2021 Harlan Estate

Community Tasting Notes (3)

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View andrewdodd86's profile
  • Report Issue

  8/18/2023 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine:

  California 2023; 8/13/2023-8/22/2023: NR barrel sample
  
  Similar notes to the 2018 but less earth and violet and a touch more red fruit. Tannins are there for sure but they’re not chalky. Delicous. Fun to tastes Harlan from the barrel.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View csimm's profile
  • Report Issue

  4/7/2023 - csimm wrote:

  A few days in Napa with fellow CT'r Cristal2000: As Cristal2000 covers thoroughly in his notes, this barrel sample highlights a chiseled restraint and wonderful purity. Beyond that, it rides high and tight, with bright red fruit popping on to the palate with drive and intensity. The acid elbows its way quickly through the execution of flavor, finishing with a solid pucker that gives you the first half of the Sour Patch Kids, but leaves the party before the sweet part comes to save you. “First they’re sour. Then they’re….” Well… that’s about it.
  
  I can understand why the whole picking in mid-August thing raises eyebrows. I get the dry-farming justification, but I can’t help but wonder what this is ultimately doing to the profile of the wine and if it really is the best-of-the-best type of decision when you are dealing with arguably one of the highest caliber of wines in Napa (and some would contend, the world). I’m not a winemaker, so I don’t know for certain. I also can sorta buy into the “leading from the front” and trailblazing stance, that Cory Epting is going for a more acid-driven beast that will age for eons. He apparently prefers more acid bombs than Bob Levy does. But then we still have to ask, “Is that the best wine?”When will it be at its best (a question for all high end wines to be sure). I mean, why restrict your pick time to August if it’s just not the right time that vintage? When asked about the influence of and concern about wildfires in relation to picking early, as a means to protect your investment before chancing the loss of your very pricey crop to the potential doom of a fire tearing through your property, the answer seemed to skirt that topic and redirect back to the dry-farming rationale to pick early. I’m personally am not looking for another “In the Pursuit of Balance” resurgence anytime soon, especially with these sorts of top producers. I beg you, no 11% Cabernet Sauvignons from Napa please!
  
  I certainly appreciate our lovely hostess taking the time to discuss the issues with us. I guess the proof will be in the pudding… 30 years from now when all I can eat is pudding. More questions than answers at this point.

  4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Cristal2000's profile
  • Report Issue

  4/1/2023 - Cristal2000 Likes this wine:

  The big development at Harlan is picking early. They are now harvesting in mid August, which is very early and the wines will clearly be lower alcohol. They say it is because of the dry farming that allows the grapes to ripen earlier. The cynic in me thinks perhaps this is based on the fires, wanting to protect their investment, but time will tell how it affects the wine. I would expect it at a minimum to mean a more acid driven wine.
  
  A barrel sample, the 2021 shows off some of this new style highlighted by significant restraint, which is a little unusual for normally rambunctious nature of wines at this age. It has the hallmark purity of Harlan, with a laser like focus and very refined tannins even at this stage. There is excellent brightness and the je nas sais quoi of the estate, with elements that are hard to describe but make it unique and singular. Presently, it could use a bit more body and fruit concentration, but I expect that will develop in time. I love these wines, so here's hoping this ends up like previous great vintages, since 2021 is already presenting as a fabulous one.

  2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment

Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.