Harlan Estate, Napa Valley

good needs at least 1hr+

2020 vintage

Floral, forest, so well integrated with red fruits. Elegant and also with power. best 2020

2020 vintage

Perfectly integrated with phenomenal length and balance. Doubt any further age will improve it in that it was positively sublime after a 3 hour decant.

2007 vintage

Decanted and followed over several hours. Dark cherry, tobacco and spice. Silky and seamless on the palate. For some reason, I was kind of expecting this to be a lighter, less serious Harlan to drink younger, but that doesn't seem to be the case based on this bottle. It is elegant, no doubt, but there is also a lot of substance and an underlying structure to it. No signs at all that this was an unusual or difficult vintage. Should …

2020 vintage

3-hr double decant, but give it one more hr right now and you will be rewarded. Savor it over the next two hours.

2007 vintage

Kids. This wine has started to fade. Time to drink up. That said, at one moment in the glass, after the wine was decanted, and we'd been sipping for a while, some magic fruit emerged. Lovely elegant fruit. Memorable. Delicious. Patience rewarded. That said, there is a clear indication that this isn't going to last much longer. Drinking great right now. Probably would have been rated a bit higher a year or two earlier. But who knows. I had it …

2007 vintage

Lots of sediment. Started to fade after 2 hours. There is some hovering fruit on the front end that was both unusual and extremely delicious.

2007 vintage

Super Bowl 2026 (Atlanta, GA) : Tasted blind. New world wine rarely shows well in a blind tasting with this group, but this bottle was the exception. Everyone respected it for what it is and how it was drinking. This was nice to see especially since nobody was biased by the label at this point in the evening.

2007 vintage

Birthday dinner at Berns Tampa. Decanted for 45 minutes and off to a rough start, but got there quicly after some vigorous splashing by the Somm. Copious and powerful blackberry and dark cassis. The full bodied texture and finish really elevate this wine to the stratosphere. Not an explosion in the mouth but just builds density for 45 seconds, with the gorgeous fruit yielding to notes of graphite, and classy toasty oak with a touch well-balanced sweetness. built for the …

2004 vintage

Upon opening, very volatile. At 21 years of age, this is chocolatey, mocha goodness with copious bottle age character. Texturally, this displays huge, yet supple tannins, with warm alcohol, and dark chocolate drenched plums and currants. While this has almost nothing to do with Bordeaux, it absolutely convinces on its unique style. The 14.5% betrays a bit of heat on the finish. A great wine that makes me wish I had tried it on release, but it is absolutely in …

2004 vintage

Thought I’d try this a week after a disappointing encounter with the Maiden from the same vintage, which I thought was passed its prime. Dark cherrries and herbs de Provence on the nose. Palate is deep and long. Still a bit of grip with the signature Harlan velvety tannins, and oodles of mixed berry fruit. Early peak. Reminds me of the 99. Quite a different experience than I had with the second wine.

2007 vintage

Opened at 2pm and double decant. Then into decanter at 6:30. Drank from 9:30 onward. The wine is subtle yet powerful, the oak seemed to be fully integrated into the wine, turning into something somewhat similar to a sugarless coconut candy. Compared to other cult Napa Cab that go for a what I described as “cooling & cedar finish” but usually has a tiny tail of heat, this Harlan is the in the status those Napa cabs tries to achieved: …

2006 vintage

A good step up from earlier vintages. Superb

2006 vintage

Opened at dinner. I agree with the previous reviewer that it was amazingly fresh. It was still a bit too fresh for my optimal drinking style but it is clearly a very well structured and powerful wine. Fresh, very much alive red fruits, grippy tannins and bright acidity. The wine started to soften a bit after 2 hours in my glass but by then there was not much left. At this rate I think I’ll have to wait another 19 …

2006 vintage

An amazing massive wine with another 15-20 year runway left. 3-4 hour decant and paired with Prime Rib and Black Truffle stuffed chicken.

2007 vintage

Dark red; fresh boldness lightened up with something that reminds me of eucalyptus, nose surprisingly fresh for its age (19 years); soft and sweet attack, followed by an intense fresh core, lots of taste and power without being too much, fresh blackcurrant in the aftertaste; believe it is in the beginning of its drinking window; really good

2006 vintage

I have never had a Harlan Estate before so I have nothing to compare it to. It was smooth as silk but lacking a little WOW I was looking for. Fruit was subdued but the finish was infinite !! By far the most expensive cork I have ever pulled !!

2000 vintage

I have the last pour from this bottle in my glass rn. What a special treat. This wine is massive. I haven’t had Harlan before this evening and kind of figured on it being a bruiser. That was indeed the case. To my taste, this 2007 shouldn’t be opened any time soon if you’re looking for resolved tannins or tame fruit. Deep opaque magenta in the glass, it’s blackberry pie gilded with baking chocolate. Big alcohol leaden aromatics and a …

2007 vintage

Slow ox 30 minutes. Terrific nose of black currant, smoke and herbs on the nose . The wine is quite ripe, the oak is there but integrated, super concentrated, still youthful, layers of fruit, a long finish. Not for the shy!

2005 vintage

Though this shows as a little yesteryear in performance, it is nonetheless an aptly alluring example, and one with which I wish I had spent a little more time. Slightly sluggish on entry, but with a cigar (if that�s your thing) and well worn copy of the Tao Te Ching, you�ll be in for a real Master Po-to-David Carradine kind of treat jumping off (and not Po Ping the chubby panda. Po the Kung Fu master mentor to young Caine …

2005 vintage

"I'm half the man I used to be" Stone Temple Pilots. Spot on. And so it is with this wine. Had it 5 or so years ago and it was gobsmacked how good it was. Today, meh. Was in tough competition but the 02 Bond St Eden and 05 Vecina were heads and shoulders above this. Fun wine tasting as always. This bottle seemed tired. The more it aired the less interesting it became. Was decent upon opening and 94, …

2005 vintage

Blind city (Street corner) : Nose is concentrated yet melded dark red and black fruits. A beautiful ripeness but the earth keeps it from being too much, so well integrated here. The scent of clean river stones keep this almost light, especially through this awesome darkness. Dark red fruits on the palate, great flavor, deep earth. Gentle spiced oak and rotting tree bark saturated from the fruits. Amazing integration here as well, with that sense of weight on the palate …

2005 vintage

For Spits and Giggles (House of the Chiefs!) : Blind. Napa royalty on paper. Harlan often evokes a response that sets it above all else. It was like seeing Tiger Woods in 2021, still showing glimpses of his former self at times, but he was not the Tiger of the 2000�s. The 05 Harlan was just that. This was my first encounter with this vintage of Harlan but it just felt like it was a bit ready to retire. We …

2005 vintage

decanted for an hour, probably needed more. Started off more primary, sweeter end of spectrum, this gave way to more interesting possibilities. This wine has a long ways to go; I kept aside a half dozen back in the day before Harlan became too expensive, and I take a bottle out for special evenings, such as dinner with grandson, which night this was. The wine was perfect for a porterhouse.

2014 vintage

What you hope for from Harlan, A beautifully made wine, at a good place, with probably 15 years to go. One of the best Napa cabs. The price has gotten over the top.

2014 vintage

Smooth tannin, cedar nose, fruit still primary and jammy. Very nice. A clear stop up from the Maiden in the vintage.

2005 vintage

Double-decanted 3 hours prior to dinner and drank over 3 hours. Dark red color with just a hint of aging at the rim. Primary and secondary notes of dark blue and red fruits with some oak, espresso, and chocolate. Silky tannins but still quite bold. IMO, just now entering a more interesting drinking window. I will wait another 3-5+ years to drink my remaining bottles as I think more tertiary notes will come to the fore and make this wine …

2007 vintage

Whether sad or glad Harlan will lift your spirits and cleanse. Delicious. Easy to drink with and without food. Never a regret to open these bottles. A true pleasure always to behold.

2020 vintage

This is still a baby I think...fruit forward, almost sweet, with little secondary development. Brought by a friend (very well cellared) to a blind wine tasting so never had the opportunity to try it young to compare how much it may have settled down but it's still too big and simple for me. Was decanted 3 hours before first tasting and went back to it at the end of the night, 3.5 hours later, and it hadn't budged. Tannins were …

2007 vintage

Wine showed beautifully after an hour in the glass . I would can’t for an hour or two prior to drinking.

2000 vintage

tasted blind. barnyard nose, in the mouth complex fruit, not at all like other Harlan's i have tasted. again surprised at the unveil.

1991 vintage

Decanted for an hours, drank over 45 minutes. This is like squid oil... deep ruby to the rim with just a hint of bricking... Nose is fruit, fruit and more fruit. Hints of cedar. But no noticeable secondaries... 21 and still primary. This is not meant to sound like this is young fruit; this is mature fruit. Palate is just silky, smooth, intense, mouth-coating luxury. No hint of oak or alcohol. Blackfruits. Pure Power. Continued to get better until the …

2004 vintage

I can see why people score this wine so well. Refined elegance without any harsh edges. This is a dark purple beauty with nice dark fruits and a medium palate. The tannin is very refined but lingers for a minute. Time has been kind to this bottle - there are some tertiary notes of cedar and tobacco but this still has so much life. Hold or Drink.

2007 vintage

Beautiful wine with a soft lushness I was not expecting. Still solid structure that will carry it for many years I would expect. Deep berry and a little licorice on the nose. Silky red fruit paired with a bit of tobacco on the palate. Would love to try this again in another few years.

2006 vintage

Dark red/purple to rim. Intense nose of rich dark fruits, cassis, hints of smoky earth. Very full bodied, rich, ripe, deeply layered fruit, very concentrated, very good balance, long finish. No signs of intrusive oak or alcohol. None of the over-ripe fruit and VA present in the 2003 drunk last week. Should drink well for years. Outstanding.

2004 vintage

Tasted blind against 2000 Ausone and 1991 Beringer Private Reserve from a magnum. Beautiful deep dark cherry red with clear rim, no bricking, and no sign of age. Distinct notes of marzipan and hints of mint, dark currants, cedar, and earth on the palate, slightly drying on the finish. Beautiful showing.

2000 vintage

Insane!

2006 vintage

This bottled showed a bit more development with some earth, warmer notes, and a bit of spice.

2007 vintage

Traces of vanilla. Charming and approachable.

2007 vintage

Now starting to slim down. Nice upfront. Would drink soon.

1991 vintage

Kleur: Diep, opaak donkerrood met aan de randen een smalle en licht-oranjebruine verkleuring. Aroma / bouquet: Verfijnd maar 'donker' bouquet. Gedroogde vijgen en pruimen, een hint van menthol, verfijnd hout. Smaak / Afdronk: Stoere en krachtige wijn, tegelijkertijd perfect in balans. Zachte zuurgraad, verfijnde tannines en meer dan voldoende geconcenreerde power om ook de 14,5% alcohol (omg, ook in 2004 al???) te beheersen. Boterzachte power, een KO met een fluwelen handschoen. Retronasale indrfukken van gedroogd fruit, verfijnd hout.Geweldig lange afdronk. …

2004 vintage

Ultra primary obviously but impressive. Clean violet fruit, not overdone.

2020 vintage

Understated and charming, retains sweetness. Classic Napa Cabernet.

1991 vintage

Peak Parker era? A bit overdone. Prefer younger or older vintages.

2005 vintage

This '07 grand vin from Harlan Estate was my first interaction with this specific Harlan property. Let's just say, it's pretty damn good wine. This wine was provided by someone who has similar taste preferences to myself and it was a VERY kind gesture, thank you Jon! Now, to the wine... I must say - I've rarely seen such a discrepancy on CT about any given wine. A lot of reviewers writing this off because it 'didn't live up to …

2007 vintage

Having popped quite a few 2014’s from Napa over the past several months (feel like they are in a great spot), this is hands down the best. Had a Promontory from 2014 the night before; this was a noticeable step up. Only danger is, it will disappear quickly on you! My wife and I were fighting for the last drops. Stunning wine.

2014 vintage

I have not had a bottle of this one in a while. I was a little disappointed. It was not up to earlier bottles. This bottle and my remaining bottles have been well stored. There are not a lot of other recent tasting notes on cellartracker.com. Hence, I cannot see if others have had a similar experience.

1991 vintage

Bought in 2011; drank in 2024. Outstanding!

2004 vintage

Decanted for almost 2 hours. Deep brickish reddish purple. Stewed sweet prunes on the nose. Sort of same on the palate. Pretty thin over all with some over extracted sweet notes on the back end. Nothing impressive here and markedly over rated imo. Had along side and '04 Colvin Cariad which blew it away. Drink up as this appears to be way past its prime.

2004 vintage

For this wine to drink so well this young is a surprise, but this is the second we have treated ourselves to recently, for those special occasions where one wants to pull something special. Still primary, the fruit and tannins are superb. I admit to sometimes reselling my Harlan, but I kept all of this year and very glad I did. It also has probably 15 or more years to go

2014 vintage

Are you sure?

Harlan Estate, Napa Valley

Vintages

No vintages

Community Reviews