1991 Harlan Estate Proprietary Red
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Tasting notes
This wine from very young vines is only rarely tasted. They had previously made three experimental vintages, 1987–1989, which were never released. 'The wines were ok but quite simple. We drink one each year to remind ourselves we were right not to release them, but it's fun to drink them in-house,' we were told by the Harlan team. 1991 was considered a very good vintage. They made 300 cases of the 1990 vintage to show friends and family. Weaver suggested that the initial reaction to Bill Harlan was, 'Let’s show this guy some love. He has a perfectly good real estate business, but has this money pit up in Napa. The 1991 was probably the first vintage that went to the UK, our first export market.' The wine is usually 85–90% Cabernet Sauvignon but the 1990 and 1992 had a bit more Merlot than other vintages. Cabernet Franc is usually the second most important ingredient in the (co-fermented) blend, usually between 7–10%, planted on rocky cooler sites. Really mature and lively and just hanging on in there. Heady and aromatic initially and just losing fruit but a notably dry finish. Drink up. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Magnum. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, remainder: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot. The first commercial vintage of Harlan Estate. There is perhaps more simplicity to the 1991 than to succeeding vintages but there is still plenty of wine here. Notes of cooked mushrooms and iodine appear on the palate with a bit of spiced bramble. The tannin is a bit more angular and astringent making this the only vintage that is at all difficult to taste without air and food. The spiced and peppery notes build in the palate showing incredible persistence and length. All that said, this is a wine well worth drinking, just be sure to serve it with a handsome ribeye or generous wagyu. (ECB)
Healthy dark red. Sexy aromas of plum, raspberry and mocha. A tad tart but nicely concentrated and distinctly claret-like, with its red fruit flavors joined by a strong herbal element. Still, this wine – or at least this bottle – shows modest sweetness and thickness and is a bit past its peak and lacks expansiveness. Juicy and alive but the tannins are a bit dry and the finish a touch sour. Incidentally, 1991 was just the second commercial vintage for Harlan Estate; it was released at the same time as the 1990. (1,000 cases were made, vs. just 300 in 1990)
About the producer
Harlan Estate is one of the Napa Valley’s most prestigious wine estates. It is one of a handful of cult Cabernet producers, whose wines are some of the most expensive and collectable in the region.