Hot Release: 100-Pointed Promontory 2020

This morning, we saw the release of one of California's greatest wines, Promontory, from the 2020 vintage. This is one of those wines that we strongly recommend buying on release. We see it once a year and then usually not again until the next release. 

100 Points - "There is so much energy here, it practically vibrates in your mouth! A masterpiece." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

"The team at Harlan and Promontory has managed to pull off a level of quality that no one else has in 2020. The Harlan Estate and Promontory flagships are not only astonishingly great achievements, but they are also game changers." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Promontory, founded by Bill Harlan of Harlan Estate, is one of Napa Valley’s most prestigious and distinctive wineries. Acquired in 2008, the estate is set on rugged, untamed terrain in Oakville’s southwestern ridge, featuring dramatic elevation changes and diverse volcanic and sedimentary soils. With a cooler microclimate influenced by the Pacific Ocean, the vineyards are farmed using sustainable and holistic principles. The Cabernet Sauvignon-driven wines, first released in 2015 from the 2009 vintage, merge power, finesse, and terroir expression, achieving critical acclaim.

The 2020 Promontory is a game-changer for Napa Valley, defying expectations of the challenging vintage. The Harlan team made the bold decision to harvest earlier than ever, avoiding the devastating Labor Day heatwave and Glass Fire. As a result, the wine retains incredible freshness, structure, and purity, standing apart from many 2020 Napa Cabernets. It offers refined tannins, vibrant minerality, and an energetic core, showcasing the estate’s commitment to precision and terroir-driven winemaking.

Promontory has always been known for its tension and earthy minerality, and in 2020, it reaches new heights of finesse. The tannins, while present, are more polished and integrated, allowing the wine’s depth and elegance to shine. With its bright, layered complexity and remarkable balance, the 2020 Promontory is one of the standout successes of the vintage, a testament to meticulous vineyard management and the team’s forward-thinking approach. A true collector’s wine.

For those wanting further reading, here is LPB's article.

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Promontory 2020 

On Allocation - email [email protected] for a price and allocation.

100 Points | The Wine Independent, Lisa Perrotti-Brown

The 2020 Promontory is deep garnet-purple in color. It soars out of the glass with notes of fresh black cherries, crushed blueberries, and kirsch, followed by hints of wet slate, Indian spices, candied violets, and fragrant earth. The medium to full-bodied palate is tightly knit, with so many mineral and floral nuances intertwined with the red and black fruits, supported by very firm, very fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and perfumed. There is so much energy here, it practically vibrates in your mouth! A masterpiece.

100 Points | The Drink Business

Utterly beguiling. Gracious, calm, relaxed, composed, a little introvert and reticent but exuding class and balance and harmony even in its slight introspectiveness. Delightfully subtle. The delicate floral notes are the first to show – peony and lilac. Then the fruits. Cassis. Blueberries. And there’s a lovely slight stalky leafiness that really brings out the character of the Cabernet. So gracious. So utterly beautiful. Exquisitely balanced. There’s a diaphanous sheen and gloss to this that is so beguiling, and it is so much less demonstrative in its intensity and concentration than any other Napa wine. I’m in raptures. Note the low alcohol. This was picked early – so early in fact that the forest fires had yet to begin.

99 Points | James Suckling

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. Try after 2028.
98 Points | Jane Anson Inside BordeauxIntense purple-garnet. Bold and ripe aromas of small red and black fruits, lightly floral, truffle, cocoa, toasted spices and nuts. Silky fine tannins, elegant structure, lush with a delicious freshness. This vintage was marked by smart decision making - harvest was three weeks earlier than usual, so five days before the Glass Fire began. Will Harlan owner, David Cili winemaker, 80% new French oak for ageing.