Okay. Again the same dilemma. If a wine does not meet expectation is it basically bad (for me)? 🤔 because in life everything is relative, right? Any thoughts on puzzling matter??The wine was well balanced, dark red fruit flavors, polished, smooth tannins, good intensity and concentration, but limited length and lacking any meaningful complexity… Eight year old left bank Bordeaux. A fourth or fifth growth winery, maybe not, can’t remember for sure. Do remember what I paid though, $120. Definitely too much for what we experienced this evening…. as to our expectations. — 2 days ago
Powerful wine. Lots of oomph here. It’s bold and heavy. But my personal dislike of Cab Franc is holding this review back. Ignore me. I rarely like any wine north of 10% Cab Franc. This was still good and it drank easily. But it lacked something to me to be truly exceptional. The fruit seems much more mature than 8 yrs. The color was quite dark. Nice perfume. — 24 days ago
I blinded some of my fellow WSET Diplomates on this and one astutely observed “it tastes like Opus One” whilst others thought it was too Old World in style to be such a thing. In short, we all liked it better than we have Opus One, if you can believe it. Believe it. — 2 months ago
Plush and rounded. Sweet fruit. Lush and long. Very good shape. Still vibrant — 6 days ago
Harlan wine dinner at Quince with Will Harlan celebrating their Estate's 40th anniversary.
WINE
2020 Harlan Estate
2016 Harlan Estate
2011 Harlan Estate
2007 Harlan Estate
2002 Harlan Estate
1996 Harlan Estate
FOOD
spot prawn crudo
Smoked squab
Don Watson farm lamb
Spit roasted rib of beef
24 month aged comte souffle — 20 days ago
Bruce Dunbar
The ‘05 Hayne Petite Syrah is still vibrant nearly 20 years on. Inky, dark chocolate in color with graphite, Kirsch, earth and a hint of evergreen on the nose. Smooth and mouth-filling, loaded with dark fruit, even a touch of cocoa. Super long finish on red fruit tanginess. Probably still has years left if you can get your hands on any. — a day ago