2018 Promontory, Napa Valley, Bottle (750ml)
$995
100VM100LP100JS
Critic key
LP = Lisa Perrotti-BrownVM = Vinous MediaJS = James Suckling
Product Description
VM100 "The 2018 Promontory is another riveting wine from the Harlan family and winemaker David Cilli. It has been nothing short of spectacular in two recent tastings. "What is a 100-point wine?" I am often asked. Well, it is a wine that is complete, where nothing sticks out, and where all the elements are in perfect balance. The 2018 Promontory is a great example. A wine of stature and breadth, the 2018 covers every corner of the palate. Beguiling aromatics and precise, sculpted tannins - so hard to achieve in a mountain wine - round things off in style. Dark fruit, gravel, spice, licorice and leather add subtle layers of nuance. Today, the 2018 comes across as a more refined version of the 2016. It is a magnificent wine in every way." AG for VM Feb 2023
LP100 "Bottled in early 2021, the deep purple-black colored 2018 Promontory soars with bold black fruits—warm cassis, blackberry pie, and chocolate-covered cherries—leading to wafts of violets, tar, iron ore, and forest floor with a touch of black truffles. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is super intense, bright, and crunchy, with a rock-solid backbone of firm, finely-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing incredibly long and mineral-laced. While it unquestionably displays its Napa Valley DNA, this is a wine of such singular expression and evocative beauty it’s sure to have you picking your jaw up off the floor. Allow it 5-6 years in the cellar to thoroughly fan its tail and then drink it over the next 30+ years." LPB for TWI Mar 2022
JS100 "Violets and blueberries with cloves and pine cones, following through to a medium to full body with tight, seamless tannins, like finely cut diamonds. It’s very closed and reserved at the end. Weightless. Needs plenty of time to open. Unique wine." JS Apr 2022
DR100 "Gorgeous blackcurrant bramble fruit tones on the nose. A hint of plum, juniper, allspice, cinnamon, pepper and violets. Stylish and compelling, a real sense of purity from the first mouthful. So carefully controlled and delivered. Tannins are ample but finely textured and well integrated - this really stands out in the tasting and is a step-up in terms of nuance, complexity and character. Tannins coat the mouth in a powdery chalky minerality while the subtle density and quiet muscular power gives the base and focus. Nothing stands out, you know you're in California which is excellent, but it's not overt or too much. Tastes sophisticated, stylish and overall expensive! A thrilling wine that really shines and is all the more likeable because it's not showing off or shouting too loudly. Liquorice and tar end the wine on a savoury note, suggesting long cellaring and long ageing potential. I love it. A class above. Director Will Harlan, winemaker David Cilli." GH for DR Feb 2023
LP100 "Bottled in early 2021, the deep purple-black colored 2018 Promontory soars with bold black fruits—warm cassis, blackberry pie, and chocolate-covered cherries—leading to wafts of violets, tar, iron ore, and forest floor with a touch of black truffles. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is super intense, bright, and crunchy, with a rock-solid backbone of firm, finely-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing incredibly long and mineral-laced. While it unquestionably displays its Napa Valley DNA, this is a wine of such singular expression and evocative beauty it’s sure to have you picking your jaw up off the floor. Allow it 5-6 years in the cellar to thoroughly fan its tail and then drink it over the next 30+ years." LPB for TWI Mar 2022
JS100 "Violets and blueberries with cloves and pine cones, following through to a medium to full body with tight, seamless tannins, like finely cut diamonds. It’s very closed and reserved at the end. Weightless. Needs plenty of time to open. Unique wine." JS Apr 2022
DR100 "Gorgeous blackcurrant bramble fruit tones on the nose. A hint of plum, juniper, allspice, cinnamon, pepper and violets. Stylish and compelling, a real sense of purity from the first mouthful. So carefully controlled and delivered. Tannins are ample but finely textured and well integrated - this really stands out in the tasting and is a step-up in terms of nuance, complexity and character. Tannins coat the mouth in a powdery chalky minerality while the subtle density and quiet muscular power gives the base and focus. Nothing stands out, you know you're in California which is excellent, but it's not overt or too much. Tastes sophisticated, stylish and overall expensive! A thrilling wine that really shines and is all the more likeable because it's not showing off or shouting too loudly. Liquorice and tar end the wine on a savoury note, suggesting long cellaring and long ageing potential. I love it. A class above. Director Will Harlan, winemaker David Cilli." GH for DR Feb 2023