2012 Harlan Estate
Community Tasting Note
WineBurrowingWombat Likes this wine:
Friday, June 18, 2021 - Brooding, dark and seducing aromas of fruit straight from the pour. As I go in closer, I'm finding a mélange of macerated black and dark blue berries, a contrast of bitterness from something similar to tar and a pristine forest floor with soft but fully grown undergrowth (something like moss, grass and ferns).
Incredible flavors. On the palate there was deep dark black fruits with shades of purple, pure forest floor, pleasant bitter embers, black lead, bitter minerals and dried tree bark on the finish. To even pick flavors out is not doing this justice; this is such a well integrated blend and melding of flavors. Age played a part here as for some reason, I imagined the flavors for a younger bottling would be a bit wilder and unrestrained. This had amazing balance while still being able to exhibit an impressive streamlining of flavors. This one goes into the magic potion category.
With that being said, the length on the finish was disappointing. It's still really good of ~24-28 seconds but for the price tag, I expected this to go past the minute mark easy. At some point in time while drinking this, I began to realize a good portion of the price tag is probably in the name (and it hurts). I hate how much I enjoyed this. I have to admit it's one of the best wines I've ever tasted.
Some real questions that were thrown at me:
Is this something you have to get?
Probably not.
Is this something you should try at least once?
Definitely and make sure it's for an occasion where you can share with someone you care about and are able to really indulge in this.
If you're a rich made MF, salute as none of this is even a concern to you.
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22 comments have been posted
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue (4,077 views)
Comment posted by I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine:
6/19/2021 2:01:00 PM - Very nice note and let me say that you do an awesome job with your reviews, and I appreciate that!....just one small observation....you gave it 99 points and said it was one of the best wines you ever tasted....if that is all true, seems like you are paying for more than just a name! :)
My question is: I have 3 bottles....do I open one now (it is expensive), or do I wait for it to hit 100 points? :)
PS: I have never tasted a young Harlan (although I hope tp get to Napa this year and taste one at the winery), but I do love aged Harlan wines!
Comment posted by WineBurrowingWombat:
6/19/2021 3:14:00 PM - Thank you for the kind words!
You can definitely open one now, no need for the big hefty decants or anything in my opinion. This was actually good straight out of the bottle. But of course take into consideration your own preference too if you like more fruit or more of the flavors that comes with longer bottle age.
I know what I said was probably something like an oxymoron (or maybe I am a moron period :P) but I don't think I will never give this 100. If in a vacuum, the aromas, flavors and texture you get, it's 100 easy. But compared to other well known wines out there, the difference in price does not do it for me. We had this next to a '15 Beringer and of course way better but didn't justify the price difference (to be honest, I wanted to bring another bottle to compare too but it was only two of us). I'm not trying to bash this in any way, I just cant justify the price tag is all -_- , even after considering everything.
I can't wait for your review! You are one of the folks who have a HUGE library of wine so I'm curious to know after your tasting, what would you consider a reasonable price for this bottle.
Comment posted by I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine:
6/19/2021 3:54:00 PM - I will likely wait, at least until after I get to Napa. I can tell you this, for what little it is worth, 1996 Harlan is my favorite wine I have ever had (so far). A friend had this and shared it, and I though it was so good, I bought a bottle on the secondary market for $800 for my 60th Birthday, and I thought it was still the best wine I have ever had...I guess I am saying that I may not be the best barometer for Harlan's QPR! Also, just got on Harlan's and Promontory's list so I will be getting a regular allotment now (6 bottles of each). Therefore, I hope I like them young, because I don't have 25+ years to wait for them! I do know, according to the winery, they should be ready on release.
I guess if you pinned me down, my thoughts would be that "No" they are probably not worth the price if you are going to drink them young, as I suspect there are a lot of fruit forward, hedonistic wines out there that offer comparable flavor profiles for less money (although Harlan - at least aged Harlans - offer a pretty unique flavor profile). I think when they are aged, they are more likely worth their price tag because they are so good! Having said that, you can First Growth Bordeaux for the same money (or even less), which I think are comparable....so if you think First Growth Bordeaux is worth the price tag, then I would say Harlan is too. Sorry if I am rambling, hope some of what I wrote makes sense! Cheers, and I will let you know if I open one up! Let me know if you ever come to the Twin Cities (MN)!
Comment posted by WineBurrowingWombat:
6/19/2021 4:03:00 PM - Ahh no, not rambling at all! I love this discussion and seeing other perspectives! Thank you for using your experience of First Growth Bordeaux as comparisons, I will be keeping that in mind.
Whoa I didn't realize Harlan made you buy 6 at a time. You have a friend in San Francisco if you're here!
Comment posted by I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine:
6/19/2021 4:48:00 PM - Thank you! Harlan only makes you buy 3, if you want priority (they call it a "Founder's list"). I requested 6...same with Promontory. Figure I am limiting my purchases to those wines (and Aubert and Kistler for Chardonnay). I am still on Carter and Dana too, so we will see what I end up doing....my palate lies with more aged wines that still have plenty of fruit. My biggest turn off is where it tastes alcoholic or has excessive heat from alcohol. I know many of the better wines have enough fruit to mask the alcohol initially, I am still waiting to see if they can drink well with some age and tertiary qualities....one of the things I love about Bordeaux and some older CA Cabs, like Dunn, Dominus, Spottswood, Ridge, etc. I love Harlan because they combine big fruit with age-ability to gain tertiary character too. Probably why they are my fav! Hopefully, I will make out this year...cheers and thank you.
Comment posted by LiteItOnFire:
6/19/2021 4:58:00 PM - WBW- as always, awesome notes and damn you drink great wine. Having kids makes my ability to spend more time with wine and notes nearly impossible so I love through your eyes (or in this case palate and taste buds)! I have one of these suckers in my cellar so will open ‘soon’ but only for a celebratory experience.
I’d Rather & WBW- I have hard Harlan before, aged and ~7 years of age. Love the wine but… and I am unfortunately, for my kids inheritance, not a QPR focused buyer/drinker but do take it into account in general but I would suggest trying on an Abreu for size. While I have never had SE I have had all of the rest and these consistently wow me more than any other wine (I do have a preference within the four with Thorevilos my favorite) - and at nearly half the price, opening more often is more ‘sane’ (I would say justified but come’on it’s old grape juice. Very curious how you would feel about them in general and vs Harlan.
I made a comment earlier today on a tasting note of the 2009 Abreu Cappella that we should do a BMF Napa tasting. 20 people, 15 insane Napa wines all blind and see where the pieces fall. Make sure each one is in one of its best vintages so it’s not the same vintage across all rather great vintage for that wine/style against its peers. Here was my list
My line up would be:
Screaming eagle
Screaming eagle second flight
Harlan
Scarecrow
Abreu Thorevilos
Abreu Las Posadas
Abreu Capella
Mag 7
MacDonald
Eisele Vineyards
Memento Mori Dr Crane
Dana Estates Lotus
Colgin - pick two
Kinsman - Rhad
Plus one more
Comment posted by WineBurrowingWombat:
6/19/2021 5:23:00 PM - Oh yeah, I am hoping I get an allocation of Thorevilos from Abreu on their next release.
Ohhhhh that sounds like a crazy tasting! Now THAT is a blind tasting.. ohh so curious as to which one would take the top place..
Comment posted by I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine:
6/19/2021 6:11:00 PM - LIOF,
That would be epic! Count me in on that tasting!
Should probably also throw Carter and Vice Versa in there too!
Comment posted by I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine:
6/19/2021 7:43:00 PM - Or....could go more international, which would be my preference....and do a tasting featuring the following:
From the US:
Screaming Eagle
Harlan Estates
Carter GTO
Schrader Old Sparky
Vice Versa Magnificent Seven
McDonald
Abreu
Scarecrow
From France:
Petrus
Margaux
Haut Brion
Lafite Rothchild
Le Pin
Cheval Blanc
Ausone
Latour
From other places:
Penfolds Grange
Pingus
Vega Sicilia Unico
Masseto
Now THAT would be a dream tasting (at least for me!!!)
Comment posted by LiteItOnFire:
6/19/2021 8:35:00 PM - I’d Rather- responding to first response. I had Vice Versa (Mag 7) in there :)
Responding to 2nd. I had even better plans. A Bordeaux face off
Petrus
Le Pin
Cheval
Ausone
Lafleur
Vieux Chateau Certan
Lafite
Mouton
Margaux
Haut Brion
Etc
THEN FOR THE BEST PART IS THE TOP FIVE FACE OFF!!!
Boom!!
Comment posted by I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine:
6/19/2021 9:31:00 PM - First...My Bad....didn't put Mag 7 together...my fault! Sorry!
Second, I think you deserved to drop the mike!!! Great plan!
So many wines I have not had....so little time to have them....so little money to buy them.....but one can always wish!
Comment posted by I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine:
6/19/2021 10:01:00 PM - BTW...if you ever want to put a tasting together, if I can make it to CA (or if it is when I am there), I would love to participate....I have a few wines that could qualify, i.e., Harlan (Mag of 1996, 2001, 2012) I would guess the 1996 would be best; Dana Lotus (2007) Might still be too young, but I think it is their highest scoring wine; For Carter GTO, my oldest is 2016, For Schrader Old Sparky it's 2013; but I have one bottle of 2002 Shafer Hillside, which would be a nice one to add to the group....let me know if you decide to put something together and if I can participate!
Comment posted by LiteItOnFire:
6/20/2021 12:28:00 AM - WBW- you are in for the tasting.
I’D Rather Be- also in! How is one of my favorite restaurants in downtown Mini- Bar Lagrassa?
I am in AZ and happy to host so let’s put this thing together. Since I love in the best and worst place depending on time of year, we can plan for a win-win, sometime late October - April. I have an insane chef here that will host the group in his private kitchen. Since we can’t pull off all three tastings back to back, we will need to future plan as a way to draw it out yet also look forward to. I have never seen a tasting like this before so it will be a one of a kind and require the proper planning which I will be happy to begin the process!
Comment posted by I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine:
6/20/2021 3:29:00 AM - It survived Covid! Sounds like a good idea, but some pretty expensive and some hard to get wines....not sure how this can be put together! Also, should probably talk via e-mail rather than here....
My e-mail is: jmponfil At gmail DOT com
Comment posted by MJP Hou TX:
6/20/2021 7:15:00 AM - Amazing notes as always Wombat! I was bragging on you last night at a wine pairing dinner. CT is such a great site for peer reviews.
Comment posted by #1Winelover:
6/20/2021 8:30:00 AM - That's funny MJP because I too was talking up Wombat's notes (keep them coming). I will have to open the '12 because I think 2012's -- in general -- are drinking really well right now.
For the fathers out there, Happy Father's Day!
Comment posted by WineBurrowingWombat:
6/20/2021 10:26:00 AM - Appreciate the kind words gentlemen!
Happy Father's Day for all you dads out there!
Comment posted by MJP Hou TX:
6/20/2021 11:12:00 AM - Fortunate to be a father of three healthy kiddos. Never a dull moment in this house. Happy Fathers Day!
Comment posted by LiteItOnFire:
6/20/2021 11:14:00 AM - A very happy and healthy Father’s Day to the dads out there.
Comment posted by #1Winelover:
6/20/2021 11:41:00 AM - Have one at home and one on the way home from VA with his new puppy. Just finished up brunch and a long dog walk. Now to figure out what wines to open up for the rest of my day!
Comment posted by I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine:
6/20/2021 12:35:00 PM - My wife says I am a kid, she doesn't need any more! Does that make me my own father? :)
Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there!
No kids here.....too selfish, I guess....but I salute all of you!
Comment posted by LiteItOnFire:
6/20/2021 12:41:00 PM - #1 - Enjoy!
I’d Rather- oh I totally get it :)