2019 Harlan Estate

Community Tasting Notes (15) Avg Score: 96.3 points

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  4/16/2024 - sfwinelover1 Likes this wine: 99 Points

  We moved into the Library, a stunning room with the feel of being suspended above earth (as I commented to Krista, Harlan’s wines give the impression of ethereality) after the barrel taste in the Cave. Krista said that this had an hour of air in the decanter, but it still came pretty tight and dark, almost opaquely black, fairly closed aromatics, with dark berries, dark florals, cassis, tobacco, dark chocolate, black currants, dark earth, rocky minerality and a long, intense, gravelly finish. We sipped this over 20-30 minutes, and I don’t think I’ve ever had another wine where each sip seemed to show more openness and new notes to the extent this did; it was thrilling! Even at that point, for me, it didn’t quite to the point of perfection, not only of the BO ‘21, but perhaps more so, of where this will go with time (5 years? 10 years? 20? Idk) or even prodigious amounts of air now. I’m not going to get into abstract debates about appropriate amounts to spend for a bottle of wine, but for those who’ve read my TNs, it won’t be a shocker that even this level of quality wasn’t nearly temptation enough for me to sign up for the Harlan list. But if someone forgets to bid on one of their wines at auction, who knows, and in the interim, I’m so appreciative to have a friend like MN who shares his bottles. 99++

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  4/14/2024 - MN Wine Junkie Likes this wine: 97 Points

  I believe this wine received about a 2 hour Slo-O.
  
  This was in a blind line up of some very prestigious 2019 Napa reds (and one 2016 thrown in), specifically:
  
  2019 MacDonald
  2019 Kinsman Eades La Voleuse Du Chagrin
  2019 Kinsman Eades Anjea Sleeping Lady Vineyard
  2019 Colgin Tychson Hill
  2019 Realm Absurd
  2019 Scarecrow
  2019 Harlan
  2019 Myriad Elysian
  2019 La Pelle Res
  2019 Magnificent 7
  2019 Cliff Lede Songbook
  2016 Colgin Tychson Hill
  
  2019 Harlan - My first of two tastes on this trip (the other was two days later at Harlan). First, I am happy to say I nailed this one (the only two wines I felt confident of were the MacDonald and this wine). The Harlan was drinking quite nicely, but also needs more time. Rich fruit, silky tannins (but lacking in the plushness this wine will attain with more time, in addition to gorgeous tertiary flavors) So good now though, will be hard to keep my hands off these....luckily I have a few older bottles to keep me occupied when I get the itch while waiting on these! 97 (out of 98) now, but could definitely reach perfection with additional age. If drinking now, I would recommend about a 10 hour decant.

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  4/14/2024 - bsumoba Likes this wine: 97 Points

  In the lineup, it was a very good wine, but also overshadowed by others. That being said, this badboy was picking up tons of weight with air and was showing great to the end. Decant with tons of air if opening now. Try again in 5-10 years+

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  4/14/2024 - WineBurrowingWombat Likes this wine: 97 Points

  Eyes Wide Shut - Day 2 (A quiet place): Nose: Sophisticated tightness of red and black fruits, soft but stern tree oak with a bit of dampness. Wet earth and a fresh whiff of dark green undergrowth.
  
  Palate: Black fruits with bitter, black graphite, bitter earth and dark minerals lingering on the finish.
  
  I wonder how this would've done with more time. I loved the seriousness of this: deliberate but controlled. The flavor delivery was quite tasty. Should've spent more time with this.

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  12/13/2023 - Collector1855 wrote: 94 Points

  Salon Ficofi Paris walkabout tasting and dinner, no detailed tasting notes. Very primary, not much going on yet beyond blue fruit. Wait 94+

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