2012 Harlan Estate Winery The Napa Valley Reserve Bordeaux Blend
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Tasting notes
Magnum. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, remainder: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot. The wine exhibits a somewhat playful character, with the fruit – a mix of dark fruits accented by a bright red lift – more apparent and also quite lifted and higher toned than in the younger vintages. The 2012 vintage has less structural focus, especially after the strength of the 2013. It is an entirely pleasant wine with likely a bit less ageability and not as much structural grounding as its neighbouring vintages. A touch of meatiness from appropriate evolution in bottle emerges here, with accents of spiced cocoa and a bit of sweetness through the finish. This is an ephemeral vintage for Harlan Estate with powdery fine tannin on the palate and a very long finish. (ECB)
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Magnum. Deep glowing crimson. Tamarind nose and big, pretty tough tannic grip. 2012 is in theory a big, opulent, warmer year than 2013 and 2013 is supposed to have a bit more structure, but there is masses of tannin in this! And the sweetness is a tad to obvious for my palate. (JR)
Racy and inviting, the 2012 Harlan Estate is the perfect wine to get this vertical started. Silky tannins and plush, richly textured fruit give the 2012 much of its immediacy. Succulent red cherry, plum, mocha, spice, rose petal and new leather are some of the many notes that grace this exquisite, sumptuous wine.