Benchmark Wine Cellar
Harlan Estate The Maiden 2006
The Winery
Harlan Estate
"Harlan Estate might be the single most profound red wine made not just in California, but in the world."
- Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
"Winemakers believe that the land speaks to them of possibilities. A winemaker's goal is to express those possibilities, to capture the best of what the land has to offer."
- Bob Levy, Director of Winegrowing
The true beginning of Harlan Estate dates to 1984 in the western hills of Oakville, California, the heart of Napa Valley. The Harlan family had a plan to create a California equivalent of a Bordeaux first growth, producing a wine that would command global praise. Harlan is known for their estate wine, and their second label, The Maiden. In 1997, Harlan founded BOND in collaboration with winemaker Bob Levy to again produce more prestigious wines from Napa Valley. It's hard to say exactly why the wines are as good as they are, except to point to obvious factors, such as location, terroir and the talents of Harlan's longtime team, but they have undoubtedly earned their supreme cult status.
Summary
This wine presents a tightly wound and concentrated profile, with a chewy core showcasing flavors of dried currant, cedar, and anise, balanced by ripe dark fruit that adds depth and length. Its impressive structure and depth suggest a strong backbone typical of New World wines. The palate reveals rich notes of blackberries and black currants, complemented by spicy cedar wood, resulting in a softly tannic and bone-dry finish. Overall, it embodies the characteristics of a powerful, age-worthy wine.
Tasting Notes
- WS93
- Tightly wound, firm and concentrated, with a chewy core of dried currant, cedar, anise and mineral, yet for all its austerity there`s a wonderful beam of ripe dark fruit that gains depth, nuance and length. Impressive for its structure and depth.
- WE93
- In recent years The Maiden has been getting nearly as good as Harlan Estate, so that at less than one-third the price, it`s a comparative bargain. The `06 Maiden is very ripe and rich, displaying New World, cult-style flamboyance. Softly tannic and bone dry, the flavors are of blackberries, black currants and spicy cedar wood. Drink this intense, dramatic wine now and through 2015.
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