April 25, 2024 - Look what showed up after my Grange 1996... this was served blind to us.
Nose was black fruit forward, with blackcurrant and berry liquor aromatics. Came across as being quite obviously Bordeaux like but much richer.
Ultra dark core. I thought.. Napa 2015.
Colour: Deepest garnet and near opaque with tinges of purple.
Nose: Blackfruit, light cassis and classic Bordeaux claret.
Palate: More black fruit, richness and concentration, with hints of rich cedar and vanilla on the back palate.
Mouthfeel: Amazingly toes the line between power but remains so balanced.
Colour: Deepest garnet and near opaque with tinges of purple.
Nose: Blackfruit, light cassis and classic Bordeaux claret.
Palate: More black fruit, richness and concentration, with hints of rich cedar and vanilla on the back palate.
Mouthfeel: Amazingly toes the line between power but remains so balanced.
Brother RN who generously shared this blue-blooded icon with us all at his Thanksgiving and cosy Birthday bash in Bref at Taman Tun, teasingly unzipped the neoprene sleeve.. I saw a peek of the rounded label, my jaw dropped.
It's a Harlan. I was speechless!
Simply amazing.. the timing of this iconic bottle.
It was the last wine served in the evening, at close to 10pm.
Brother RN nonchalantly said he had brought a "bonus" wine along, and wanted to share it with us.
Mind you I typically find the experience of a bonus forgettable, as one is either too intoxicated or it is somewhat a modest and forgettable ubiquitous 2nd or even 3rd wine, from either a lesser maker or unoutstanding vintage.
Never have I been.. speechless at the unveiling of a bonus bottle!!
2014 is described as a dream vintage in Napa.
Napa Valley's harvest was unusually early this year, not surprising given the state’s ongoing drought, which was so extreme that the cover crops in many vineyards never took hold.
Substantial rain in late February and early March relieved most of the stress and set up the vines for a vigorous start.
"Early" was the key word all season, from budbreak to veraison to harvest. Thankfully, the hotter months proved milder than most expected.
25th Apr 2024
Bref at Taman Tun, KL Malaysia
November 23, 2023 - very bold, fruit forward, flavors of cherry, plum
August 11, 2023 - discovered I had kept an entire case, decided its time to drink the expensive and good, so opened this for a friend, and then a week later at family. Sometimes I have not thought this deserved the hype, but it surely does with this vintage which should only do better in the future. A mouthful, balanced, extensive library of flavors, lengthy finish. One of the best from Napa I have had
July 29, 2023 - Got better after a few hours in the decanter. A solid wine, but sadly, nothing special. I'd be happy with it at about 1/4 the price, but have had much better Napa cabs for a fraction of the price. After having it, pretty convinced that people have scored it primarily on the brand - tasted blind, I think the community scores would fall to the low 90's. Still a good wine, but far from great.
March 11, 2022 - 6 Vintages of Harlan (1995-2018): Some conclusions: 1) The highlight in all Harlan wines and what sets the wine apart from many other high-end Napa wines is the elegance and absolute weightless texture and feel, with the finest tannins and an incredible balance. This became obvious in all vintages. 2) What is a big advantage in young wines, might become a disadvantage with a lot of age. The question I always ask myself with this wine (similar to some right bank Merlots in Bordeaux): is there is enough structure and tension to age gracefully for 30, 40 years? I'm not convinced and the data point added in this tasting (1995, 2005) didn't show as much structure as I hope to have at that age in my Cabs. 3) Gun to my head, I say the ideal drinking window for Harlan is rather 5 to 15 years after the vintage and not 20-40 years. 4) The 2018 vintage is spectacular with an incredibly complex profile but will need a few years to flesh out.
TN: Expressive, intense nose, with ripe but already nicely fleshed out dark forest fruit, a touch of burnt sugar, herbs and a touch of baking spices. Very round, luxurious and inviting. Given the cooler season, this is fresher and lighter than the 2018 in the next glass. In typical Harlan fashion, this is all about weightless elegance, so finely detailed with red berries, dark berries, floral notes, herbs and minerality. Not as deep as the 2018 in the next glass but even finer with hardly noticeable tannins, perfect acidity, in the typical 2014 transparency and lightness. Medium+ length finish with fine, bright berries and herbs at the centre. Overall, this is a wonderful wine, all about the weightlessness of the structure. Given that Harlan achieves this in almost vintages, I prefer a bit more fruit-driven, more concentrated and complex vintages (12, 13, 16, 18). Still, this is great. 95+ pts.
Decanting: No extensive decanting needed.
October 27, 2021 - Magnum No. 239. Black fruit, berry liqueur, grass, black sugar, vanilla. Sweet, ripe, strong linear Nordic acidity, notably cherry-like. Very interesting that the acidity is sort of on its own. Mouthwatering. 94+
August 28, 2021 - I don’t have the chops to critique Harlan, but in my non-expert opinion, I don’t get the hype or I maybe it’s just not my style. It is too restrained for me. The finish is great and it is very smooth to drink. I guess I am in search of a big flavor profile and I have come tot he wrong place with this wine. I own lots of it as well as Napa Valley Reserve, which is similar grapes. I love the 2007 TNVR for example, but I didn’t like this bottle. Oh well, may have to try again!
August 19, 2021 - thought you might need more time to decant but actually opened up quite nicely considering a 2014. Very dark fruit driven and dense. almost chocolatish. good balance but still a big boy
November 26, 2020 - The '14s are really hitting their stride. Robust fruits and a solid backbone without undue tannin levels. Age-based sediment was just beginning to form (and tastes so good!).
While these will age nicely for another 5+ years, they're officially ready to drink now.
February 16, 2020 - Still early, but already showing well. Tight, but opened nicely after 30 minutes of decanting. Lots more to go on this one...nearly certainly still a hold...I was just impatient!