Wine Advisor
Screaming Eagle, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc, may turn out to be one of the all-time great Screaming Eagles. Like its two predecessors, it exhibits a deep purple color along with a brilliant nose of creme de cassis, graphite, subtle toast, and hints of charcoal and spring flowers. Full-bodied with attractive purity, sensational length, and a seamless style, this prodigious effort is neither heavy nor out of balance. (Not yet released) As I wrote last year, original proprietor, Jean Phillips, has moved on, and the new sheriffs in town are Stan Kroenke and Charles Banks, who also own the up and coming superstar, Santa Ynez winery, Jonata. A lot is going on at Screaming Eagle as much of the 54-acre vineyard is being replanted, and a new wine cellar is under construction. Production for the following three vintages runs from a low of 400 cases of the 2005, to approximately 800-900 for the 2007, which is their projected target for future vintages. It will be interesting to see if the $750 a bottle price holds up given the global economic crisis. Certainly, there is no doubting the quality. Beginning with the proprietor, Screaming Eagle has an amazing winemaking team in place, including day to day winemaker Andy Erickson, who is backed up by the globe-trotting Bordelais consultant, Michel Rolland Tel. (707) 944-0749; Fax (707) 944-9271
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
As impossible as it might seem, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon takes things to another level. An exquisite, celestial bouquet melds into endless layers of fruit as this rich, voluptuous wine blossoms on the palate. Full-bodied and seductive, the 2007 conquers all of the senses with its head spinning, beautiful personality. As always, Screaming Eagle is a bit more restrained next to Napa Valley’s other heavy hitters, yet the pedigree of this opulent vintage comes through in spades. A kaleidoscope of aromas and flavors flows through to the creamy, textured finish. I have tasted the 2007 several times recently. It was always beenY.perfect. My only issue with the 2007 is that it appears to be shutting down just a touch. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2027. I have had a number of fabulous tastings at Screaming Eagle, but this was one of the most memorable. The biggest news at Screaming Eagle is the release of a second wine, a project that has been in the works for a number of years. Owner Stan Kroenke and his team wanted to make sure their new wine was up to the estate’s standards, and have only released the first vintages over the last few months. I tasted all four vintages of Screaming Eagle’s second label, Second Flight, next to Screaming Eagle itself, which allowed for a fascinating set of comparisons of both wines across a number of vintages. Like its big brother, Second Flight is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine, but here the Merlot plays a much more significant role. Regardless, what comes through most is the signature of these sites as seen through the lenses of the respective vintages. Readers might also enjoy taking a look at a recent video I shot with Winemaker Nic Gislason during the 2012 harvest that we recently posted on our site. Tel. (707) 944-0749
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon may merit a three-digit score if it continues to evolve as it is currently. This blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc has closed down somewhat, but, wow, is it showing awesome potential! In the past, the hallmark of this wine has always been its extraordinary intensity, purity, and depth of creme de cassis fruit, and this characteristic is again present in the 2007. Additionally, notions of camphor, licorice, and smoke, extraordinary opulence, and a seamless integration of acidity, wood, tannin, and alcohol are all found in this incredibly velvety-textured, full-bodied wine that is elegant as well as substantial in flavor intensity. I can’t wait to taste it after a few years in bottle. (Not yet released) Screaming Eagle’s vineyard has undergone a major replanting (35 acres were replanted in 2006). Today, there are only 15.5 acres of the original plantings that made this property so famous. The potential size of 54 acres will certainly increase production if it all turns out to be as high in quality as what has existed in the past. The superstar winemaking team of Andy Erickson, Michel Rolland, and viticulturist David Abreu has been in charge over recent vintages. Tel. (707) 944-0749; Fax (707) 944-9271
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2007 Screaming Eagle opens with a dazzlingly beautiful fragrance of red roses, violets and lavender over a core of red currant jelly, kirsch, cassis and black raspberry layers plus blueberry preserves and stewed tea accents and a waft of cigar box. Medium to full-bodied, the tannins are firm yet wonderfully plush with a great intensity of perfumed red and blue fruits that are at once intense and ethereal, finishing on a lingering mineral note. This 2007 truly shows the personality of Screaming Eagle at its best. It is approachable now, still possessing plenty of primary fruit with those tertiary layers beginning to unfurl and therefore it cannot fail to impress even at this youthful stage. However, give it another 5-7 years to really get the full dividends of careful cellaring.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The most profound Screaming Eagle since the 2002 and 1997, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (an 800-case blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc) offers up a prodigiously pure, complex nose of cassis, spring flowers, licorice and black currants, the latter component being so intense and lingering that it makes this cuvee stand apart from other Napa Valley wines. Full-bodied in the mouth, like a ballerina on her toes, this wine glides gracefully across the palate with a cascade of purity, equilibrium and compelling complexity. Extraordinary balance and elegance combined with power make for an utterly stunning wine that should drink well for two decades or more. Even though the estate is being reconstituted and a new winery built, this wine still came from the old sector of the vineyard (15.5 acres) that was used by the previous proprietor, Jean Phillips. Certainly 2007 and 2008 are the best back to back vintages at Screaming Eagle since 2002 and 2001. Like the 2007, the 2008 should drink well for at least 20-25 years based on the fact that the 1992, the debut release (which I just had), at age 18 is still an adolescent. Kudos to the winemaking team led by Andy Erickson who is backed up by the blue chip viticulturist David Abreu and the omnipresent Michel Rolland. Tel. (707) 944-0749; Fax (707) 944-9271
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
As impossible as it might seem, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon takes things to another level. An exquisite, celestial bouquet melds into endless layers of fruit as this rich, voluptuous wine blossoms on the palate. Full-bodied and seductive, the 2007 conquers all of the senses with its head spinning, beautiful personality. As always, Screaming Eagle is a bit more restrained next to Napa Valley's other heavy hitters, yet the pedigree of this opulent vintage comes through in spades. A kaleidoscope of aromas and flavors flows through to the creamy, textured finish. I have tasted the 2007 several times recently and it has always been magnificent. The 2007 appears to be shutting down just a touch, but that is probably a good thing for the future.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
(14.8% alcohol): Dark medium ruby. Captivating violet lift to the aromas of blackberry, cassis and minerals. Wonderfully fine-grained, lightly medicinal wine with terrific inner-mouth definition and energy. The flavors of dark berries, iron and minerals are still tightly coiled yet dance on the palate. This impeccably balanced wine finishes with suave, refined tannins and outstanding mounting length. Really stains the palate and reverberates in the retronasal passages.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
(includes 20% merlot and 3% cabernet franc) Good full, deep ruby. Quite Bordeaux-like on the nose, with notes of bitter cherry, dark chocolate, tobacco, cedar and iron, plus a whiff of aromatic resin. Then opulent on the palate but at the same time juicy, precise and very intensely flavored, with terrific inner-mouth lift to the flavors of currant, spices, brown sugar and pungent minerality. Finishes impressively long, spreading out to saturate the entire palate. Boasts a terrific spine for aging.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
(includes 14.5% merlot and 5.5% cabernet franc) Good deep red-ruby. Blacker and higher-pitched on the nose than the 2006, offering explosive scents of cassis, licorice and violet. Almost painfully dense and sweet, with primary yet expressive flavors of black fruits, licorice pastille, bitter chocolate, menthol and underbrush. In a distinctly sweeter style than the 2006, finishing with lusher, rounder tannins and superb length. If the 2006 represents the traditional style of Screaming Eagle, the 2007 represents the future of the estate.
About the Producer
Screaming Eagle Winery makes wine in a tiny stone winery. The winery is located on a stone hill overlooking the valley. Since Phillips first sold wine in 1992, the wines produced by Screaming Eagle Winery have been called the representative of limited production, high quality and super expensive California wine. Phillips adheres to the "less is more" philosophy of winemaking. She is a perfectionist, and also brings this "pursuit of perfection" spirit to wine making, using the "garage wine" method. When the grapes are ripe, she carefully selects the most ripe and flawless grapes to make top-quality wines. The wine produced by Screaming Eagle Winery is indeed worthy of the title of "garage wine". The wine is deep maroon color, exudes strong fruity and explosive aromas of berries, coffee, fur, wild mushrooms and flowers. It needs to be aged for 15 years. Only started drinking in 20 years. Screaming Eagle Winery does not accept orders from customers, and can only make reservations through the Internet. After making reservations, they often have to wait in line for several years before they can get their desired wines. Screaming Eagle Winery is the most expensive wine in Napa Valley. Ms Phillips summed up her excellence beautifully: "I just follow my heart and I always feel like I'm doing what I really love. If I do it, great; if No, at least I'm enjoying my life. That's the philosophy I've always embraced."
