Screaming Eagle
Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon
Oakville, Napa Valley, California, USA
In an evening of pleasant surprises, this may have been the biggest of them all. Perhaps it shouldn’t have been, but looking at the lineup of legends, can one blame me? Screaming Eagle is one of those wines you read about but rarely see, let alone get an opportunity to drink. An expensive, cult Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville? Hardly original these days (though it could be argued that Screaming Eagle was the OG for the “category”). But, this was not some anonymous OTT Napa Cab. This was a brilliant, impeccably balanced, varietally correct expression of Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville and perhaps, one of the best I’ve ever had.
The 1997 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing (still) and utterly brilliant with perfectly wisened black currants, brambles, dried leaf, tobacco, Poblano pepper, purple flowers, salmiakki, a lovely mix of cool and warm spices and organic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, silky and punctuated with pleasant minerals. Looking at the label and seeing 13.8% ABV brings a smile to my face. This wine has remarkable confidence. To say I’m impressed would be a gross understatement. I’m smitten. Drink now with some air and enjoy through 2047+.
In an evening of pleasant surprises, this may have been the biggest of them all. Perhaps it shouldn’t have been, but looking at the lineup of legends, can one blame me? Screaming Eagle is one of those wines you read about but rarely see, let alone get an opportunity to drink. An expensive, cult Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville? Hardly original these days (though it could be argued that Screaming Eagle was the OG for the “category”). But, this was not some anonymous OTT Napa Cab. This was a brilliant, impeccably balanced, varietally correct expression of Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville and perhaps, one of the best I’ve ever had.
The 1997 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing (still) and utterly brilliant with perfectly wisened black currants, brambles, dried leaf, tobacco, Poblano pepper, purple flowers, salmiakki, a lovely mix of cool and warm spices and organic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, silky and punctuated with pleasant minerals. Looking at the label and seeing 13.8% ABV brings a smile to my face. This wine has remarkable confidence. To say I’m impressed would be a gross understatement. I’m smitten. Drink now with some air and enjoy through 2047+.
2023 Screaming Eagle. Hit me up if you’re looking for some…. I’ll take care of you.
2023 Screaming Eagle. Hit me up if you’re looking for some…. I’ll take care of you.
Mar 12th, 2026I did it again… opened a baby. Needs another decade.. @Peter van den Besselaar @Freek Welter @John Van Trijp
I did it again… opened a baby. Needs another decade.. @Peter van den Besselaar @Freek Welter @John Van Trijp
Apr 27th, 2025
Wine nerd herd and Friday night in Iowa
Wine nerd herd and Friday night in Iowa
May 25th, 2019
Off the hook generosity from @Eric LaMasters this was a toddler but already showing extraordinary purity of fruit. Voluptuous texture, black currant and subtle integrated oak. I saved a little in a glass and it was my last taste before we left the restaurant. It was still accelerating.
Off the hook generosity from @Eric LaMasters this was a toddler but already showing extraordinary purity of fruit. Voluptuous texture, black currant and subtle integrated oak. I saved a little in a glass and it was my last taste before we left the restaurant. It was still accelerating.
May 18th, 2019
Sampled 4/29/2019 at “Taste of Oakville”.
95+ pts.
Sampled 4/29/2019 at “Taste of Oakville”.
95+ pts.
The 2016 Screaming Eagle is a positively stunning wine. An intense bouquet gives way to a wine of explosive energy and huge textural depth. Graphite, crushed rocks, menthol, sage and dark spice open up gradually in this reticent, brooding Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2016 is a towering, statuesque wine of the very highest level. That is the good news. The slightly less good news is that it will need a number of years in bottle to be at its very best. I wouldn't dream of touching a bottle anytime soon. The 2016 literally does scream, with tons of varietal Cabernet aromatics, flavors and structural drive. In a word: magnificent! (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2018)
The 2016 Screaming Eagle is a positively stunning wine. An intense bouquet gives way to a wine of explosive energy and huge textural depth. Graphite, crushed rocks, menthol, sage and dark spice open up gradually in this reticent, brooding Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2016 is a towering, statuesque wine of the very highest level. That is the good news. The slightly less good news is that it will need a number of years in bottle to be at its very best. I wouldn't dream of touching a bottle anytime soon. The 2016 literally does scream, with tons of varietal Cabernet aromatics, flavors and structural drive. In a word: magnificent! (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2018)
Apr 24th, 2019The 2016 is a wine I have followed pretty much over its entire life so far, from sampling the separate lots during fermentation, to tasting the component wines in barrel prior to blending, and most recently seeing that all come together in the finished wine. The 2016 has always been distinguished by its tremendous purity. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2018)
The 2016 is a wine I have followed pretty much over its entire life so far, from sampling the separate lots during fermentation, to tasting the component wines in barrel prior to blending, and most recently seeing that all come together in the finished wine. The 2016 has always been distinguished by its tremendous purity. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2018)
Jan 2nd, 2019
A very nice east side valley floor Cab. Don’t see a huge future.
A very nice east side valley floor Cab. Don’t see a huge future.
Nov 3rd, 2018