Reviews & Scores
The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Matriarch, which I had rated 93 in 2008, was fashioned from the lots culled out from the single-vineyard wines. This is the most open-knit and evolved of all these 2004s. Full-bodied with fabulously concentrated chocolaty, espresso, black currant and blackberry fruit notes, it is fragrant, silky smooth, broad, supple and altogether captivating. A brilliant project of Harlan Estates’ proprietor, Bill Harlan, these single-vineyard wines have been everything a Cabernet connoisseur could ever hope for since they were first released. Amazingly, these wines taste better with age than they did young, which is exactly what Harlan and his winemaking team of Bob Levy and consulting oenologist Michel Rolland are trying to prove.
WA94April 2014
This lower end wine from Harlan's stable is as good as most Napa wineries' best. It's beautiful to drink right now, showing class and distinction. Tasted alone, its burst of black currants and cherries is rich, without any trace of overripeness.
WE92December 2007
Rich, almost thick and syrupy, with loamy, savory currant and black olive flavors that are compact and focused, all presented in a supple, graceful style. Finishes long and persistent.
WS91October 2007
Good red-ruby. Plum, mocha and chocolate on the nose. Lush and seamless on the palate, with a sappy, liqueur-like raspberry flavor complicated by leather and smoke. There's something Bordeaux-like about this broad but lively wine.
ST92May 2007