MariusA
Member #662,247 signed up 7/21/2019
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2012 Harlan Estate
3/28/2024 - MariusA Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opened next to ‘12 Screaming Eagle to compare and contrast.
It hard to argue against the fruit and structure of the Harlan wines. My first encounter with Harlan also remains one of my greatest wine moments (‘94 vintage at a restaurant in Wilmington, DE in 1999). That being said, the ‘12 is not my favorite vintage for this stellar wine. The tannins are a bit “dusty” and the wine just never comes together into harmony. By all means - it’s still a delicious, fruit forward wine with an intensity few others can match, but it’s just not stellar like you expect from Harlan.
The ‘12 Screaming Eagle was the WOTN for me and most others (including fkacondor).
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2012 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon
3/28/2024 - MariusA Likes this wine: 98 Points
Opened this next to the ‘12 Harlan to compare and contrast. This was my first Screaming Eagle and I didn’t know what to expect.
The first sip out of the bottle was concerning. Nose was pleasant with red and dark fruit but when tasting the wine the mid-palate was very “stemmy” and tannins seemed unresolved. It was a “uh-oh” moment. After an hour in the decanter, most of these unpleasant flavors were dissipated, and after two hours the wine was silky smooth. Whereas the Harlan had more upfront fruit, the SE had great balance of fruit, tannins, and acidity. There was also a crispness and purity of fruit that was just wonderful. (My friend, fkacondor, aptly described one of the fruit flavors as candid cherry.)
Is it worth $3,000? Is any wine? Not in my opinion. But should it be on your bucket list of wines to try? Absolutely. For those of you out there who are on the Screaming Eagle mailing list and have these in your cellar - enjoy! I’d give the ‘12 another 5 years in the cellar before opening. It’s still very young.
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2017 Olivier Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières
3/23/2024 - MariusA wrote: 89 Points
I suppose I would rate this higher if I sat at a restaurant in France slurping oysters in the sun. It has acidity to spare but what I miss most is some fruit - any fruit - to balance it all out. The mouthfeel is crisp, tart, a bit short, and made my cheeks pucker. My friend, Bob, commented that it had “the nose of Chardonnay (it’s 100% Chardonnay of course) but tasted more like Sauvignon Blanc”. I kinda agree. Tasted over two days with similar impressions both days.
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