2002 Harlan Estate, Harlan Estate, Napa Valley 1x750ml

Vinous 100

The 2002 Harlan Estate is a stunner. Black cherry, plum, mocha, new leather, licorice and sweet oak all flesh out. Pliant and supple, with tremendous depth, the 2002 dazzles from start to finish. It is also one of the most vibrant, youthful 2002s I tasted for this report. I can only imagine how thrilling the 2002 must have been on release given how few wines in Napa Valley were truly exceptional at that time. [Antonio Galloni, 09/05/2024]

Anticipated maturity: 2022-2042

Robert Parker 100

The extraordinary Harlan Estate, which I awarded 100 points seven years ago, offers no justifiable reason to doubt its perfect score. It is still a baby, with an inky purple color and notes of smoky camphor intermixed with creme de cassis, Asian soy and a hint of cedar beginning to emerge as well as some espresso and subtle damp forest floor notes. The wine has awesome intensity, a full-bodied mouthfeel, a skyscraper-like texture, and a finish that goes on for close to a minute. This is a perfect wine, still youthful and young, and not even in full adolescence as of 2012. It has 40 or more years ahead of it, but should hit its plateau of full maturity in another 5-10 years. It is certainly one of the most showy , flamboyant and remarkable Harlan Estates made to date. (More recently, the 2007 tends to resemble this wine more than any other vintage I can think of.) Kudos to Bill Harlan! Tel. (707) 944-1441; Fax (707) 944-1444 [Robert M. Parker, Jr., 30/06/2012]