Though this shows as a little yesteryear in performance, it is nonetheless an aptly alluring example, and one with which I wish I had spent a little more time. Slightly sluggish on entry, but with a…
In a lineup of top shelf 2019 Napa Cabs blind, this undoubtedly showed near the top of the heap. Of course the immediate argument is that it should always be the singular one on top (short of a…
With dark berry, earth, and a bit of sherrying (already?) permeating the profile, the 2001 Harlan is all class. Muddled black cherry, dry cinnamon stick, leather, and menagerie of tertiary elements,…
At first pass, this is a crunchy unripe black cherry covered in salty sawdust. I recall having that "Uh-Oh" feeling, wondering, "What wine is this? Did someone throw in a pirate here??" It doesn't…
When I last had this a year ago, it was displaying all sorts of deep, ripe, and dare I say plush attributes that this go-around were absent for the most part. I can't recall exactly what…
As Cristal2000 covers thoroughly in his notes, this barrel sample highlights a chiseled restraint and wonderful purity. Beyond that, it rides high and tight, with bright red fruit popping on to the…
This is my fourth time with this wine, so I'll just mention some particulars that I think might be noteworthy. This presented as advertised and expected for the most part, with a rich and chewy…
Ready, giving, luscious, chewy, and a big polar bear hug of black berries and chocolate chunk goodness that doesn't skip a beat in terms of textural dreaminess and seamlessness. The 2012 Harlan's…
Blind. The Harlan was tied for my second/third favorite out of five. The preferential order for me was Colgin, Eisele/Harlan, Bryant, and Chappellet - with the Chappellet not even close to being in…
A somewhat polarizing wine among a number of us in the group, with the majority (myself included) not convinced this is on a path worthy of especially high accolade. The black cherry and plum notes…
I got all ramped-up to write about this wine and then just re-read my notes from 4/30/2021 that basically say it all (so, refer to those notes if you want to read my novella from April). This was…
Barrel sample. Fresh berries and charcoal, as if you took the best made blackberry pie and fired it up on an old school open-flame Weber BBQ. Texturally this is a complete dream, with fine grained…
Essentially a younger and more rambunctious version of the 2012, which is a great sign of things to come. Powerful and heady on entry, with blackberry liqueur, charcoal, graphite, and black raspberry…
