2011 Harlan Estate Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend

Fabulous floral aromas of currants, flowers, stones and rosemary stem. Purity. Full body with a fabulous backbone of chewy tannins with a gorgeous austerity. Elegance with power.

Extremely fragrant at the cork's pull with gorgeous minty notes that turn to tobacco and bacon fat, currants, cigar box, and toasty cedar wood. You immediately notice this suppleness in the tannins, which have a billowy texture and give an incredible lift to the mid-palate. There is a vivid mineral richness of ironstone that lingers. A lovely curranty sweetness begins to envelop the palate, and the tannins turn almost powdery, still very fine, but powdery and billowy all at once. This wine is in a great place. It's a wine to drink now. Pull the cork and don't decant it, but swirl it around in your glass and taste it with each passing minute as it develops nuance after nuance. Readers may also wish to reference my review of 2011 BOND Quella, as I get into extravagant detail about the cold, rainy, foggy growing season. I tasted the 2011 BOND wines with Cory Empting and Will Harlan in February of 2024, and the wines were just remarkable. (JC)