1994 Harlan Estate Napa Valley California USA Wine Tasting Note

There is an elegance matched with all the power that gives this wine its character. That difficult balancing act, coupled with the purity of fruit, silky textures and a finish that does not quit leaves you wanting more. At 23 years of age, this is drinking right where it needs to be. I am not sure what there is gain by waiting for more development, but the fruit is still fresh, vibrant and energetic, so there i no hurry to pop a cork on this magic elixir either.

6,863 Views   Tasted Aug 3, 2017

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Clearly, this is a benchmark wine for not only quality, but the ability to age and improve for California wine. Tasting like a wine that was only 10 years old, this was stunning in every sense of the word. The tannins were ripe and perfectly smooth, with a salty quality, the wine had incredible levels of depth, concentration and intensity, you could not fail to be blown away. If that wasn't enough, the 60 second finish of fruit left you almost speechless. Served double blind, it was impossible not to be riveted by its quality.

About as good California Cabernet gets. Complete in every way from start to finish. The perfume is intoxicating. The wine drenches your palate and taste buds with layer after layer of sweet, silky, perfectly ripe fruits, chocolate and licorice, finishing with a seamless end note that does not want to quit.

Blackberry, black cherry, licorice, earth, mint, truffle and stone aromatics keep you involved in the glass. On the palate, the wine is incredibly dense, rich, concentrated and fresh. The fruit coats your entire palate with ripe, fat, fleshy berries that leaves an impression of ripe berries and freshness that expands and lingers for close to 50 seconds.

Now we're talking! Mind blowing from the first sniff, swirl and sip. The bodacious perfume, packed with ripe blackberries, jam, coconut, earth, black cherries, licorice, smoke and spice was the perfect start. When the wine hit the palate, that's when the fireworks took off. Thick and intense, balanced and refined, with freshness, length, and expansiveness. Everything needed for a great was here in spades. Note to self, be nice to my friends with bottles of this in their cellar as it's so good, I need to taste it again!

1994 Harlan Estate kicks off with a powerful perfume filled with oak, vanilla, black cherries, blackberry, earth and spice. This full bodied, concentrated, powerful wine is balanced and harmonious. This is not overpowering. Everything comes together in an opulent, round, thick, ripe, fresh, fruit filled, polished finish. With today's prices hovering close to $1,000 per bottle, this was an honor to taste. This wine tasted like a wine with 5-10 years of age on it. I would never have guessed it was only days short of its 17th birthday. 99 Pts.

Spectacular nose with ripe cherries, cassis, blueberries, licorice and coffee notes. Full-bodied and very concentrated with gobs of perfectly ripe California fruit. The seamless finish was endless. This could easily be described as liquefied essence of California fruit.

From the first sniff and taste, it was clear, this was out of this world! What more could you want from a wine? This wine was packed with so much elegant, concentrated, ripe, decadent layers of black fruit, it was off the charts! Still youthful. The seamless finish lasted over :60!