Penultimate
Napa Valley Red Blend
Napa Valley, California, USA
The Penultimate is made from the young wines vs a deselection of their Promontory fruit.
The one thing I always notice about young vines is they don’t necessarily bring depth to Cabernet, yet they do bring amazing floral qualities.
Wine showed nicely ripe, lush fruits, has a more understated quality of excellent dry herbs & beautiful earthiness that come out in their Promontory wines. But this is a well crafted wine that will add a point or two in another 5-7 yrs and drink will for another 7-8 yrs.
Tasted at the winery 1/14/25.
This 17 was unaffected by the fires as they were finished harvesting before the fires began. I always recommend cross referencing a producers harvest dates and dates of the fires. You will find some good wines and well priced at retail or the secondary markets because many will write off the entire vintage under those circumstances. Cross reference & you’ll find you’re rewarded.
The Penultimate is made from the young wines vs a deselection of their Promontory fruit.
The one thing I always notice about young vines is they don’t necessarily bring depth to Cabernet, yet they do bring amazing floral qualities.
Wine showed nicely ripe, lush fruits, has a more understated quality of excellent dry herbs & beautiful earthiness that come out in their Promontory wines. But this is a well crafted wine that will add a point or two in another 5-7 yrs and drink will for another 7-8 yrs.
Tasted at the winery 1/14/25.
This 17 was unaffected by the fires as they were finished harvesting before the fires began. I always recommend cross referencing a producers harvest dates and dates of the fires. You will find some good wines and well priced at retail or the secondary markets because many will write off the entire vintage under those circumstances. Cross reference & you’ll find you’re rewarded.
Silky smooth tannins, ripe black fruit - blackberry, black cherry, blackcurrant - violet, anise, licorice, cedar, clove, pencil shavings, vanilla, tobacco, leather.
Silky smooth tannins, ripe black fruit - blackberry, black cherry, blackcurrant - violet, anise, licorice, cedar, clove, pencil shavings, vanilla, tobacco, leather.
1 person found it helpfulJul 23rd, 2023
+1 hour decant(decent chunky sediment). A splendid dark garnet color with little bricking. On the nose: Seductive notes of perfumed red fruit, dark chocolate, sandalwood, herbaceous, menthol, stewed meat. Taste: opulent, layered, silky wine with blackberry, chocolate espresso, dark plum, graphite, spice, and a licorice black tea slightly astringent long finish. 2nd wine for Harlan Promontory.
+1 hour decant(decent chunky sediment). A splendid dark garnet color with little bricking. On the nose: Seductive notes of perfumed red fruit, dark chocolate, sandalwood, herbaceous, menthol, stewed meat. Taste: opulent, layered, silky wine with blackberry, chocolate espresso, dark plum, graphite, spice, and a licorice black tea slightly astringent long finish. 2nd wine for Harlan Promontory.
Oct 3rd, 2025
Best of the night. For whatever reason I think it’s hard to shine bring on a night like Thanksgiving. Lot of food with sometimes strong flavors or light flavor. It’s hard to hit it right and I love aromatics and the setting does lend itself well to that either.
Best of the night. For whatever reason I think it’s hard to shine bring on a night like Thanksgiving. Lot of food with sometimes strong flavors or light flavor. It’s hard to hit it right and I love aromatics and the setting does lend itself well to that either.
Nov 29th, 2024
1.5 hour decant(decent cloudy sediment). A majestic inky dark purplish magenta color. On the nose: very aromatic with blackberry and blue fruit, milk chocolate, nutmeg, wet forest floor. Taste: black cherry, black raspberry, dark chocolate, baking spice, crushed rocks and a nice silky lingering finish. YUM!
2nd wine from Harlan Promontory winery
1.5 hour decant(decent cloudy sediment). A majestic inky dark purplish magenta color. On the nose: very aromatic with blackberry and blue fruit, milk chocolate, nutmeg, wet forest floor. Taste: black cherry, black raspberry, dark chocolate, baking spice, crushed rocks and a nice silky lingering finish. YUM!
2nd wine from Harlan Promontory winery
-13 through -15 vintages. The -14 was my favorite- medium weight- smooth and gravelly. The -15 was all about big sweet fruit and the -13 was tannic and tight. Really special wines.
-13 through -15 vintages. The -14 was my favorite- medium weight- smooth and gravelly. The -15 was all about big sweet fruit and the -13 was tannic and tight. Really special wines.
Apr 9th, 2022
Nick brought something special 🍷
Nick brought something special 🍷
Dec 25th, 2021Dryer , spice mid palette , dark berries.
Needs some air time. After 30 mins, some more fruits developed. Fairly smooth though really needs some time or decanting. 9.1+
Dryer , spice mid palette , dark berries.
Needs some air time. After 30 mins, some more fruits developed. Fairly smooth though really needs some time or decanting. 9.1+