Harlan Estate 2012

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2012 Harlan Estate is reminiscent of their 2002. Probably a candidate for perfection with another 4-5 years of bottle age, the wine is inky plum/purple to the rim and offers a gorgeous nose of scorched earth, blackberry and cassis, forest floor, and a floral, lavender-like component followed by deep, opulent, majestic flavors that caress the palate with high but sweet tannin. This is relatively evolved, and supple and voluptuous for a young Harlan estate – hence the comparison with their compelling 2002. This wine can be drunk in several years and is likely another candidate for 30-50 years of cellaring."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Intensity, purity, power and elegance are all wrapped up with waves of sweet, lush, polished, dark boysenberries that remain with you for close to 50 seconds. Give this at least a decade to develop and you'll be amply rewarded for your patience with additional levels of complexity and silkier textures."

JAMES SUCKLING: "An intensely deep red with an abundance of smoke and ripe fruit, as well as grilled-meat and cherry aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, layered and powerfully tannined. Soft, chewy texture. Plush. Drink or hold."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Dusty, loamy tannins provide the outline, with a crushed rock–laced mix of dried berry, sage and cedary oak. Still very tight and oaky, but time should resolve that, as this ends elegantly, with spice and firm tannins. Best from 2017 through 2030. 2,748 cases made."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "The wine exhibits a somewhat playful character, with the fruit – a mix of dark fruits accented by a bright red lift – more apparent and also quite lifted and higher toned than in the younger vintages. The 2012 vintage has less structural focus, especially after the strength of the 2013. It is an entirely pleasant wine with likely a bit less ageability and not as much structural grounding as its neighbouring vintages. A touch of meatiness from appropriate evolution in bottle emerges here, with accents of spiced cocoa and a bit of sweetness through the finish. This is an ephemeral vintage for Harlan Estate with powdery fine tannin on the palate and a very long finish."