The 2018 Harlan Estate was tasted as a barrel sample, to be bottled in March. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a fair bit of swirling to reveal a wonderfully fragrant perfume of blueberry pie, chocolate-covered cherries, mulberries and black currant pastilles with hints of cumin seed, rose oil and black olives. Medium to full-bodied, the taut, grainy-textured palate delivers remarkable energy with compelling tension and a long, graceful, earth-laced finish.

The 2018 Harlan Estate is a racy, sensual wine that shows all of the pure appeal of the vintage. Juicy dark cherry, plum, mocha, spice and licorice are nicely pushed forward in a decidedly open-knit, mid-weight Harlan Estate. Fine-grained tannins support a finish laced with a range of floral and savory accents. The 2018 is a classy, polished wine that shows all the finesse that exemplifies these wines today.