Harlan Estate 2003

Professional Ratings

• 98 Wine Enthusiast
  Another spectacular Harlan hits the market. It shows the earthy quality that marks wines off the estate, with an aroma suggesting a warm bale of hay under the summer sun, a sweet straw and bay laurel scent that adds savory richness to the cherry, blackberry and chocolate flavors. As usual, the tannins are virtual perfection, at once sweet and firm, dense and fine, perfectly in balance with all the fruit and new oak. So young now, a fat little baby of a wine that’s irresistible, but will hold and improve well beyond its tenth birthday.
• 94 Wine Spectator
  Intense, vibrant, firm and focused, with a touch of raciness to the concentrated mocha, blackberry and graphite. Extracted, chewy and firmly tannic, but with tight focus and persistence of flavor.--Non-blind Harlan retrospective (2010). Drink now through 2025. 1,827 cases made.
• 92 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
  Very deep garnet-black colour with a purple rim. Comparably simpler, fruit-forward nose with aromas of blackberry and warm cassis plus a touch of star anise. Very big, ultra-full-bodied style of wine comes through on the palate, though the finely grained, firm tannins and decent backbone of medium to high acid remain a constant with this estate. Long, slightly hot finish. Drink now to 2020. Tasted November 2008.