2008 Harlan Estate Proprietary Red
Buying options
Tasting notes
Magnum. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, remainder: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot. The bottle notes of ageing have begun to appear here showing delicious tobacco-leaf flavours accented by powdery floral and earthy elements. It is an intriguing perfume that carries nose through palate. There is nice integration here though also a bit less complexity overall. With pleasing savoury presence and a long, lightly grippy finish, this wine is drinking beautifully. (ECB)
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Bright ruby-red. Alluring aromas of dark fruits, black raspberry, truffle, licorice and sexy oak. Wonderfully smooth and fine-grained; dense but not heavy, conveying an impression of energy and balance to its flavors of red and black fruits, truffle, herbs, minerals and sexy oak. The slightly medicinal herbal side of the vintage gives this wine a light touch but it's still firmly tannic and very young. The wine's expanding back-end richness and lively notes of red berries, flowers and licorice suggest that it will ultimately merit an even higher score. Winemaker Cory Empting described this wine as "not superripe," noting that the alcohol is in the high 14s.
Espresso, mocha, dark red berries, rose petals and spices are some of the many notes that emerge from the 2008 Harlan Estate. The wine fleshes out beautifully in the glass as it shows off its class and true pedigree. This is a decidedly ripe, forward vintage, but in exchange the wine will drink well right out of the gate. (AG)
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.