2021 Harlan Estate
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2021 Harlan Estate was bottled in March of 2024 and is a classic blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. It's another Bordeaux look-alike with a Pauillac-like character in its darker currants, smoky oak, black cherries, graphite, and violet-driven aromatics. Beautifully balanced on the palate, it has medium to full-bodied richness, a layered mouthfeel, and outstanding length. While it’s clearly in this estate's new, fresher style, it doesn't lack anything and is concentrated, beautifully balanced, has ripe yet building tannins, and I suspect 20-30 years of prime drinking.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jonathan Cristaldi, Decanter
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent
More reviews and scores
The 2021 Harlon Estate has developed beautifully over the last year. A stunning wine, the 2021 is layered and caressing, with exceptional balance. Now that the Harlan team is picking earlier, my perception is that there is more development that takes place over the course of aging than in the past. This remains a very young wine today. Its energy. vibrancy and overall freshness suggest it will enjoy a long life. Impressive.
This was the first wine served in a Harlan masterclass hosted at La Loma in London by veteran Don Weaver who told us he hadn't tasted this particular vintage for ages. They started dry farming in 2020 and loved the results so much that they continued in 2021 with dry farming and earlier picking. He reminded us that although Napa Valley doesn't have extremely low annual rainfall, it's usually concentrated in the period November to April. 'So we have to prune very carefully.' Yields were an average of 30 hl/ha before the imposition of dry farming and have now been reduced to 20–24. This vintage will be released in 2025. Less concentrated crimson than the 2016, especially at the rim. This is more of a concentrated garnet. Very pure nose – no heat evident at all – and lots of fine tannin but the overall impression is of a cool, fresh wine with a bone-dry finish. Very savoury, spicy and even a little nutty. Lots of layers to this gorgeous wine that is absolutely up my street. You could enjoy this wine sooner than I'm suggesting but it could be a little bit of a shame. (JR)
The 2021 Harlan Estate is composed of over 80% Cabernet Sauvignon plus a little Cabernet Franc and just a splash of Merlot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it slowly emerges from the glass with an alluring perfume of violets, wild blueberries, Morello cherries, and iron ore leading to a profound core of blackcurrant jelly, licorice, fragrant soil, and black truffle. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers a beguiling paradox of super-soft tannins and tightly knit black, red, and blue fruit layers, finishing with jaw-dropping grace and poise.
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.