Promontory, Napa Valley 2018

The 2018 Promontory is another riveting wine from the Harlan family and winemaker David Cilli. It has been nothing short of spectacular in two recent tastings. "What is a 100-point wine?" I am often asked. Well, it is a wine that is complete, where nothing sticks out, and where all the elements are in perfect balance. The 2018 Promontory is a great example. A wine of stature and breadth, the 2018 covers every corner of the palate. Beguiling aromatics and precise, sculpted tannins - so hard to achieve in a mountain wine - round things off in style. Dark fruit, gravel, spice, licorice and leather add subtle layers of nuance. Today, the 2018 comes across as a more refined version of the 2016. It is a magnificent wine in every way.

Violets and blueberries with cloves and pine cones, following through to a medium to full body with tight, seamless tannins, like finely cut diamonds. It’s very closed and reserved at the end. Weightless. Needs plenty of time to open. Unique wine. Better after 2027.

Packed full of vivid (there really doesn't seem any other word for it) cassis and blueberry fruits, floral, textural and nuanced. Cabernet Sauvignon signature mix of crushed rocks, mint, crayon and slate, just a brilliant wine and a reflection of its exceptional site. This is elegant and precise while still delivering muscular, powerful flavours. I first tasted it at the property last November, and it's reassuring to see it make exactly the same impression when retasted back in Bordeaux, away from the awe-inspiring landscape. Harvest September 10 through to October 23. David Cilli winemaker, director Will Harlan.

Bottled in early 2021, the deep purple-black colored 2018 Promontory soars with bold black fruits—warm cassis, blackberry pie, and chocolate-covered cherries—leading to wafts of violets, tar, iron ore, and forest floor with a touch of black truffles. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is super intense, bright, and crunchy, with a rock-solid backbone of firm, finely-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing incredibly long and mineral-laced. While it unquestionably displays its Napa Valley DNA, this is a wine of such singular expression and evocative beauty it’s sure to have you picking your jaw up off the floor. Allow it 5-6 years in the cellar to thoroughly fan its tail and then drink it over the next 30+ years.

The 2018 Promontory is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon; the estate has some Cabernet Franc planted, but it hasn't yet been utilized in the blend. Scents of crushed mint, ripe cherries and river stones mingle easily on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is tense and fresh. This has what is fashionably described as "tension" in spades, then finishes long and silky. Give it some time in the cellar, and my rating my look stingy in a decade.