A barrel sample to be bottled in January 2019, the deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Harlan Estate has plum preserves, Black Forest cake and blueberry compote aromas that leap from the glass with hints of menthol, dark chocolate, licorice and cast iron pan plus touches of Sichuan pepper and violets. The palate is full-bodied, firm and very finely grained with great vivacity and depth, finishing very long.

Magnum. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, remainder: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot. The 2016 vintage is a wine of finesse and detail, precision and complexity, full of harmony, power and grace. While Harlan Estate is an impressive wine in general, the 2016 feels like a distinctive elevation in character. A mix of firm, black fruits are lifted with resinous herbs, graphite and spice. Tannin character is fine-grained while persistent and abundant, wed nicely to mouth-watering length and freshness. This wine is digestible, elegant and a beauty. It makes me excited about the future of Harlan. (ECB)