The Mascot 2018

The vivacity and texture of a Napa Valley red wine

The estate

The Mascot is a project initiated by Will Harlan, son of Bill Harlan, the founder of Harlan Estate, an iconic Napa Valley estate whose wines are recognised as among the finest in California.

An informal project initially started by family members and a few friends, The Mascot aims to reveal, through young vines planted on hillsides, the identity and pedigree of the exceptional terroirs of three estates belonging to the Harlan family: Harlan Estate, BOND and Promontory.

Developed with the teams from the three estates, The Mascot is a wine for pleasure, a wine for sharing that reveals both the aromatic typicity of Californian Cabernets and the exceptional quality potential of the greatest wines from these three estates.

The vineyard

The Mascot is a Napa Valley wine made from vines aged between 5 and 12 years on average, resulting from replanting programmes carried out by each of the three estates. The aim of these programmes is to encourage the root system and ripening of the young vines and to guarantee continuity between generations of vines. Each plot is managed individually by the respective teams at each of the three estates.

The vintage

The year 2018 was marked by considerable climatic instability. Heavy rainfall in March and April gave way to a particularly mild summer. September was punctuated by foggy, temperate days.

Winemaking and ageing

In a constant quest for full ripeness at harvest time, the grapes may be picked in several goes in the same plot. The grapes are then vinified in the style of their estate of origin. While the grapes from Harlan Estate and BOND are vinified in new French oak barrels, those from Promontory are vinified in large barrels from the illustrious Stockinger cooperage in Austria.

The wine is aged for a minimum of 3 years at each estate before being blended from a meticulous selection of the best batches. After blending, The Mascot is aged in bottle for a further 18 months before being released on the market.

Blend

Cabernet Sauvignon (100%)

Characteristics and tasting tips for The Mascot 2018

Tasting

Nose
The nose has a wonderful subtlety, with a delightful depth to its fruity (black fruit), herbaceous and black tea fragrances.

Palate
With powdery tannins on the attack, the palate’s density and vivacity draw out harmoniously to the finish.