2011 Harlan Estate The Maiden
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
Harlan’s little sister. The first vintage was 1995. Dark crimson. More muted nose than Harlan and maybe all the more appealing for it! Sage and black olive plus cocoa powder and Cadbury’s Turkish delight. Not as rich as Harlan on the palate. Certainly ready to drink but it fades father fast on the end. Difficult wet season. Fabulous nose! (JR)
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 2011 The Maiden is bright, focused and very pretty. Sweet red berries, mint, cinnamon and rose petals are all laced together in a delicate, finely-knit wine built on pure silkiness and grace. Subtlety and a total sense of finesse are the signatures. This is a gorgeous Maiden.
The Maiden is fashioned from barrels not deemed rich or complex enough for the Harlan Estate (a true first-growth wine). The supple, delicious, fruit-forward 2011 The Maiden exhibits lots of sweet black cherries intermixed with hints of caramel and vanillin, an attractive, medium to full-bodied texture and good opulence as well as softness. It is on a fast evolutionary track, so enjoy it now and over the next 10+ years.
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.