HARLAN ESTATE
Established in 1984, the Harlan Estate rises above
the fabled Napa Valley benchlands and covers 240
acres, roughly fifteen percent of which are under
vine. The vineyard’s founder, H. William Harlan,
is an entrepreneur with a strong background in
real estate and is someone who clearly understands
the importance of location. Only classic varietals
are planted, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot,
Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Since 1998 the
first wine, Properietary Red, has consisted of
100% Cabernet Sauvignon with the second wine, The
Maiden, being the blended offering.
Both wines are exceptionally complex and
full-bodied, and in good vintages have the ability
to age for decades. The wines are rich and opulent
in style, with dense fruit and elements of
blackcurrant, minerality and spice.
Harlan was described by Jancis Robinson as "one of
the ten best wines of the twentieth century."
Consistent acclaim from Wine Spectator and Robert
Parker, who has awarded the winery with four
perfect scores, have further contributed to the
wine's repute. The 2001 has also been described as
“a hypothetical blend of Mouton-Rothschild, La
Mission-Haut-Brion, and Montrose,” a heavenly
combination.
In 2002, modernisation works to the winery were
completed and will help to ensure the future
success of Harlan. However, only 1,500-1,600 cases
of Harlan Estate and 800 cases of The Maiden are
produced each year and one suspects that, to allow
for the consistency of quality, production levels
will never significantly exceed this level.
Harlan wines produced:
Harlan Estate Proprietary Red Wine
Harlan Estate The Maiden
Top Harlan vintages produced:
1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002