February 24, 2024 - Decanted 90 minutes before service. In the glass, saturated magenta at the rim, shading immediately to black at the core. On the nose, currants with a secondary note of plums. On the palate, more currants, chocolate, and coffee, with a soft, lush texture leading to the mid-palate, where tannins make a tentative appearance before asserting themselves on a long, enamel-staining finish. I can imagine another 5-10 years of cellar time ahead, but if you like that pure Napa fruit, no reason not to open one now.
April 29, 2023 - Kleur: Diep donkerrood met een dunne rand, geen spoor van verkleuring. Aroma / bouquet: Donker en stoer bouquet, bescheiden expressief ondanks dubbel karafferen, met een duidelijke rijpheid. Geen primair fruit meer, maar vooral gedroogd fruit, gedroogde pruimen, gember-/kruidkoek, Smaak / Afdronk: Krachtige 'junior-Harlan' met een net iets te bescheiden zuurgraad, briljant gerijpte, boterzachte en super-verfijnde tannines. Dik-sappig. Krachtig en prachtig in balans. Lange afdronk met een gepolijst bittertje en een hint van mint. Algemeen / potentieel: In deze fase prachtig drinkbaar maar met zeker nog enkele jaren ontwikkelingspotentieel… Waar ik uiterst nieuwsgierig naar ben… Vooral over de vraag of The Maiden in een latere fase meer tertiaire kenmerken gaat vertonen… 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 13 + Smaak / Afdronk: 17 + Algemeen / potentieel: 9 = 94/100
Colour: Deep dark red with a thin rim, no trace of discolouration. Aroma / bouquet: Dark and robust bouquet, modestly expressive despite double decanting, with a clear maturity. No more primary fruit, but mainly dried fruit, dried plums, ginger / spice cake, Taste / Aftertaste: Powerful 'junior-Harlan' with a slightly too modest acidity, brilliantly matured, buttery and super- refined tannins. Thick-juicy. Powerful and beautifully balanced. Long finish with a polished bitterness and a hint of mint. Overall / Potential: Beautifully drinkable at this stage but with at least a few more years of development potential… Which I am extremely curious about… Particularly about whether The Maiden will show more tertiary characteristics in a later stage… 50 + Colour: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 13 + Taste / Aftertaste: 17 + General / potential: 9 = 94/100
April 16, 2023 - Served as part of a blind tasting
Double-decanted 3-4 hours
Black as the dead of night
Smacks you in the face with new oak and bright red fruit; blueberry pie; vanilla; dill; still so youthful overall
Tannins are WILD
This is nowhere close to maturity; is delicious now, but can go for easily 20 years.
January 23, 2023 - have to score anything Harlan related super high--probably my favorite US winery...super layered, lengthy, medium bodied...did I say long with a lot of legs? sour cherry, raspberry....
December 30, 2022 - Classic Harlan taste. Deep dark almost black look to it. Lots of red ripe fruits on the pallete. Tannins still present but has become subdued. Finish was 45 seconds or more. Totally great experience from a bottle that was Coravined several months ago!
December 29, 2022 - Huge but delicious
November 26, 2021 - Thanksgiving 21
August 5, 2020 - Decanted one hour before service - could have used 3-4. In the glass, saturated, opaque purplish-red at the rim, quickly shading to near black at the core. On the nose, currants, cherries, and faint hints of pine and graphite. On the palate, leading with equal parts currants and tannins, but if your palate survives the tannic assault, the mid-palate reveals what is hopefully coming in spades with 5-10 years more cellar time; red fruit and stone fruit, mixed with mint and hints of mocha, with a plush full-bodied texture on a long finish. Let's see if I can keep away from the next bottle for at least five years.
April 3, 2020 - This plush and classy Cabernet is drinking beautifully right now, especially after two hours of air. Dark red in color; medium in body; nose of black cherry, graphite, espresso, and pine needles. Tastes of boysenberry, milk chocolate, new leather, and baking spices, with a layered and elegant finish that carries some dusty tannins. 14.5% alcohol. Give this a good decant, since it starts straightforward but unfolds into something ethereal - and delicious. Drink in next few years.
May 11, 2019 - I was about to write the same review as everyone else. Hot and lacking what you would expect for the price . . . That was after decanting for 2 hours. But we let the wine sit and went to a bottle of Lewelling Wight Vineyard and returned to it right around hour 5 into the decant only to find that this wine had turned the corner. It starts to reach a beautiful, elegant and balanced synergy with expressive highlights of cassis, blueberry and mint. Massive and dense wine that really takes time to unveil its complexity. I was going to rate this a 90, but after much air time, I rate it a 95. I think it is it is too young to open and needs a long decant. There are similar quality bottles for much less, but this is a well made bottle that will not disappoint based on quality, if not value. It is a pleasure to drink if you give it a lot of air time.