Above 30 bottles per lot
Details
SCREAMING EAGLE
Screaming Eagle is likely Napa Valley's smallest winery. The wine made from only one acre of vines in a small stone winery in Oakville has captured the hearts and certainly the wallets of wine collectors across the globe. Available only through the mailing list, the elusive, yet legendary Screaming Eagle reaches extraordinary prices based on its cult following. The vines are Cabernet Sauvignon primarily, but Merlot and Cabernet Franc are blended in small amounts. Winemaker Heidi Barrett uses small, half-ton fermenters, plenty of punching down with no fining or filtration to make a concentrated, yet pure version of the fruit. The wine is aged in 65 new French oak barrels in a small cave for almost two years.
This vertical selection offers those who missed the coveted mailing list spot, a unique opportunity to compare vintages and collect eagerly.
Screaming Eagle, Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
--Vintage 1993(3)
The 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon is a remarkable wine, not dissimilar from the 1992. The 1993 reveals an opaque purple color, as well as a rich, jammy, pure nose of blackcurrant/cassis fruit intertwined with scents of minerals and high quality, spicy oak. The wine offers a cascade of lavishly rich, opulently textured, super-extracted fruit that is beautifully buttressed by oak and sweet tannin. Remarkably long, pure, and rich, this is a compelling Cabernet Sauvignon with no hard edges. Perfectly balanced, marvelously concentrated, and exciting, look for this wine to drink well young, but keep for 25 years." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #108 (December 1996)
--Vintage 1994(3)
"The 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon is performing even better this year than it was last. I still believe the 1995 has a slight edge, but that may be more noticeable 8-10 years from now than at present. The opaque purple-colored 1994's forward, gorgeously-scented nose offers up a smorgasbord of black fruits, along with a subtle dosage of toasty oak and minerals. Full-bodied, with a seamless, lush texture, this is a profoundly generous wine with everything going for it. The finish lasts for 35 seconds. As gorgeous as it is, this wine can be drunk young, or cellared for 20-25 years. What makes Screaming Eagle such an extraordinary wine is its remarkably sweet, lavishly rich, opulently-textured, super-extracted black currant and black cherry fruitiness. Moreover, they are admirably pure, layered, velvety, and accessible. As delicious as these wines are young, they should age for 20 or more years, because of their extraordinary equilibrium. As with so many of these wines, the only way to latch onto a bottle or two is to get on the winery's mailing list." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #114 (December 1997)
--Vintage 1995(3)
"The 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon is as close to a perfect wine as I could hope to taste. This opaque purple-colored wine exhibits a sensational purity of black currant fruit, intermixed with a notion of raspberries, violets, and well-disguised sweet vanillin. Full-bodied, with remarkable intensity, exquisite symmetry, and a mid-palate and finish to die for, this is a compelling, astonishingly seductive Cabernet Sauvignon that can be drunk now, or cellared for 20-25 years. I may have done this wine a disservice by not giving it the big 3-digit score. As I have tried so hard to articulate in past reviews, what makes these wines so stunning is the black currant/cassis fruit. Screaming Eagle may be the most extravagantly pure and rich expression of cassis one can find ... short of drinking cassis liqueur. There is an unbelievable purity to these wines, as well as phenomenal concentration and richness, yet in no sense are they heavy, ponderous, or out of balance." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #120 (December 1998)
--Vintage 1996(3)
"The newly-released 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon reveals lots of structure, an opaque purple color, and the hallmark blackberry and cassis liqueur-like notes. Silky-textured, fabulously-concentrated, and gorgeously-balanced, it has every component part - acidity, alcohol, tannin, and extract - flawlessly presented. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2020." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #126 (January 2000)
--Vintage 1997(3)
"It doesn't get any better than 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon, a perfect wine. Representing the essence of cassis liqueur intermixed with blackberries, minerals, licorice, and toast, this full-bodied, multi-dimensional classic is fabulous, with extraordinary purity, symmetry, and a finish that lasts for nearly a minute. It has the overall equilibrium to evolve for nearly two decades, but it will be hard to resist upon release. Anticipated maturity: now-2020." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #126 (January 2000)
--Vintage 1998(3)
"The 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon, which was bottled in late June, has turned out even better that I thought last year. It boasts a saturated ruby/purple color in addition to an expressive bouquet of cassis, minerals, and smoke. This multi-textured, round wine exhibits sweet, well-integrated tannin, a great mid-palate and finish, as well as spectacular purity and palate presence. Consume it now and over the next 15-20 years. There are 500 cases of this wine. As most readers know, this wine has become the ultimate collector's Cabernet Sauvignon, routinely fetching $800 to as much as $2000 a bottle at wine auctions. Of course, this makes no sense to me or Screaming Eagle's owner, the amiable Jean Phillips, who sells the wine for $125 a bottle. Unquestionably an exquisite wine, it offers remarkably rich creme de cassis aromas and flavors in an unmanipulated, compelling fashion. The winemaking is assisted by well-known consultant Heidi Barrett. From the red, iron-rich soils of the Oakville District, the wine is aged in 65 new French oak for 18-20 months." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #132 (December 2000)
--Vintage 1999(3)
"The bottled 1999 (a blend of 88 Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 Merlot, and 2 Cabernet Franc) is as profound as I predicted a year and a half ago. It boasts an opaque purple color along with a gorgeously pure nose of creme de cassis, charcoal, and floral characteristics. The wine is opulent, dense, and rich, with exceptional purity, a viscous texture, and impressive underlying tannin that frames its large but elegant personality. Not surprisingly, this is a candidate for the wine of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2020." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #142 (August 2002)
--Vintage 2001(3)
"The 2001 (only 450 cases) is a blend of 88 Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 Merlot, and 2 Cabernet Franc. Dense purple-colored with a classic nose of black currant liqueur intermixed with licorice, a touch of earth, smoke, and discreet toast, this is a powerful, tannic, dense, young offering revealing Screaming Eagle's classic trademarks of fragrance, purity, nobility, and an extraordinary intensity of black currant fruit in a full-bodied, seamless style. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025+." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #157 (February 2005)
--Vintage 2002(3)
"The 2002 is reminiscent of the 1992, exhibiting a precociousness out of the gate, but capable of lasting 20-25 years. Deep purple-colored to the rim, with a gorgeously pure nose of creme de cassis with a hint of sweet cherry, licorice, and smoke, this wine is beautifully voluptuous, full-bodied, yet incredibly elegant, with a finish that goes on for close to a minute. It is more showy than either the 2001 or the 2003." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #157 (February 2005)
--Vintage 2003(3)
"The 2003 has been in bottle for over a year and continues to be a beautiful wine, dense ruby/purple in color with wonderful purity of creme de cassis. It is that black currant liqueur purity, richness, and depth that is one of the shining characteristics of this wine. Extraordinarily pure, the wine is full-bodied, opulent, and concentrated, but still young and primary. There is plenty of tannin underlying the wealth of fruit and, if anything, the wine seems to have firmed up since I had it last year. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2020+." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #168 (December 2006)
All in original wooden cases
Above 30 bottles per lot
Screaming Eagle is likely Napa Valley's smallest winery. The wine made from only one acre of vines in a small stone winery in Oakville has captured the hearts and certainly the wallets of wine collectors across the globe. Available only through the mailing list, the elusive, yet legendary Screaming Eagle reaches extraordinary prices based on its cult following. The vines are Cabernet Sauvignon primarily, but Merlot and Cabernet Franc are blended in small amounts. Winemaker Heidi Barrett uses small, half-ton fermenters, plenty of punching down with no fining or filtration to make a concentrated, yet pure version of the fruit. The wine is aged in 65 new French oak barrels in a small cave for almost two years.
This vertical selection offers those who missed the coveted mailing list spot, a unique opportunity to compare vintages and collect eagerly.
Screaming Eagle, Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
--Vintage 1993(3)
The 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon is a remarkable wine, not dissimilar from the 1992. The 1993 reveals an opaque purple color, as well as a rich, jammy, pure nose of blackcurrant/cassis fruit intertwined with scents of minerals and high quality, spicy oak. The wine offers a cascade of lavishly rich, opulently textured, super-extracted fruit that is beautifully buttressed by oak and sweet tannin. Remarkably long, pure, and rich, this is a compelling Cabernet Sauvignon with no hard edges. Perfectly balanced, marvelously concentrated, and exciting, look for this wine to drink well young, but keep for 25 years." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #108 (December 1996)
--Vintage 1994(3)
"The 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon is performing even better this year than it was last. I still believe the 1995 has a slight edge, but that may be more noticeable 8-10 years from now than at present. The opaque purple-colored 1994's forward, gorgeously-scented nose offers up a smorgasbord of black fruits, along with a subtle dosage of toasty oak and minerals. Full-bodied, with a seamless, lush texture, this is a profoundly generous wine with everything going for it. The finish lasts for 35 seconds. As gorgeous as it is, this wine can be drunk young, or cellared for 20-25 years. What makes Screaming Eagle such an extraordinary wine is its remarkably sweet, lavishly rich, opulently-textured, super-extracted black currant and black cherry fruitiness. Moreover, they are admirably pure, layered, velvety, and accessible. As delicious as these wines are young, they should age for 20 or more years, because of their extraordinary equilibrium. As with so many of these wines, the only way to latch onto a bottle or two is to get on the winery's mailing list." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #114 (December 1997)
--Vintage 1995(3)
"The 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon is as close to a perfect wine as I could hope to taste. This opaque purple-colored wine exhibits a sensational purity of black currant fruit, intermixed with a notion of raspberries, violets, and well-disguised sweet vanillin. Full-bodied, with remarkable intensity, exquisite symmetry, and a mid-palate and finish to die for, this is a compelling, astonishingly seductive Cabernet Sauvignon that can be drunk now, or cellared for 20-25 years. I may have done this wine a disservice by not giving it the big 3-digit score. As I have tried so hard to articulate in past reviews, what makes these wines so stunning is the black currant/cassis fruit. Screaming Eagle may be the most extravagantly pure and rich expression of cassis one can find ... short of drinking cassis liqueur. There is an unbelievable purity to these wines, as well as phenomenal concentration and richness, yet in no sense are they heavy, ponderous, or out of balance." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #120 (December 1998)
--Vintage 1996(3)
"The newly-released 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon reveals lots of structure, an opaque purple color, and the hallmark blackberry and cassis liqueur-like notes. Silky-textured, fabulously-concentrated, and gorgeously-balanced, it has every component part - acidity, alcohol, tannin, and extract - flawlessly presented. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2020." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #126 (January 2000)
--Vintage 1997(3)
"It doesn't get any better than 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon, a perfect wine. Representing the essence of cassis liqueur intermixed with blackberries, minerals, licorice, and toast, this full-bodied, multi-dimensional classic is fabulous, with extraordinary purity, symmetry, and a finish that lasts for nearly a minute. It has the overall equilibrium to evolve for nearly two decades, but it will be hard to resist upon release. Anticipated maturity: now-2020." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #126 (January 2000)
--Vintage 1998(3)
"The 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon, which was bottled in late June, has turned out even better that I thought last year. It boasts a saturated ruby/purple color in addition to an expressive bouquet of cassis, minerals, and smoke. This multi-textured, round wine exhibits sweet, well-integrated tannin, a great mid-palate and finish, as well as spectacular purity and palate presence. Consume it now and over the next 15-20 years. There are 500 cases of this wine. As most readers know, this wine has become the ultimate collector's Cabernet Sauvignon, routinely fetching $800 to as much as $2000 a bottle at wine auctions. Of course, this makes no sense to me or Screaming Eagle's owner, the amiable Jean Phillips, who sells the wine for $125 a bottle. Unquestionably an exquisite wine, it offers remarkably rich creme de cassis aromas and flavors in an unmanipulated, compelling fashion. The winemaking is assisted by well-known consultant Heidi Barrett. From the red, iron-rich soils of the Oakville District, the wine is aged in 65 new French oak for 18-20 months." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #132 (December 2000)
--Vintage 1999(3)
"The bottled 1999 (a blend of 88 Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 Merlot, and 2 Cabernet Franc) is as profound as I predicted a year and a half ago. It boasts an opaque purple color along with a gorgeously pure nose of creme de cassis, charcoal, and floral characteristics. The wine is opulent, dense, and rich, with exceptional purity, a viscous texture, and impressive underlying tannin that frames its large but elegant personality. Not surprisingly, this is a candidate for the wine of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2020." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #142 (August 2002)
--Vintage 2001(3)
"The 2001 (only 450 cases) is a blend of 88 Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 Merlot, and 2 Cabernet Franc. Dense purple-colored with a classic nose of black currant liqueur intermixed with licorice, a touch of earth, smoke, and discreet toast, this is a powerful, tannic, dense, young offering revealing Screaming Eagle's classic trademarks of fragrance, purity, nobility, and an extraordinary intensity of black currant fruit in a full-bodied, seamless style. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025+." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #157 (February 2005)
--Vintage 2002(3)
"The 2002 is reminiscent of the 1992, exhibiting a precociousness out of the gate, but capable of lasting 20-25 years. Deep purple-colored to the rim, with a gorgeously pure nose of creme de cassis with a hint of sweet cherry, licorice, and smoke, this wine is beautifully voluptuous, full-bodied, yet incredibly elegant, with a finish that goes on for close to a minute. It is more showy than either the 2001 or the 2003." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #157 (February 2005)
--Vintage 2003(3)
"The 2003 has been in bottle for over a year and continues to be a beautiful wine, dense ruby/purple in color with wonderful purity of creme de cassis. It is that black currant liqueur purity, richness, and depth that is one of the shining characteristics of this wine. Extraordinarily pure, the wine is full-bodied, opulent, and concentrated, but still young and primary. There is plenty of tannin underlying the wealth of fruit and, if anything, the wine seems to have firmed up since I had it last year. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2020+." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #168 (December 2006)
All in original wooden cases
Above 30 bottles per lot