Three bottles of Promontory 2016 in the estate's original wooden case. This is the Harlan family's mountain Cabernet from a remote, forested property on the western side of Napa Valley, and the 2016 received 100 points from both The Wine Advocate and Jeb Dunnuck.
About This Wine
The 2016 was bottled in April 2019 and held back for release in 2021, in line with the estate's habit of releasing roughly five and a half years after harvest. The wine is Cabernet Sauvignon-led, made from more than 30 separately fermented lots that are picked in many passes through the vineyard, then aged in large Austrian oak casks rather than small French barrels. Both reviewers noted black cherry, cassis, dark chocolate and truffle wrapped in firm, ripe tannins and real tension.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Black cherry, blueberry and cassis with liquorice, graphite, wet stone and a savoury, truffled edge.
- Palate: Full-bodied and dense, with muscular dark fruit carried by firm, grainy tannins and bright acidity.
- Finish: Powerful, with spice, dark chocolate and earthy notes lingering.
Serving & Food
Give it a long decant, two hours or more, and serve at 17 to 18°C in large Bordeaux stems. The critics suggest it is only now entering its drinking window, with decades ahead. Pair with dry-aged beef, venison loin or a wild mushroom and truffle risotto.
How to Enjoy
A cellar set of a landmark Napa vintage, with enough bottles to follow it over the years.
Product Details
Producer: Promontory (Harlan family)
Country: USA
Region: Napa Valley, California
Vintage: 2016
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon-led blend
Ageing: Large Austrian oak casks
Format: 3 x 750mL
Packaging: Original wooden case
About the Winery
Bill Harlan first came across this wild ridge country while hiking in the early 1980s, but he could not buy it until 2008. The estate covers some 840 acres on the east-facing foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains near the Oakville and Yountville border, and less than a tenth of it is under vine. The rest is forest, which keeps fog and cool air moving through the vineyards.
Slopes average around 40 percent, and the property straddles fault lines that bring volcanic, sedimentary and metamorphic soils together. Will Harlan has run the estate since 2015, with David Cilli making the wine. The family calls Promontory a 'missing shade of red', a wine with more grip and acidity than Harlan Estate.