Notes:
The Napa Valley Reserve is an ultra-exclusive invitation-only private wine club founded by William Harlan of Harlan Estate and Bond. Members include many prominent celebrities and politicians.
Membership costs over $175,000 and members are invited to join lavish dinners, and enjoy the wine-making process.
Members must also purchase an allotment of wine each year, and this wine is not allowed to be resold by its members for risk of losing membership privileges.
This is why you never see these bottles come up for sale.
The wine is spectacular, designed for consumption by the worlds most discerning tastes. The quality of Napa Valley Reserve is equivalent to Harlan Estate in anyone’s opinion who’s tried it.
The blend is Bordeaux in style, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and possibly Cabernet Franc.
How good is this bottle of wine you may ask? Well it’s made just the same as Harlan Estate. Same wine maker, same equipment, same style. You’re essentially getting the same wine that Harlan sells for $1,800+ per bottle. For much much less money and a higher rarity! I’ve tried this wine and it is amazing!
For reference, the 2005 Harlan Estate is 98 Point Robert Parker. Here is the tasting note from the 2005 Harlan
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. 98+
Bottle Size:
3 L DOUBLE MAGNUM
Storage History:
Stored on it’s side in a climate controlled cellar since purchase.
Condition:
Perfect.
