Buying options

Tasting notes

Tasting notes
Score 93.5/100 · Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, May 2012

Good ruby-red. Aromas of black cherry, licorice, violet and minerals. Energetic on entry, then tight in the middle, with a strong spice character to the dark berry and licorice flavors. Sexy but youthfully backward wine, with excellent structure for the year. The finish is firm but not hard.

Critic scores

Critic scores
94
94/100

Average Score

95
95/100

Stephen Tanzer, Vinous

94
94/100

Stephen Tanzer, Vinous

More reviews and scores

93 points
Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate
Score 93/100 · Drink 2013-2023, Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate, Dec 2011

The 2008 Red Wine Napa Valley is a huge, plush wine bursting with dark fruit, smoke, ash and licorice. Today the tannins are firm and quite imposing, but the wine develops nicely in the glass, hinting at what is to come over the next handful of years. Floral notes add perfume and brightness on the finish. This is a very beautiful, brooding wine graced with considerable class and personality. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2023. Bob Levy and Martha McClellan have built impressive track records over the years. Levy has been the winemaker at Harlan Estate since the winery’s inception, while McClellan makes wines for a small number of clients, including Sloan and Checkerboard. Levy and McClellan’s hillside vineyard is located on the western slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains and is planted on volcanic and sedimentary soils at an elevation of 500-600 feet above sea level. The Red Wine is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with a dollop of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. In recent years, Levy and McClellan have moved towards more smaller-lot fermentations in French oak barrels. Tel. (707) 963-1281

93 points
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Score 93/100 · Drink 2013-2023, Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Dec 2011

The 2008 Red Wine Napa Valley is a huge, plush wine bursting with dark fruit, smoke, ash and licorice. Today the tannins are firm and quite imposing, but the wine develops nicely in the glass, hinting at what is to come over the next handful of years. Floral notes add perfume and brightness on the finish. This is a very beautiful, brooding wine graced with considerable class and personality.

94.5 points
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Score 94.5/100 · Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, May 2011

Bright ruby-red. Inviting aromas of crushed blackberry, violet, licorice pastille, minerals and sexy wood spices; smells sweet! Then broad and seamless on the palate, with excellent juicy lift to the flavors of black raspberry, espresso and minerals. Firm acidity gives this terrific wine a more linear character than the plusher, more exotic 2007 (95+?), but it finishes with extremely fine tannins and lovely verve.

About the producer

Levy & McClellan
View Producer

Product details

Colour

Red

Taste

Dry

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