Harlan Estate is a Cabernet-based red from terraced hillside vineyards in the western hills of Oakville. The 2019 is a Cabernet Sauvignon-led blend from a fine, balanced Napa year.
About This Wine
2019 gave Napa a long, mild season with no heat spikes at harvest, and wines with ripe fruit held in balance by freshness. Harlan's 2019 is Cabernet Sauvignon dominant, with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from the estate. Reviewers praised its combination of density and lift, with dark fruit, cedar and floral notes over very fine tannins. It has decades of cellaring potential, with a suggested window running to the 2050s.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Blackcurrant, blueberry, violets, cedar, a touch of mint, graphite and dark chocolate.
- Palate: Full-bodied yet fresh and supple, with layered cassis, black cherry and savoury herbs over fine-grained tannins.
- Finish: Very long and persistent, with cocoa, crushed stone and floral notes.
Serving & Food
Patience pays here. Its ideal window runs from about 2027 to 2055, and before 2030 it wants two to three hours in a decanter. Pour at 17 to 18°C into large Bordeaux glasses. Wagyu striploin, herb-crusted lamb rack or roast pigeon would all do it justice.
How to Enjoy
Cellaring for a significant anniversary and serious Napa Cabernet dinners.
Product Details
Producer: Harlan Estate
Country: USA
Region: Napa Valley, California
Appellation: Napa Valley (Oakville hillsides)
Vintage: 2019
Style: Cabernet Sauvignon-based red wine
Grape Variety / Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot
Bottle size: 750mL
About the Winery
Bill Harlan, who also built the Meadowood resort, bought the first land here in 1984 after trips to Bordeaux and Burgundy convinced him the greatest Napa wine would come from hillsides rather than the valley floor. The first vintage was 1990, released in 1996, and the second wine, The Maiden, followed from 1995. Bob Levy made the wines for three decades with consultant Michel Rolland, and Cory Empting now leads winemaking.
Around 40 acres are planted on slopes of volcanic soil and sedimentary bedrock, with multiple exposures to sun and wind. Plantings are roughly 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, and only about half the crop goes into the grand vin. Production averages around 2,000 cases.