Screaming Eagle   Screaming Eagle

2006 Screaming Eagle

By Screaming Eagle

2006 Screaming Eagle from Screaming Eagle, Napa Valley

The year 2006 birthed one of the most impressive fine wines from USA: the Screaming Eagle. This Cabernet Sauvignon dominated blend from Napa Valley is a paragon of balance and sheer elegance, while remaining characteristically soulful and profound.

 

Dancing on a Tightrope

Napa Valley's 2006 growing season was far from an easy waltz, kicking off with healthy rainfall and ending in an exquisitely balanced harvest. The weather danced on a tightrope between cool and warm spells--a challenge that required constant vineyard management, but ultimately rewarded patient growers with smaller-berried fruit carrying stunning, concentrated flavours. The 2006 Screaming Eagle beautifully reflects this vintage unpredictability - a testament to both vineyard mastery and divine terroir.

 

A Symphony of Flavours

Commanding and refined concurrently, the 2006 Screaming Eagle offers a symphony of blackcurrant, cassis, vanilla and exotic spices on the nose. The wine graciously unfolds on the palate revealing layers of black cherries underwritten by a humbling minerality. Wrapped in satiny tannins that flirt with perfection, each sip offers an exceptional length that beckons one back to the glass.

 

Investment-worthy Vintage

Recognised as one of the top investment-grade vinos worldwide, the 2006 Screaming Eagle stands as a trophy asset in any fine wine investment portfolio. Prized for its restricted production volume coupled with growing global demand, it showcases not only the heart and resilience of Napa Valley's Cabernet Sauvignon but also stands as a testament to the prowess of American winemaking.

Whether your savoir-faire lies in wine enjoyment or in wine investment, the 2006 Screaming Eagle is an appealingly persuasive choice. It consummately illustrates that when nature's unpredictability meets human resilience, the result can be truly unforgettable.

Current market price

£31,920.00

12x75cl

Highest score

98

POP score

1773.33

Scores and tasting notes

98

The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon is stunning. A wine that is only now beginning to shed its tannin, the 2006 stands out for its vibrancy and energy. All of the classic Screaming Eagle notes are in the glass, but with a little more edge and cut than in most vintages. Sweet red berries, crushed rocks, flowers and spice box are alive in the glass. Over time, hints of sage, mint rosemary and pencil shavings add complexity. The 2006 is a decidedly cool-weather wine with less opulence than either the 2007 or 2009, but it is absolutely singing today. Another few years will only help the wine come together even more fully, but it is impossible to miss the 2006’s utterly breathtaking beauty. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026. I have had a number of fabulous tastings at Screaming Eagle, but this was one of the most memorable. The biggest news at Screaming Eagle is the release of a second wine, a project that has been in the works for a number of years. Owner Stan Kroenke and his team wanted to make sure their new wine was up to the estate’s standards, and have only released the first vintages over the last few months. I tasted all four vintages of Screaming Eagle’s second label, Second Flight, next to Screaming Eagle itself, which allowed for a fascinating set of comparisons of both wines across a number of vintages. Like its big brother, Second Flight is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine, but here the Merlot plays a much more significant role. Regardless, what comes through most is the signature of these sites as seen through the lenses of the respective vintages. Readers might also enjoy taking a look at a recent video I shot with Winemaker Nic Gislason during the 2012 harvest that we recently posted on our site. Tel. (707) 944-0749

Antonio Galloni - The Wine Advocate, 26 December 2012

Vintage performance