Harlan Estate   Proprietary Red

2005 Proprietary Red

By Harlan Estate

2005 Proprietary Red from Harlan Estate, Napa Valley

Investor's be ready! The 2005 Proprietary Red from the esteemed Harlan Estate is a masterpiece steeped in the idyllic climate and unmatched terroir of Napa Valley. An investable treasure among the fine wines from USA, this celebrated vintage carries the finessed weight of its illustrious heritage.

 

A wine steeped in a remarkable vintage

The year 2005 was an outstanding period for the Napa Valley, having proffered opportune weather patterns and retaining classic Californian sunshine, which contributed heavily towards the pixel perfect maturation of grapes. These favourable conditions allowed Harlan Estate to vinify a titanic expression of Proprietary Red, brimming with potency and longevity.

With each swirl in the glass, this intoxicating red wine reveals a symphony of dark fruits such as luscious blackberries, plums and enchanting notes of blackcurrant jam. This bold orchestra of flavors is harmoniously balanced by hints of sandalwood, spice-box and roasted espresso beans making this vintage an opulence to taste.

 

An investment in legacy and future

The 2005 Proprietary Red personifies both an investment in tradition and an anticipation for future accolades. It has continually proven itself to be an asset on any investor's portfolio, matching its critically acclaimed quality with a persistent market performance.

Harlan’s diligent practice of excellence and precision in their vinification results in a consistent inflow of critical acclaim. Their expertise simply amplifies the grandeur of the 2005 Proprietary Red that balances its impressive pedigree with a tantalizing hope for what future years may still unfurl.

A glass of the 2005 Proprietary Red from Harlan Estate offers an exclusive encounter with an increasingly scarce harvest, thereby marking it as a staple investment for eccentrics of fine wines from the USA. Its robust character and age-worthy structure seal it as an exquisite jewel within any investment wine cellar.

Market price (GBP)

£12,420.00

12x75cl

Highest score

98

POP score

690

Scores and tasting notes

98

Its bigger brother, or sister, depending on the point of view, is the extremely young, fresh, vigorous, yet still exuberant and promising 2005 Harlan Estate. Normally, the blends on these wines tend to be 85%-90% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest tiny proportions of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and possibly some Petit Verdot, although I don’t recall that being a very important part of the estate vineyard. The 2005 is incredibly youthful at age ten, although certainly drinkable. And who wouldn’t consume it if they had the opportunity? It will benefit from another 5-10 years of cellaring and certainly has 30 or more years left in its evolutionary curve. Gorgeous, and tasting akin to a hypothetical Pauillac blended with a great Pessac-Léognan from Bordeaux comes to mind because of the smoky, subtle barbecue notes, fruitcake, forest floor, graphite and minerality. The wine has stunning fruit and a full-bodied, powerful richness, yet is still nimble on its feet. This is a classic Napa Cabernet Sauvignon from an absolutely magnificent hillside vineyard in the Mayacamas Mountains overlooking the Oakville corridor on the valley floor. This opaque, garnet/purple wine is another tour de force and, once again, proves that Harlan Estate is not only one of the greatest wines of California, but of the world.

Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 28 June 2015

Vintage performance