Screaming Eagle 1997 in magnum, from the Oakville estate that became the model for Napa's cult Cabernets. The 1997 was the first vintage of Screaming Eagle to receive 100 points from Robert Parker, and it comes from the founding era under Jean Phillips.
About This Wine
The 1997 was made by Heidi Peterson Barrett during the Jean Phillips years, before the estate changed hands and was rebuilt. It was Screaming Eagle's first perfect score from Parker, five years after the debut vintage drew 99 points. At close to thirty years old, a well-kept magnum should now show mature cassis and cedar with secondary tobacco and earth.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Cassis and black cherry with cedar, tobacco leaf, graphite and forest-floor notes from age.
- Palate: Full-bodied and seamless, with dense but softened dark fruit and fine, resolved tannins.
- Finish: Cassis, spice and savoury maturity, slow to fade.
Serving & Food
Stand upright for at least a day, then decant gently just before serving, as older wine can fade with too much air. Serve at 16 to 17°C in large Bordeaux glasses. Match with simple, high-quality dishes: roast beef fillet, rack of lamb or a mature hard cheese.
How to Enjoy
A mature cult Napa Cabernet in magnum for a milestone celebration.
Product Details
Producer: Screaming Eagle
Country: USA
Region: Oakville, Napa Valley, California
Vintage: 1997
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon-based red
Winemaker: Heidi Peterson Barrett
Volume: 1.5L magnum
About the Winery
Jean Phillips, a real estate agent, bought a 57-acre vineyard in Oakville in 1986. It was planted to a mix of varieties, and for several years she sold most of the fruit to other Napa wineries, keeping back a small block of Cabernet Sauvignon for herself.
After Robert Mondavi Winery staff encouraged her about the quality of her Cabernet, she took on consultant Richard Peterson and, through him, his daughter Heidi Peterson Barrett as winemaker. The first vintage, 1992, was released in 1995 and received 99 points from Parker, and the estate quickly became a reference point for small-production Napa Cabernet.