2016 Bond (Harlan) ‘St. Eden’ Red Blend

JD100 Another perfect wine in the lineup is the 2016 St. Eden, which comes from a hillside of red volcanic soils just outside of Oakville. As with the 2015, wine doesn’t get any better, and this inky hued 2016 offers up a smorgasbord of crème de cassis, blackberries, crushed rocks, toasty oak, new leather, and tobacco. Deep, full-bodied, powerful yet also incredibly elegant, it offers pleasure even today yet will benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and cruise for 30 years or more
WA98 The 2016 St. Eden has a deep garnet-purple color and gives up vivacious notes of crushed blackberries, warm plums and cassis plus hints of dried leaves, forest floor, tapenade and truffles with a touch of unsmoked cigars. Medium to full-bodied, the palate features taut, muscular black and blue fruits, framed by firm, ripe tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long with loads of savory sparks.
Estate Notes: The growing season began at the end of March and proceeded gracefully through bloom and veraison. Harvest started on September 21st and concluded two weeks later, after a total of 15 harvest passes. Yields in the old vines were quite low, but the expression of character was delightfully pure.
The virtue of St. Eden is hidden beneath its often voluptuous proportions, which can blind one to its depth of character. Aromas vacillate between ripe cassis and Provençal herbs. The entry of the wine is robust, but this impression gives way to fluid silkiness. The wine moves effortlessly across the palate, becoming exponentially finer, until it ultimately balances on a single focal point, giving birth to a persistent interplay of acidity, flavor, and texture.