2023 Screaming Eagle, The Flight, Oakville, Case of 3 Btls

DR99 "Screaming Eagle's The Flight, the winery's Merlot-driven bottling, is dynamite in 2023. At the pull of the cork, the perfume that lifts out of the glass on this wine is something extraordinary. It really is so remarkably aromatic, with red rose, violet, black cherry fruit, and cherry pit notes, along with a beautiful undercurrent of cedarwood and earth. The palate is super expressive, with a building richness kicked off my a foundation of ultra-fine-grained tannins laced with dark, unsweetened cocoa powder. There's a remarkable density on the mid-palate, and an ultra-pure expression of plum, fleshy cherry, and pomegranate seeds. A stony mineral elegance shines through under all of that fruit and texture. The tannins present like a dense, thick carpet of velvet, and resolve beautifully over a minute of mouthwatering intensity. (Drink between 2026-2050)" Jonathan Cristaldi for Decanter, Jan 2026

JD98 "Absolutely gorgeous and the best vintage of this cuvée I've tasted here, the 2023 Flight shows a deep purple, almost opaque hue and offers a stunning perfume of black cherries, cassis, spring flowers, hints of chalky minerality, and liquid violets. It's absolutely brilliant on the palate, with medium to full body, a pure, graceful, layered mouthfeel, silky yet building tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It's one of the finest Merlots I've tasted from Napa and will have 20-25 years of longevity. Drink 2025-2050. (Drink between 2025-2050)" Jeb Dunnuck, Dec 2025