All you need is an open mind and an empty glass. What we do is different. Bill Harlan likes to say Promontory represents "a missing shade of red"a new flavor profile in Napa, more rustic, more tannic, and more acidic than Harlan Estate, as well as more mineral. The reason (apart from such factors as transport and custom fees for imported wines) is simple: The law of supply and demand ensures that prices will rise when many people want a scarce commodity. Harlan Estate, Napa's Most Talked About Winery, Reveals Its Next Cult Red, Subscriptions for Every Kind of Wine Lover, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Described by Jancis Robinson as one of the ten best wines of the twentieth century, Harlan Estates flagship red new French oak barrelled for up to 36 months depending on the vintage is a truly unique expression of a California Cabernet Sauvignon; rich, deep and concentrated with a sense of elegance and purity. Wine Label Design By Pate International Design. There were no sub-$15 Cabernets by Salvestrin on the list. 8:30am 4:00pm PT Bond, which makes superb vineyard-designated wines from purchased grapes, began in 1997. Backing up the ripe fruit flavors are uncommon layers of depth that keep going and going. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. After all, who doesnt know what its like to want what we cant have? Then, in 1980, Mondavi invited Harlan on a trip to Burgundy and Bordeaux, with visits to the first growths. An irony of Harlans letters to customers over time is their candor, when so much of the external wine media would cover the brand in a gauze of mystique. His latest is Promontory, whose vineyards are just 2.5km south from Harlan Estate. Some online sellers also offer professional storage services, allowing you to keep your Harlan collection safe while it ages under strict environmental controls. That year, Harlan began planting the vines for what would later become Harlan Estate. F. Tags. As they mature, the flavors meld and the tannins soften to create one of the most refined and alluring wines in the world. Today, you dont necessarily have to join the mailing list to buy the best Harlan Estate vintages. Many wines made in the 1990s have reached peak maturity already, so theyre a great option for those who dont want to wait for their wines to mature or who want a glimpse into how well Harlan Estate wines can age. As the second generation explored and worked with the land, they began to make discoveries of their own. The first Harlan Estate wine label inspired by a 19th century engraving was 10 years in the making as Bill Harlan sought out the right engraver. Its owner is Will's father Bill Harlan, arguably the most influential figure in the Napa Valley. The winery's production will probably reach about 4,000 cases, or double the current amount. This may be just as well, since Harlan Estate isn't the sort of wine you're likely to (ever) find in a wine shopalthough Don Weaver, Harlan Estate's marketing director, claims otherwise: "We could easily sell our entire production from our mailing list, but it's important to us that our wine is available in restaurants and retail stores." And while the plan is to leave 90 percent of the "territory" in its current wild state, Promontory will eventually have a larger production than the mothership. Average annual production 2,000 cases Copyright 2023 Cult Wines Ltd. All Rights Reserved. $499.99 in stock More than just a second label for the elite Harlan Estate, The Maiden displays many of the same intriguing elements as her big sister from 2019. PDF NOTICE OF PESTICIDE: X Registration Reregistration - US EPA For Harlan isn't just the genius behind one of Napa's greatest wineries, Harlan Estate, or for that matter, one of the partners responsible for its most famous resort, Meadowood. This article originally appeared in the February 2017 issue of Town & Country. While Harlan wines usually still sell out quickly, if you know which vintages youre looking for, you can ask your wine retailer to let you know when that vintage is in stock. New York-based Lettie Teague is a multiple James Beard Award-winning writer and author of three books on wine. And then there's Bill Harlan's willingness to do anything to improve the quality of his wines. October 20th, 2020 Published in Vivino News Have you ever wondered why vintage wines are so expensive? The price? Clarence Thomas took gift from 2nd real estate developer Bill Harlan Appoints His Son, Will, as Managing Director of Harlan Estate A small number of mixed cases, directly from their library, consisting of one bottle each of Harlan Estate vintages 1990 through 1995. Offered in Fine and Rare Wines Online: Featuring the Renowned Cellar of an American Collector on 31 January-14 February 2023 at Christie's online First, there's the powerhouse Harlan winemaking team, headed up by Bob Levy (who's been with Bill Harlan since the early '80s, when Harlan was a partner in Merryvale Vineyards). Harlan Estate only has 170 more to go. The views from Harlan Estates winery steep terraced vines with layers of fog below and Mount St Helena in the distance always remind me how wild some parts of the Napa valley still are. Wine investment insights delivered straight into your inbox. Matriarch Napa Valley, USA Avg Price (ex-tax) $ 272 / 750ml Red - Bold and Structured 4 from 75 User Ratings 92 / 100 from 92 Critic Reviews Critic tasting note: (2010 vintage) "Clearly made from sweet, juicy, ripe, berries, the wine is medium bodied, softly textured and leaves you with a soft, polished, ripe, fruit filled finish." Founder Bill Harlan was inspired by the first-growth estates in the Mdoc and wanted to create a blend that would equal the legendary wines from this region. Is Bill Harlan trying to create another Napa Valley first growth with his new Promontory Estate? Trustworthy online retailers have made it easier to find top-quality bottles on the secondary market. (Only 2,000 cases are made each year, with bottles selling for $750 apiece via a mailing list.). His father Bill Harlan, founded Harlan Estate, BOND and later Promontory. The winery, which is increasingly adopting organic and biodynamic practices, was built in 2002. Second wine - Wikipedia "The label has a wonderful handmade quality," he says. Only about half the grapes go into the top wine some go into a second wine, The Maiden, whose first release was 1995. Log inMany of the Napa wineries reviewed on this site are private and do not see visitors. "The colors were so subtle," he marvels. When it comes to price, Harlan Estate, which averages $800 at retail, is definitely in first growth Bordeaux territory. + - Add to cart Description The Maiden stands tall among the best. To be able to purchase these second labels from the leading wine producers in Napa Valley you need to be patient and get on their mailing lists. Discover what else your investment offers. Ditto the short white beard that partially hides his jutting, determined chin. Prices reflect this accordingly, and committed enthusiasts are willing to pay top dollar to be part of the Harlan story. In fact, Opus One doesn't even register in the top 25 most-expensive Napa wines. Copyright 2023 Tungsten Publishing. A southern California native, Harlan first encountered the Napa Valley and fine wine while attending the University of California at Berkeley. How to Buy Wine for Aging: Your Guide to The Longest-Lived Wines, The Best Salon Champagne Vintages in History, Talking Clonal Cabernet at Schrader Cellars. Harlan Estate is a relatively young winery. For example, Bryant Family Vineyard, another favorite, this year released a second label DB4. (Since E. Stan Kroenke bought the vineyard from Jean Phillips several years ago, production has risen modestly from approximately 500 cases per year to 680 for the 2008 release.) When I visited the valley a year ago, several of his competitors informed me that he had started picking earlier than usual, the implication being that the alleged creator of the modern, plush, ripe style of cabernet was changing course and succumbing to the winds of fashion. [1], The estate extends 240 acres (97ha), of which approximately 15% of the land, 40 acres (16ha) is cultivated with the grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Tasting six Harlan Estate wines in 2018, Master of Wine Jancis Robinson says many exceeded her expectations. "And I knew that in order to do that you had to have the right landand of course, the right philosophy." (In other words, it was an earlier harvest due to warmer weather.) 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Its not a model for his wine we want to be purely Californian but he clearly admires the esteem in which it has long been held. Thats the amplifier, Weaver said. For example, Screaming Eagle does not offer a second label. Harlan purchased 230 steep, wooded acres just west of the famed Martha's Vineyard, with a view of the town of Oakville. Herndon VA Real Estate - Herndon VA Homes For Sale | Zillow Harlan purchased the original land to eventually become Harlan Estate in 1984; at that time, despite being 40 years ago, the property was completely forested and covered with native vegetation. If youve always wanted to taste wines from Harlan Estate or are looking to expand your existing Harlan collection, this article will guide you to the best Harlan Estate vintages in history. BOND - Winery | Wine-Searcher