Winemaker Notes
Color is medium-dark red. Aromatically there are pronounced notes of roasted coffee, black currants, cedar, tobacco and ripe fruit. An almost confectionery quality comes through, as well, and shows the beginning signs of bottle bouquet with the associated complex, ripe-fruit aromatics. The wine shows real elegance on the palate, a focused purity of fruit, silky textured mid-palate, and soft, layered tannins. The distinctive, wild finish is supple and persistent. A very enticing wine with balance and a high pleasure factor. A good candidate for current and near-term drinking, it seems age-worthy for another 7-10 years.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A stupendous wine that epitomizes the Harlan style of grace and power. Shows how the most elaborate vineyard and winery practices can contribute to a near-perfect wine, even in a less heralded vintage. The flavors cascade in endless tiers, black currant, cherry, mocha, Indian pudding, oak and spice, all coming together in a minute-long finish. Magnificent.
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Wine Spectator
Tight, concentrated and compact, showing dried currant, berry and mineral character, with tannins that frame the flavors. Ends with a black cherry and blackberry fruitiness. This was a cool, drawn-out year.--Non-blind Harlan retrospective (2010). Drink now through 2016. 1,800 cases made.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Very deep garnet-black colour with a brick rim. The nose is more evolved than the 1999, moving away from warm dark berry fruits with pleasant aromas of exotic spices, tobacco, leather and scorched espresso. The palate is nonetheless finely structured with a medium to firm level of grainy tannins and medium+ acidity to give freshness to the medium to full body. Long, spicy finish. Drink now to 2014. Tasted November 2008.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.