Screaming Eagle, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, 2021

3-OWC Available at $9000 as of Sept 28, 2024 (inquire)

Overview of the Wine
Screaming Eagle is one of Napa Valley's smallest wineries. The little stone winery is perched on a rocky hillside in the Oakville Appellation overlooking the vineyard planted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The wine is aged in 65% new French oak barrels for almost two years. Annual production is approximately 500 cases with most wine sold directly to consumers via a mailing list. The winery's first release was approximately 200 cases of the 1992 vintage.

To understand the wines made by The Hilt, one might need to come visit the hard and harsh conditions under which they are born. The unobstructed, ocean facing east-west valley known as Sta. Rita Hills Valley is a complex AVA. One could divide it into four quadrants: northern-facing, southern-facing, close to the ocean, and further inland from the ocean. With such a frame, The Hilt’s favorite vineyards are in the northern-facing, closest to the ocean, windswept quadrant. These sites are the worst place for a grape grower, but the best ones for a winemaker. Rancho Salsipuedes, where The Hilt wines make their home, provides vineyards planted on land nearly 13 unobstructed miles from the ocean on the west. This unique, large and sprawling property offers a range of altitudes, aspects, soil types, and microclimates, giving winemaker Matt Dees a patchwork of vineyard parcels from which to select grapes and create wines with distinctive styles.

Diverse though it may be, Salsipuedes possesses some aspects that remain consistent: the land has poor soils that force vines to dig deep; there are powerful, whipping winds and a cold maritime climate that allow grapes on the property to ripen slowly and retain acidity despite the warm daytime sun; and the vines on the property are low in vigor, allowing them to produce low yields of concentrated, complex grapes. It is with these three important components – poor soils, whipping winds and a cool maritime climate along with low vigor vines – that Salsipuedes defines itself in the Sta. Rita Hills.

Grape / Blend
Cabernet Sauvignon

Origin
Oakville, Napa Valley, California

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
The 2021 Screaming Eagle captivates the senses with its remarkable depth and complexity. Gleaming in the glass with an intense, opaque hue, it entices with a seductive aroma that unfolds layers of dark cherries, ripe plums, and blackberries, interwoven with nuances of mocha, grilled herbs, and leather. Each inhalation reveals new dimensions of its character, inviting the taster to delve deeper into its intricacies. On the palate, it delivers a symphony of flavors, with luscious fruit concentration balanced by refined tannins and well-integrated acidity. Notes of pure cassis and dark fruits dominate, accompanied by hints of graphite and lead pencil, adding depth and structure to the wine. The finish is long and lingering, leaving a lasting impression of elegance and sophistication. The 2021 Screaming Eagle is a true masterpiece, showcasing the exceptional quality and finesse that define this iconic Napa Valley estate.

98-100 Points - Vinous
Tasted from barrel, the 2021 Screaming Eagle dazzles from start to finish. Dark, savory and explosive, the 2021 deftly marries power and finesse like few vintages I can remember tasting. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, grilled herbs, leather and a kick of spice all build in this wonderfully vibrant, layered Screaming Eagle. There's plenty of tannin, but it is elegantly built into the wine's fabric

96-98+ Points - Jeb Dunnuck
As with the Flight, I was able to taste through multiple barrels destined for the 2021 Screaming Eagle. Pure cassis and assorted dark fruits, some classic graphite and lead pencil notes, as well as a beautiful sense of minerality were present in all of the barrels, and this will be a medium to full-bodied, elegant expression of Screaming Eagle. 96-98+

Product size: 750ml