magnum. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, remainder: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot. Let me confess up front that I am an enormous fan of the 2013. The structural presence and precision of this wine is impressive. The wine should age extremely well although it needs more time in bottle. If one does open it now, allow plenty of air and a cut of steak with a bit of fat to help open up the tannin profile and release the flavours of the wine. A beautiful mix of elements on the nose carries into the palate with ripe, dark fruits accented by a red-fruit lift sprinkled with spice, and nicely grounded by gunmetal and earth notes. There is just a bit of pepper through the close. Beautifully hearty tannin and a lot of length. An entirely distinctive vintage. (ECB)
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Magnum. Deep crimson. Rich yet savoury nose with balsam notes. Heady, fermented cough pastille nose. Then amazingly sweet and rich on palate entry and then it tightens up on the finish. Really dramatic! But it should repay ageing. Quite a substantial tannic charge. Sleek and sophisticated. Complete. Really glamorous. (JR)
Very rich, sweet and concentrated but really a bit thick and heavy when tasted immediately after Ridge Monte Bello with its lift and complexity. Cocoa notes. A very particular, very Napa style. (JR)
The 2013 Harlan Estate has really shut down since I tasted it from barrel a year ago. Dark, powerful and brooding, with plenty of tannic grip, the 2013 is a wine to buy and forget about for at least a few years. Black fruit, graphite, violet smoke and licorice are some of the signatures, but, here, too, the wine belongs to the future. I wouldn't dream of opening a bottle before its tenth birthday. The Harlan Estate is one of the most finessed - if not the most finessed 2013 - readers will taste. This is a stunningly beautiful, vivid wine.
About the producer
Harlan Estate is one of the Napa Valley’s most prestigious wine estates. It is one of a handful of cult Cabernet producers, whose wines are some of the most expensive and collectable in the region.