2014 Harlan Estate The Maiden

Community Tasting Notes (16) Avg Score: 93.8 points

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  2/1/2024 - jshufelt wrote: 92 Points

  Decanted 30 minutes before service - enough time in the sense that there's not a lot of tannins that need to be cleared out before this approachable, but not enough in the sense that this seems relatively reticent and shut down. In the glass, dark,youthful, purplish-red at the rim, shading immediately to opaque black at the core. On the nose, blueberries, raspberries, currants, and graphite. On the palate, a core of pure fruit, with hints of complexity trying to break through from the periphery, but never quite getting there. You can open it now and enjoy it, but honestly, give it time to wake up again - at least five years, perhaps more.

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  9/30/2023 - EyeDoc wrote: 95 Points

  Sweet fruit - consistent with previous note - finish seemed a little short. Great wine. I am not sure how someone gives this anything less than 92 points.

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  9/30/2023 - EyeDoc wrote: 95 Points

  Sweet fruit - consistent with previous note - finish seemed a little short. Great wine.

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  12/1/2022 - Juliansi Likes this wine: 88 Points

  The team at Harlan Estate set out to produce a California "First Growth" from the hills of Oakville, with the Maiden project. The Maiden is actually the 2nd selection from the estate, and should bear a resemblance to her "big sister" Grand Vin.
  
  The location:
  Interestingly, it was in the transition zone between the wild terrain of the forest and the open plain of the valley is where the Harlan team planted the vineyards, built the winery, as well as built their family home!
  
  The family describes that the vineyards are "carved from—and next to—these wild lands, this forest, and these woodlands. It's a good metaphor for life, as well as for our winegrowing philosophy."
  
  My review:
  Very deep garnet, purple-black colour, this 2014 vintage has not fully-opened yet, and I recommend giving this another decade. The tannin backbone at this stage is still grippy.
  
  Cassis, and black raspberries, some sweet oak and chocolate were some of the complex layers I enjoyed over the 2 hour session with this very special bottle - Yes, my first Maiden (Amazing to have Promontory, Mascot and this, over this amazing 2022!).
  
  Blend and readiness:
  This is a blend primarily of Cab Sauv, with just a touch of Petit Verdot and Merlot too. The body is medium-full, and the texture and density is enticing with a mid-palate feel of spice despite the layers of red and black fruit still being slightly disjointed.
  
  Thanks to TC bro, for sharing this with WMK, SKT, DQ and myself, one night by our hotel's sofa whilst we exchanged our views on the World Cup and our favourite teams!
  
  1 Dec 2022
  Holiday Inn at Erawan
  Bangkok, Thailand

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  12/8/2021 - msuwine wrote: 95 Points

  This is a completely delicious baby Harlan - yes, I'm sure these are not the reverential Hellenic adjectives that the first family of Napa Cabernet would prefer for this wine, but I mean it as the highest of compliments. It's an earthy and dense wine that still needs another few years to resolve its tannins, but it's modern and classy, all the way down, in a way that transcends all but a few other 2014s at this point in time.
  
  Dark red in color and full in body, the wine offers aromas of boysenberry, espresso, trail dust, and eucalyptus. The flavors are similarly fulsome but precise, with notes of black cherry, graphite, dried oregano, and peppercorn, with a round finish carrying dusty tannins. 14.5% alcohol. Tonight this edged out a 2015 Cliff Lede Songbook, which was more sweet and chocolatey (at least at the moment). 95+ for now, with upside in 2023 and later.

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