Harlan Estate is a
California wine
California wine production has a rich viticulture history since 1680 when
Spanish Jesuit missionaries planted ''Vitis vinifera'' vines native to the Mediterranean region in their established missions to produce wine for religious services. I ...
estate producing
Bordeaux
Bordeaux ( , ; Gascon oc, Bordèu ; eu, Bordele; it, Bordò; es, Burdeos) is a port city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department, Southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefect ...
style blends. The estate is located in the western hills of
Oakville, California
Oakville is a census-designated place (CDP) in the of Napa County, northern California.
The population was 71 at the 2010 census. Oakville's ZIP Code is 94562, and it is located in area code 707.
The local economy is based on Napa Valley wine p ...
within the
Oakville AVA
The Oakville AVA is an American Viticultural Area located within Napa Valley AVA and centered on the town of Oakville, California. The appellation extends over a flat expanse of well-drained gravel soil between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountain ...
, in the
Napa Valley AVA zone.
Harlan Estate is a well known "cult winery," commanding high prices due limited availability, and high demand from followers of
Robert Parker. Its flagship Harlan Estate is one of the most sought-after Californian wines on the market, with the average price per bottle reaching $1,012.
In addition to the estate wine, there is they produce a
second wine
Second wine or second label (French: ''Second vin'') is a term commonly associated with Bordeaux wine to refer to a second label wine made from '' cuvee'' not selected for use in the ''Grand vin'' or first label. In some cases a third wine or ev ...
named The Maiden.
Beginning production in 1997, Harlan also founded BOND.
History
H. William Harlan, was an established real estate developer and Napa Valley resort owner.
In 1984 he purchased a property including a forested area with steep hillsides, multiple elevations and exposures. Located west of Martha's Vineyard in Oakville, he proceeded to clear for
viticulture
Viticulture (from the Latin word for '' vine'') or winegrowing (wine growing) is the cultivation and harvesting of grapes. It is a branch of the science of horticulture. While the native territory of '' Vitis vinifera'', the common grape vine, ...
,
with Harlan's expressed ambition to "create a
first growth wine".
The first Harlan Estate wine label, a design inspired by a 19th-century engraving which was overseen by retired U.S. Treasury engraver Herb Fichter. It was 10 years in the making, from when Bill Harlan first started his search for an engraver to the release of the 1990 vintage in 1996.
[ On its qualities, Harlan has stated, "It was a label designed for a bottle that would sit on a table in candlelight, not on a store shelf."][
Described by Jancis Robinson as "one of the ten best wines of the twentieth century",][ and consistent acclaim from '']Wine Spectator
''Wine Spectator'' is an American lifestyle magazine that focuses on wine and wine culture, and gives out ratings to certain types of wine. It publishes 15 issues per year with content that includes news, articles, profiles, and general entertain ...
'',[ have further contributed to the wine's high prices and long waiting lists. Released at $850 per bottle, the price soon rises on the speculative market,][ and the cost may range from $1200 and up.][
The Director of Wine Making, Bob Levy, has worked with Harlan since 1983 when Harlan took part in founding the Merryvale Winery,][ and since 1989 the estate has retained ]Michel Rolland
Michel Rolland (born December 24, 1947) is a Bordeaux-based oenologist, with hundreds of clients across 13 countries and influencing wine style around the world. "It is his consultancies outside France that have set him apart from all but a handfu ...
as consultant enologist
Oenology (also enology; ) is the science and study of wine and winemaking. Oenology is distinct from viticulture, which is the science of the growing, cultivation, and harvesting of grapes. The English word oenology derives from the Greek word ' ...
.[ Construction of the current winery was completed in 2002.][
]
Production
The estate extends , of which approximately 15% of the land, is cultivated with the grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot
Petit Verdot is a variety of red wine grape, principally used in classic Bordeaux blends. It ripens much later than the other varieties in Bordeaux, often too late, so it fell out of favour in its home region. When it does ripen it adds tannin, ...
.
References
External links
Harlan Estate official site
{{coord, 38, 24, 54, N, 122, 24, 30, W, region:US-CA_type:landmark, display=title
Wineries in Napa Valley
1984 establishments in California