Screaming Eagle : Second Flight 2019

Tasting Notes and Serving Suggestions for Second Flight 2019 by Screaming Eagle

Tasting

Color

The color displays a deep red hue with purple highlights.

Nose

The nose reveals remarkable aromatic complexity, with notes of red and black fruits, notably fresh raspberries, blackberries, and blackcurrant. Delicate floral nuances reminiscent of dried flowers and rose are layered in, alongside mineral touches of crushed stone. Aromas of sweet spices, spearmint, and aromatic herbs complete this elegant, multi-layered bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, Second Flight 2019 stands out for its silky, graceful texture. The body is medium to full-bodied, carried by refined, silky tannins that unfold with elegance. Fresh, vibrant acidity brings energy and tension, while flavors of black cherry, plum, and blackcurrant dominate the palate. Notes of tobacco, cedar, leather, and earth enrich the tasting experience. The finish is long and lingering, marked by subtle minerality and delicate tannins that invite you to continue tasting.

Food and Wine Pairing

This wine pairs perfectly with premium red meats, notably grilled or roasted beef served with rich sauces. It also elevates game such as venison, whose pronounced flavors resonate with the wine’s tannic structure and minerality. Lamb, duck, or roasted poultry preparations—especially when served with earthy sides such as mushrooms or root vegetables—also make excellent matches.

Serving and Cellaring

Second Flight 2019 is best enjoyed at a temperature of around 15.5°C. Decanting for one to three hours before serving allows the wine to open up and fully reveal its aromatic range. According to critics, this wine can be enjoyed now but will gain in complexity over time. It should reach its peak after around 2027 and has exceptional aging potential that can extend over four to five decades.

An iconic Napa Valley wine with a silky texture and complex aromas

The estate

Founded in 1986 by Jean Phillips in the Oakville appellation, Screaming Eagle has established itself as one of California’s most prestigious estates. The vineyard covers approximately 48 hectares under vine. Since 2009, the property has belonged to Stanley Kroenke, an entrepreneur and owner of international sports franchises. Under the leadership of winemaker Nick Gislason, appointed in 2012, and with David Abreu’s expertise in vineyard management, the estate produces wines of exceptional quality in extremely limited quantities. This rarity, combined with the wines’ consistent excellence, has given Screaming Eagle cult status among collectors worldwide.

The vineyard

The Second Flight 2019 vineyard is located in the prestigious Oakville appellation of the Napa Valley, north of the city of Napa. The plots benefit from a west-facing exposure on slopes situated east of the Napa River, at around one hundred feet of elevation. The soils feature a complex composition blending gravels, silty clays, and igneous rocks, resulting from multiple geological processes. This soil diversity, combined with excellent natural drainage, promotes the expression of great aromatic complexity. The climate benefits from cool breezes from the San Pablo Bay that moderate daytime temperatures, creating ideal conditions for slow, balanced ripening of the grapes. The merlot comes from very old vines planted in the 1980s, located on the eastern part of the estate where gravelly soils and access to underground water sources create particularly favorable conditions for this grape variety.

The vintage

The 2019 vintage in California benefited from favorable weather conditions. Abundant spring rains ensured good water reserves for the vines during the critical stages of budbreak and early growth. The growing season unfolded in a steady, temperate manner, with only a few occasional heat episodes. This gradual, balanced ripening allowed the grapes to reach optimal phenolic maturity while preserving essential natural acidity. The cool temperatures maintained during harvest gave growers great flexibility in choosing picking dates, allowing the fruit to be harvested at its ideal ripeness. The 2019 vintage is characterized by elegant, refined wines with remarkable natural acidity.

Winemaking and aging

Each plot in the vineyard is harvested and vinified separately, enabling precise fermentation management tailored to the specific characteristics of each block. The estate has fifty small tanks in stainless steel, wood, and concrete, offering great flexibility in the winemaking process. After fermentation, Second Flight 2019 is transferred to French oak barrels for aging of around eighteen to twenty-four months. The proportion of new oak is moderate for this wine, favoring elegance and finesse rather than a pronounced oak imprint. The wine is bottled without fining or filtration, thereby preserving the full extent of its aromatic complexity and structure.

Grape varieties

Merlot (65%)
Cabernet sauvignon (30%)
Cabernet franc (5%)