Harlan Estate 2019

Founded in 1984 by Bill Harlan, Harlan Estate is a prestigious winegrowing estate nestled in the western hills of Oakville in Napa Valley. With a vision to create a Californian 'First Growth', the estate has become a benchmark for luxury and excellence in New World wines. Its vineyard spans approximately 240 acres, of which 40 are under vine, producing wines of remarkable depth and character.

The 2019 Harlan Estate is a red wine from Napa Valley, California. Known for its exceptional quality, Harlan Estate consistently produces wines that exemplify the unique terroir of the region and the vision of its founders.

Deep garnet-purple with a luminous intensity. An intricate bouquet of blackberry compote, cassis, and black cherry interwoven with notes of graphite, violets, and subtle hints of cedar and spice. Full-bodied and impeccably balanced, the palate reveals layers of dark fruit, espresso, and earthy minerality. Silky tannins and vibrant acidity lead to a persistent, nuanced finish.

100 Points - Robert Parker

The head-spinning 2019 Harlan Estate is truly amazing stuff. Gentle cedar notes lead into layered dark chocolate and cassis, somehow impossibly rich yet savory. Full-bodied, concentrated and supple, this is dense, packed with flavor but seemingly weightless, with a lush, lingering finish that combines intensity with freshness to compel sip after sip. Like all truly great wines, it's full of somehow harmonious contradictions.

100 Points - Jeb Dunnuck

Matching the perfect 2018, the 2019 Harlan Estate is deeper and richer than the Maiden and has an incredibly pure, layered perfume of ripe currants, truffle, tobacco leaf, chocolate, and gravelly earth. This carries to a full-bodied red with building yet fine tannins, incredible purity of fruit, and flawless balance. Reminding me of a First Growth from Bordeaux given its acidity and tannin balance, as well as just overall sense of class, give bottles 7-8 years and enjoy over the following 30+ years

100 Points - James Suckling

A wine with an endless finish that is tension-driven, with fine tannins and an energetic acidity. Medium to full body with ultra-fine tannins. Blackcurrant character. Subtle and extremely long. Thought-provoking. Youthful. Great length. This is an abstract wine that sets a new benchmark for Napa Valley reds. Truly unique. Drink after 2027.

100 Points - Decanter

Tasted with winemaker Cory Empting and director of winegrowing Bob Levy at Harlan Estate. Fresh and approachable, with the elegance and structural integrity to last four or five decades, possibly longer. On the nose, beautiful upfront savouriness reveals cassis notes, cigar box and black olive followed by ripe, fresh black and blue fruit. Mesmerizing depth of flavours, with beautiful creamy black and red berries and a deep vein of earthy minerality. Tannins are angular with impressive grip, while acids are firm and refreshing. The finish is offers nuanced black currants, dark chocolate, enticing tobacco and cedar.

96 Points - Wine Spectator

This is nicely rendered, with a core of dark currant and blackberry compote flavors, laced with a singed cast iron hint and backed by lively sweet bay leaf, violet and bramble accents. There’s a serious tug of earth through the finish, keeping this very grounded. Well-built, showing a slightly lighter hand on the oak treatment than usual.