March 28, 2024 - Dark fruits, dark cherry, graphite, pencil shavings, mountain fruit. Plenty of tannins here. Needs a good 1-2h decant to show best. Really good quality.
December 28, 2023 - Largely consistent with past bottles, however this one was drinking a bit more mature, and at the same time opened up better with time in glass.
June 23, 2023 - For a 13 year old bottle it was great. Mature fruits with balanced structure. Deep red color with pale golden brick ring. Medium weight and lengthy 30 second finish
May 19, 2023 - In a good place. Could have used an hour of decanting. Evolved over 2 hours in the glass.
December 9, 2022 - A very nice wine, as usual, though I'm surprised the tannins haven't released more of their grip on this bottling.
October 21, 2022 - Possibly Will Harlan's first commercial release in any significant quantities, if 2,000 cases is many!
Officially the 3rd vintage release of The Mascot, whilst previously it was simply a pet project for friends and family. Amazing experience to be able to have a library collection bottle airflown from Harlan Estate, I simply could not find another bottle for sale anywhere.. Enjoyed glass after glass or this at the Mascot event in St Regis KL.
Yes, of the flight of 2010-2013-2017 this was the best, but not by a huge margin as many in our group also loved the 2013. This 2010... was complex with resolved tannins, graphite nose and long finish!
The Mascot comes from grapes which are from vines that most likely will eventually be used in the Grand Vins such as Harlan Estate, BOND or Promontory wines, once the vines reach sufficient maturity.
Bernice Cheng (Domain H. William Harlan, Oakville Napa Valley) told us that each of the wines are kept separate at each respective winery before the final Mascot blend is formed. The Mascot wine is aged 5 years before release unlike many other Napa offerings.
Learned from our conversation all evening with Bernice Cheng that this was a cool vintage unlike the drought like and hot 2013.
In fact the winemaker notes describes 2010 as one of the coolest years in recent memory. The growing season began late, and extra diligence and care were required of the team at every stage during leafing, thinning and harvest. The harvest was sufficiently long to allow careful selection and picking only when the grapes ripened!
👃 Cherries and yes... Graphite and pencil shavings, lovely. Violets and blueberries after 2 hours too. ⏳️ Bernice (Harlan) and Nick (Milawa) showed restraint in decanting this 1-2 hours, and recommended slow oxing this in our glass over the night. Beautiful way of opening up this wonderful wine!
😛 Black cherries and wonderful balance and poise with a confident backbone, nicely resolved tannins and long finish with chocolate too.
⏲️ Approaching its sweet spot but can certainly approach again 3-5 years.
The Mascot wine event, Brasserie at St Regis KL, Malaysia - 20 Oct 2022
September 5, 2022 - Decanted Mag for about an hour. Slight bit of red brick to it, but still ample medium to dark red fruit. Well balanced and medium weight, with baking. spices on back end. 30-40 second finish
June 5, 2022 - Had this with a tomahawk steak at SW in The Wynn. Very good, tons of black cherry and blackberry with a little heat creeping up in the finish.
May 7, 2022 - Two hour slow ox. Nearly opaque garnet magenta color. Blackberry, black cherry, dried pomegranate, violet, shiitake mushroom, cocoa, and coffee on the mature nose. Smooth, dry palate, with fine, tongue coating acidity. Soft, full tannins on the longish finish.
This is just barely past its peak for my palate, but is still drinking very nicely. Some would certainly say this is at its peak. Had this at my 27th wedding anniversary dinner.
April 5, 2022 - See prior notes and enjoy