2007 Harlan Estate Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend (OWC)

“The prodigious 2007 Harlan Estate reminds me of a hypothetical blend of the 2002 with a touch of the controversial 1997. Dense plum/purple-colored with sweet aromas of barbecue smoke, blueberries, blackberries, cassis, licorice, hot rocks and subtle oak, it is a splendidly opulent, pure wine with a skyscraper-like texture as well as stunningly deep fruit that expands gracefully across the palate. The finish lasts nearly a full minute. Because of its overwhelming richness and sweet tannins, this brilliant wine seems to be approachable now, but I suspect further nuances and complexity will emerge after 4-5 years in the bottle. This wine will still be going strong at age 25-30. Like the offerings from its sister estate, Bond, these Harlan Estate offerings are uncompromisingly brilliant examples of Napa viticulture and winemaking at its finest. Kudos to proprietor Bill Harlan. (RP)” (12/2010)

“The 2007 Harlan Estate is fabulous. Explosive and dense, with tremendous persistence, the 2007 has all of the opulence and raciness that makes the wines from this vintage so distinctive. Scents of tobacco, leather and mocha develop in the glass, but above all else, the 2007 is a wine of sumptuous richness. It will continue to deliver considerable pleasure over the next two decades or so. What a wine! Empting describes 2007 as a warm, but not excessively hot, year with a long growing season. The wines presented naturally high dry extracts. Because of that, Levy and Empting opted for macerations that were a bit longer than usual. (AG)” (01/2017)

“Heavy aromas of sweet tobacco, coffee, ripe fruits, violets, and dried flowers. Full bodied, and very, very powerful. This is muscular yet agile. The finish is subtle and fruity, with minerals, mint, and currants. A blockbuster.” (02/2011)

“Intense and a bit rustic, with complex loamy earth, dried currant, black licorice, mocha, roasted herb, porcini and toasty oak. Full-bodied and balanced, deep, focused and persistent, ending with pebbly, minerally notes and firm tannins. (JL)” (10/2010)

“A bit more apparent bottle age emerges here in the 2007 vintage. Aromatics range from dried roses to warmed bramble fruits. On the palate, they are layered together with tobacco leaf and a bit of pepper, graphite and dusty earth notes. However, all is quite subtle for the 2007 vintage currently: the aromatics are a bit subdued and the palate is a bit understated. It is perhaps in an introspective phase and will open up again in a few years. The tannin is supple and fine, and is set alongside plenty of fresh acidity and length. (ECB)” (03/2020)