Harlan Estate 2014 – Napa Valley

The nose is elegant, fine, racy and offers a beautiful delicacy, a beautiful finesse, a beautiful concentration (but well controlled), silkiness as well as power. It reveals notes of ripe/fresh blackberry, cassis, wild strawberry and small notes of blueberry associated with small touches of elderberries, spices, a hint of cardamom, violet, Cuben pepper, almond, nutmeg, black cherry as well as discreet hints of cinnamon, dry local forest soil, very discreet oak hints, Bourbon vanilla and imperceptible hints of olive tree. The mouth is beautifully fresh, fruity, beautifully fine, racy and offers a beautiful unctuous matter, a beautiful elegance, a slight suavity, fat, a beautiful definition, tension, a beautiful fineness of the grain, a beautiful structure, a beautiful concentration (but full of delicacy) as well as delicate, velvety and slightly unctuous matter. On the palate this wine expresses notes of blackberry, crushed cassis and small notes of wild strawberry, wild raspberry associated with small touches of crushed black berries, blueberry, olive, wood, chocolate, caramelization, black cherry, almond, sweet spices as well as hints of cocoa / coffee on the finish. Tannins are fine, firm, elegant and structuring. Good length and beautiful persistence. A very powerful, fresh wine but full of delicacy and control. Beautiful maturity of the fruit! There are hints of dark chocolate and caramelization on the persistence.