Harlan Estate 2019

Harlan Estate sits on a 16 hectare hillside vineyard in the western hills above Oakville in Napa Valley, planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon. The site climbs through volcanic and sedimentary soils on slopes that drain hard and force the vines to root deep, restricting vigour and concentrating the berries. Napa's warm days build ripe tannin and dark fruit, while cooler nights drawn off San Pablo Bay hold the acidity that keeps a wine of this weight in balance. The wine is aged for 18 months in 225 litre French oak barrels, the small format giving a high ratio of wood to wine so that the slow oxygen ingress softens the firm tannins and layers in cocoa, cedar and vanilla. The colour is deep and near opaque. The nose is expressive and layered, with violet over ripe black fruit, blueberry, tobacco and graphite. The palate is full and tightly structured, the tannins dense and the fruit carried by fresh acidity through a long finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees and decant two hours ahead, or cellar it further. It is built for prime rib and rare beef.