March 30, 2024 - Decanted for two hours then enjoyed over the following two hours, I think the decanting significantly opened up the nose - there was quite a strong hint of VA initially on opening but cleared up with the additional air. This performed remarkably consistently through the meal and stayed quite even-keeled. Lots of earthiness/mushroom notes and is a very smooth drinker. It definitely feels quite resolved at this point so I think these are in a great drinking spot with a healthy decant, and is a really educational experience on the caliber/winemaking style of Harlan.
January 2, 2024 - Rich, thick, ripe, and over the top, but also layered, complex, structured, and hugely involving. Chocolate, plums, currants, earth, leather, coffee, and plenty of the tell-tale Harlan band-aid VA to keep things focused and away from porty and portlyness. So involving. While this has nothing to do with Bordeaux, or even mainstream Napa Cab, it offers a tremendously impressive wine that is both massive, and yet able to draw a taster into its subtleties. Aging very well.
January 9, 2023 - Excellent!
September 9, 2022 - decanted 30 minutes after opening and served 1Β½ hours after decanting. Smoky, a bit more ripe on the nose than the Fisher, and lots of mint. Almost like a Right Bank Bordeaux, more fragrant, with a hint of green pepper.
May 7, 2022 - Derby weekend. Messier.
May 3, 2021 - Classic Harlan style, in terms of ripeness, volatile acidity, gorgeous structure, if not at the plush levels of the estate wine. The wine is certainly feeling developed, but the ripeness of the fruit is still totally apparent. The lifted nose, chocolate and plum aromas is first class, and the jammy palate is given some lift by the thick tannins. With the wrong food, this could come across as less than transparent, but for its style this has stunning breed. It retains the essence of earthy Cabernet, while explore the limits of acceptable ripeness in a wine.so, a classic Harlan - not for everyone, but it is certain,y complex! Ageing well, in a high alcohol, ripe fruit manner, but for its style it should continue to develop in interesting ways. Aged balsamic notes are a lovely nuance.
March 30, 2021 - From my posting on FB and Instagram:
In Vino Veritas (in wine there is truth; people speak the truth when they are drunk), bottle #85 of my cellar sacrifices. A 2001 Harlan Maiden which is a second label of the Harlan Estate Cab. The 2001 Harlan Estate was the best wine Iβve ever tasted in my 40+ years of drinking wine. The Maiden, was very good as well, but did not blow me away like the Estate. Still, at 20 years old, this one was inky black, had a great nose, and it was long on the finish. Itβs probably rated in the 90s by RP (not 100 like the Estate) and deserves to. ππ·π·π·ππ #wine #winelover #winelovers #harlan #harlanestate
September 25, 2020 - Fully mature. Drink up. Some VA
May 31, 2020 - Showed a bit more age than others indicate. Added weight with 75 mins of air (decanted half the bottle) and showed a great deal of maturity that paired beautifully against the coffee-rubbed filet/tenderloin roast off our smoker. While this came off as a bit soft, there was a lot to discern. Unfortunately this was #3 of the evening and I'm writing this a week afterwards. If i had any more bottles of this I'd mark for consumption within 1-2 years, but I'm an outlier.
February 15, 2020 - Dinner w/New Friends (Their house): Drinking quite like a baby but the decant certainly helped it along. Bright fruits. Touch of almost a bit of the woodsy and a kindof redwood spice. Got better in the glass. Will continue to hold on ours. I think this has many years left.