Harlan Estate - An American First Growth
The best Bordeaux are "First Growths." Nothing holds a candle to them, but we found an exception. The 2001 Harlan Estate we tasted recently was deep, dark red and we anticipated a jammy, in-your-face wine like so many other California wines. Not so! Big, yes! But, not jammy! Lots of complex fruit flavors followed by lots of relatively soft tannin. Definitely a wine to age, but as it sat in the decanter, it became more and more mellow. The 2001 Harlan actually had the structure of a First Growth Bordeaux, just on a bigger scale. Bigger than even Latour and Petrus, it tasted like an enlarged cross between the two.
posted by Gene Stein, Ph.D. @ 6:03 PM
1 Comments:
At 12:03 PM,
Anonymous said…
i tasted 1993 Harlan Estate Quite a treat. Decanted for more than two hours prior to drinking. This wine is in its drinkability window now, but it has many years left in it. Big nose, of course. Notes of leather, dark red fruits, tobacco, smoke, asphalt. I could have enjoyed the aroma all night without even drinking it. The palate, however, does not disappoint. All of the notes apparent on the nose reappear, with the addition of graphite and pencil lead. The palate "matches" the nose quite well. Interminable finish; at least 90 seconds. Thanks to Erik and Michele for bringing this gem to dinner.
Cheers,
J. Blanche
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