| Brand | Harlan |
| Appellation | Napa Valley, California |
| Vintage | 2015 |
| Oak Treatment | French Oak |
| Aging | more than 20 month |
| Total Varietal Composition % | Cabernet Sauvignon Blend |
Product details
Deep garnet-purple in color, it has sprung to life since I last tasted it, prancing out of the glass with showy red currant jelly, black cherry compote and warm cassis notes plus hints of cinnamon toast, wilted roses, unsmoked cigars and fragrant earth. Full-bodied, the palate is rich and impactful, featuring layer upon layer of red and black fruits with loads of mineral sparks. The structure is rock-solid with firm, rugged tannins that are beginning to come into line with the flamboyant fruit, finishing with great length and a lively lift.
After a dry and unusually warm winter, budbreak occurred in the third week of March, indicating an early beginning for the 2015 growing season. Colder weather during flowering led to lower fruit set, which, along with minimal rainfall throughout the previous three years, resulted in small yields. In late summer, several heat spells nudged temperatures above 100 degrees. These incidences were particularly challenging during August and September, and so the vines needed to use all available resources to maintain a regular ripening path. Harvest began very early—September 8th—but the cool climate of the territory tempered trajectories, allowing us to continue harvesting for four weeks. Nearly fifty-four harvest passes were completed, resulting in forty distinct vinifications. The wine showed generosity and balance from the beginning, while maintaining the innate drive so typical of Promontory.
Tasting Notes Deep red in the glass, the 2015 Promontory exhibits luminous nuance along the rim. Vivid on the nose, fresh notes of red fruits are surrounded by the characteristic scents of our territory: wet stone, graphite, lichen, and subtle laurel. The entry is gentle and elegant, building naturally into a lively and generous midpalate. Tannins are voluminous yet gain definition as they flow along the palate, lending strength and length to the wine. Despite its youth, the wine allows itself to be appreciated without hiding its latent potential—a promise for future decades.
