2001 Harlan The Maiden California Red

2001 Harlan The Maiden

98 DEC

Featured Review

The 2001 Harlan Estate is strikingly exuberant and precocious. Vivid aromas of blueberry, blackberry, cassis, tar, liquorice, rich soil tones and a hint of mint explode from the glass. On the palate this wine is notably rich and concentrated, but retains its balance and poise - a high-wire act at these levels of ripeness and new oak. Really a singular wine, and one of the benchmarks for this paradigm of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Drinking Window 2017 - 2030. Decanter

Decanter | 98 DEC

This companion wine to the famous Harlan Estate comes from the same Oakville vineyard. Decadent and vastly complex, it opens with cassis, grilled meat, cedar, spicebox, cigar box and cheddar aromas, and then turns medium- to full-bodied in the mouth. Terrific black cherry, blackberry and cassis fruit, pure and refined. Perfect elaboration of oak, char, tannins, acids and fruit, like a symphony orchestra working together.

Wine Enthusiast | 98 WE

Firm and intense, with gripping tannins wrapped around dark berry, black licorice, graphite, cedar and tar. Slow to unfold but does so impressively, gaining strength, depth and vitality; appears a great candidate to go another 10 to 15 years with ease.--2001 California Cabernet blind retrospective (June 2011). Drink now through 2025. 1,250 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 97 WS

The 2001 The Maiden’s dense ruby/purple color is accompanied by a lovely bouquet of melted chocolate, espresso roast, black currants, berries, licorice, and underbrush. This full-bodied, well-balanced, opulent second wine is as good as many California producer’s primary cuvee. Its sweet, supple tannin and forward personality suggest consuming it over the next 10-15 years.

Robert Parker | 93 RP

Highly aromatic nose combines roasted black raspberry, game and beefsteak tomato. Superripe and smooth, with lovely vinosity and subtle notes of tobacco and meat. Finishes with big, broad, spreading tannins and intriguing mineral character. Suggests a wider range of ripeness than the young 2002 sample.

Vinous Media | 91 VM

Type of Wine	California Red : Whether it's Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or Zinfandel, Californian red wine producers have a lovely habit of taking a varietal and expressing its essence in a unique, never before seen way. From Napa Valley to the regions south of Los Angeles, there's a red for everyone - and it's never too late to start exploring.
Varietal	Proprietary Blend : Proprietary Blend is a general term used to indicate that a wine is comprised of multiple grape varietals which are either “proprietary” to the winery or is blended and does not meet the required maximum or minimum percentage of a particular varietal. This also is the case for the grape’s place of origin, especially for region, appellation or vineyard designated wines. There are endless examples of blended wines which are labeled as “Proprietary Blend” and in conjunction with each region’s stipulated wine laws and regulations makes for a vast blanket for wines to fall into. Perhaps the simplest example is California; if a wine is to be labeled as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it is required to have at least 75% of the varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 85% of the fruit must be cultivated from the Napa Valley wine district. If the wine does not meet the requirements, it is then labeled as Proprietary Blend.
Country	US : As one of the most prolific and innovative wine regions in the world, America is a joy to explore. Most wine connoisseurs will agree that the nation's finest and most compelling wines are being produced today, which means that we have front-row seats to one of the most inspirational stories in wine history. While other regions tend to focus on specific wine styles and have somewhat strict rules as to which varietals you could grow, areas like California have few such restrictions in place. As a result, creative visionaries behind America's most reputable estates have been able to develop compelling, unique, and innovative styles, with a level of terroir expression that rivals even France's largest giants.
Region	California : With a history of wine production that dates back to the 18th century, California currently sits as one of the world's most prolific and reputable wine regions. With an area as vast as California, you can expect a colorful collage of terroir profiles, a series of microclimates, and micro-environments that give the wine a unique, memorable appeal. The region's produce is far from homogenized in that sense, and it would take you countless hours to sample all of it. While the region boasts scars from the Prohibition era, it went through what can only be described as a viticultural Renaissance sometime after the 1960s. At that point, California went from a port-style, sweet wine region to a versatile and compelling competitor on the world market. Today, no matter which way your taste in wine leans, you can find a new favorite producer among California's most talented. Notable sub-regions include legendary names like Napa Valley and Sonoma County, places that any wine lover would die to visit. California's quintessential warm climate allows for incredibly ripe fruit expressions, a style that provides a stark contrast to Old World-inspired, earthy classics. Even where inspiration was clearly taken from staple French appellations, Californian winemakers put their own unique spin on the wine.