The aromas are subtle yet enticing with lavender and rose petal notes. So aromatic and perfumed. Lots of currants and hints of spearmint. Chanel No. 5? Medium-bodied with super fine tannins that run the length of the wine with crunchy tannins that are energetic and vivid. It grows and grows and turns almost flamboyant. Goes on for minutes with a compressed and vibrant finish. Mostly cabernet sauvignon with some cabernet franc and a tiny percent of merlot and petit verdot. Drink it now to love and understand the potential. But it will age beautifully. Try after 2030.

Harvest began on 22 August and wrapped up three weeks later for Cory Empting and his team at Harlan Estate. Longtime Harlan collectors might notice that the colour of the 2021 is surprisingly light—an almost lucid ruby colour. From it emerges a beautifully pure and precise red with coiled-up energy: gorgeous violet florals, black currants, black cherry, tobacco, and Szechuan pepper aromas. From the wine's medium-bodied palate, pure black currant, black cherry, and spiced plum fruits intermix with pomegranate seed, tobacco and a hint of dark chocolate. Ultrafine, sculpted tannins build on the palate through the saline-scented finish. This wine has a natural brightness and perfumed florals that deliver freshness. Super compact, with immense structure, and best after 2027. I was able to taste it over three days, and it was still driving hard with tension and energy by day three, and only then beginning to open, which is the mark of a wine with tremendous cellaring potential. Yields were lower than average for the estate. Collectors need to note that this isn't a massive shift in style but rather a trend toward building wine with piercing acidity that ensures it will age for decades. And at this price, it should wow with freshness and energy well into 2041, 2051, or 2061 when opened by those of you (or family members) fortunate enough to have held bottles that long. Have patience, and if you must open the wine in the first decade of its bottle life, taste a glass, then let it decant at cellar temperature for the better part of a day.

The 2021 Harlan Estate has developed beautifully over the last year. A stunning wine, the 2021 is layered and caressing, with exceptional balance. Now that the Harlan team is picking earlier, my perception is that there is more development that takes place over the course of aging than in the past. This remains a very young wine today. Its energy, vibrancy and overall freshness suggest it will enjoy a long life. Impressive. Rating: 98+

This is packed with dark currant, bitter plum and blackberry paste flavors, all closely allied with a cold cast iron spine that provides a rock-solid underpinning. Flashes of ink, dried anise and roasted apple wood add terrific range through the energetic finish, as the cast iron minerality just sails on and on. This is set up for the long haul.

The 2021 Harlan Estate was bottled in March of 2024 and is a classic blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. It's another Bordeaux look-alike with a Pauillac-like character in its darker currants, smoky oak, black cherries, graphite, and violet-driven aromatics. Beautifully balanced on the palate, it has medium to full-bodied richness, a layered mouthfeel, and outstanding length. While it’s clearly in this estate's new, fresher style, it doesn't lack anything and is concentrated, beautifully balanced, has ripe yet building tannins, and I suspect 20-30 years of prime drinking.