1997 Screaming Eagle, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 1x750ml

Vinous 91+

Medium ruby. Complex, individual nose combines black raspberry, cassis, blood orange, cocoa powder, bitter chocolate, smoke and earth. Intensely flavored, fresh and sharply delineated, with notes of cassis, blackberry, dark chocolate and meat, and strong oakiness. Leaner than the ’96 at a similar stage, but grew a bit denser and sweeter with aeration. Finishes rather oaky, with firm tannins and very good length. Conveys a strong impression of terroir, but I don’t yet find the texture or depth of the best vintages of Screaming Eagle. [Stephen Tanzer, 01/11/2000]

Robert Parker 100

It doesn’t get any better than 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon, a perfect wine. Representing the essence of cassis liqueur intermixed with blackberries, minerals, licorice, and toast, this full-bodied, multi-dimensional classic is fabulous, with extraordinary purity, symmetry, and a finish that lasts for nearly a minute. It has the overall equilibrium to evolve for nearly two decades, but it will be hard to resist upon release. Anticipated maturity: now-2020. Tel. (707) 944-0749; Fax (707) 944-9271 [Robert M. Parker, Jr., 01/01/2000]