Will Harlan ‘Promontory’ 2013

Introduction

Aromas are diverse and complex, with no single primary scent standing above the rest. Some of the more subtle facets are beginning to surface: wet stone, graphite, leather, and fresh spices. Brighter notes create tension in the nose that then transfers to the palate. In the beginning, it is gentle and silky, developing slowly and purposefully into a synthesis of minerality, freshness, and vibrancy. The wine shows its potential for aging with a balance of structure and lightness, as well as a latent potential only to be revealed with time.

99 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

The best wine so far (although I suspect the 2015 may ultimately enter the picture as well) is the nearly perfect 2013 Promontory Estate. It is simply richer and fuller, with greater integration of tannin, and tastes spectacular. With an opaque, dense purple color and notes of graphite, wet rocks, blackberry and blueberry fruit, some charcoal, and again, loads of spice and loamy soil nuances, the wine has great intensity, a full-bodied texture, and finely grained, sweet tannin. This is a stunner and again, accessible, but its best days are probably a good decade away, as this could very well turn out to be a 40 to 50 year wine.

97 Points – James Suckling

This has a dense and intense palate with beautifully crafted tannins that frame a full body of fruit and wet earth, spice and dried mushrooms. Undertones of pine needles and cedar. Some truffles, too. Vivid and energetic. New Napa here. Better in 2022, but already very attractive. Drink or hold.