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Wine Description
The Story
With the founding of Harlan Estate in 1984, we embarked upon our mission of creating a “first growth” of California. The estate’s early vineyard development began with just six acres. Today our planting is essentially complete, with nearly forty acres under vine to the classic varietals: cabernet sauvignon (70%), merlot (20%), cabernet franc (8%), and petit verdot (2%). Invariably, the finished wine is predominately cabernet sauvignon, which we blend with varying amounts of the other three varietals as we seek to express faithfully the unique and distinctive character of the site.
Modest quantities of wine were produced in 1987, 1988, and 1989 from grapes that represented the second, third, and fourth leaf of our estate vineyard. In each of those years a small number of barrels were produced in the hope of gaining a prescient glimpse into what the character of the land—never before cultivated—might have to offer. The wines were blended, bottled, and labeled with a special designation. Though charming in their own way, these first wines fell short of our standards and aspirations, so were never released. They continue to serve as humble reminders of where we began the journey.
Wine Information
1993
Abundant winter rainfall (45+ inches) tapered to small amounts through budbreak on March 31, and into April and May.June and July temperatures ranged between 85°-90°.
Intermittent hot days in August and September resulted in several selective harvests, beginning August 28 and ending October 2, rather than one extended crush.Yields were puny, averaging around 1.6 tons per acre.
tasting notes
Dense, ruby core to garnet at edge. Ripe black fruit aromas, dusted with truffle, earth, and forest floor. With further airing, this wine reveals a more dried-herb profile,with notes of chocolate, toast, mineral, and black currant. Dense, full-bodied, and rich, it has a chewy texture balanced with ripe tannins, and a soft finish.
Still quite powerful and complex, displaying considerable freshness.Appealing now, but I advise laying it down for 4-5 years, then enjoy for many more (10+).