Promontory Vertical 2017 - 2020
In the early 1980s, before Will Harlan was born, his father, H. William (Bill) Harlan, was hiking in the mountains above Napa Valley and stumbled upon a hidden valley. It was isolated and wild, home to a long-abandoned mineshaft, a bootlegging still and steeply sloped hillsides studded with trees, rocks and vegetation. Bill Harlan knew immediately that he wanted to purchase the land, but it wasn’t until nearly 30 years later, in 2008, that the remote valley came up for sale. Harlan snatched up the property, adding it to his other already iconic brands Harlan Estate and BOND. The new venture was called Promontory, in honor of the natural formation that hides the valley from the rest of Napa. Building a dream of this scale requires a commitment much greater than that of one individual or even one lifetime. It is a pursuit that requires the experience and wisdom of the founding generation, the preparedness and conviction of the current generation, with consideration for the promise of the next. Promontory extends the Harlan pioneering spirit of discovering something that can reveal a glimpse of the sublime.
2017 Promontory Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend
98 Points Decanter - "Lovely fragrance to the nose, smells inviting. Lifted and fresh straight away, this has focus and is quite straight at the moment, linear with a precision that keeps it quite tight from start to finish. You can sense the detail and the definition to the fruit - herbal spiced red berry fruits with tons of liquorice giving a sweet, sticky aspect and some fresh mint notes too that come in towards the end. Feels well handled, it's quietly confident with no excess, it certainly doesn't shout loudly but it's well balanced and captivating. Markedly different to some of the other Napa Cabernets."
2018 Promontory Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend
100 Points Decanter - "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."
2019 Promontory Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend
100 Points Jeb Dunnuck - "Lastly, the 2019 Promontory matches the perfect 2016 from this estate and is legendary stuff. Ripe black fruits, chocolatey, lead pencil shaving, roasted herbs, and tobacco are just some of its nuances, and this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered, concentrated mid-palate, ultra-fine tannins, and an incredible finish. It doesn’t get any better. This has the class of a First Growth from Bordeaux paired with a Napa sense of texture and fruit."
2020 Promontory Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend
100 Points The Wine Independent - "Incredible aromas of blackcurrants, black cherries, black olives, lavender, violets, hazelnut and black tea. Forest floor. So complex. Full-bodied with wonderfully integrated tannins that are ultra-fine and melt into the wine, spreading across the palate. Perfectly meshed. This has real presence and energy. Cool wet stones, mountain air, and dark fruits make up the palate. November 2024 release. It will need three to four years to come around."
