Wine Advisor
Harlan, Proprietary Red 2017
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
This was tasted as a barrel sample, to be bottled in March 2020. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Harlan Estate sashays out of the glass with a vibrant, carefree nose of wild blueberries, black raspberries, crushed black currants and boysenberries with lovely floral nuances of candied violets and rose hips plus touches of cedar chest and pencil shavings. Medium-bodied, this is a Harlan that is incredibly light on its feet, with amazing intensity and energy, framed by very finely grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing very long and mineral laced.
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Harlan Estate needs a little coaxing to reveal captivating iron ore, red currant jelly, cloves and crushed rocks scents with a core of warm cassis, Black Forest cake and boysenberries plus a waft of pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied, it has a firm, grainy texture with a lively backbone and loads of earthy layers, long and mineral laced. This should be one of the longer-lived wines coming out of the 2017 vintage.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2017 Harlan Estate is superb. Deep, inky and wonderfully expressive, the 2017 is impeccably rendered. All the elements come together effortlessly. The nervous tannins of the vintage are evident, but there is also plenty of sumptuousness. Time in the glass brings out a whole range of red-toned fruit and floral notes that are surprising for a year with massive heat spike. The 2017 is polished and sophisticated to the core. In a word: impressive.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2017 Harlan Estate is bright, focused and also a bit wiry, as so many wines are in this vintage. Lifted aromatics and mid-weight structure give the 2017 a decidedly racy feel that is accentuated by the reddish leaning fruit. Mint, crushed flowers and spice add further dimensions of high-toned vibrancy.
About the Producer
The land at Château Harlan is unique in that the vineyards are situated on hillsides that are well drained and rise and fall with the slopes. The first 9.7 hectares of vineyard, planted between 1986 and 1987, was planted in a staggered manner, as the two small plots that make up the vineyard are located on either side of the hillside. The vines were planted with 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The vineyards are planted at varying densities, with half of the vineyards planted with 1,750 vines per hectare and the other half with 5,500 vines per hectare. The high quality of Château Hallam's wines is a result of the meticulousness of the entire winemaking process. The winemaking philosophy at Château Hallam is to preserve the natural flavour of the grapes and to take a gentle approach to the growing and fermentation process. The barrels in the winery are all new French oak barrels. The main wine, Harlan Estate Proprietary Red, is aged in barrel for 25 months, while the unselected wine is bottled after 10 months as a secondary wine, The Maiden, without filtration or clarification. The wines of Château Hallam are dark in colour, fruity and floral, with strong, restrained tannins and a firm, robust texture, and have the potential to age for at least 20 years. Best vintages include: 1991, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2007.
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