2009 Screaming Eagle, The Flight, Oakville, Bottle (750ml)

"A beautiful expression of the year, the 2009 Second Flight emerges from the glass with intense layers of fruit in a style that very much recalls Screaming Eagle. Today, the 2009 comes across as a bit more structured and tannic than previous efforts. Some of that may be the vintage, but I imagine the addition of 9% Cabernet Franc over Merlot to the blend is also a contributing factor. Either way, the 2009 is a striking Second Flight endowed with serious depth, purity and finesse. Sweet red berries, crushed flowers and sweet spices are some of the many nuances that are woven together in this appealing, totally delicious wine. The 2009 is 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc." AG 93 Pts for TWA Dec 2012

Antonio Galloni for RobertParker.com writes, "I have had a number of fabulous tastings at Screaming Eagle, but this was one of the most memorable. The biggest news at Screaming Eagle is the release of a second wine, a project that has been in the works for a number of years. Owner Stan Kroenke and his team wanted to make sure their new wine was up to the estate’s standards, and have only released the first vintages over the last few months. I tasted all four vintages of Screaming Eagle’s second label, Second Flight, next to Screaming Eagle itself, which allowed for a fascinating set of comparisons of both wines across a number of vintages. Like its big brother, Second Flight is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine, but here the Merlot plays a much more significant role. Regardless, what comes through most is the signature of these sites as seen through the lenses of the respective vintages. Readers might also enjoy taking a look at a recent video I shot with Winemaker Nic Gislason during the 2012 harvest that we recently posted on our site." Published: Dec 26, 2012