Screaming Eagle 2021

Tasting Notes and Recommendations for Screaming Eagle 2021

Tasting

Color

The wine displays a deep, opaque ruby hue, reflecting intense extraction and remarkable phenolic ripeness.

Nose

The nose reveals astonishing complexity, unfolding aromas of black cherry, blackcurrant, and plum, accompanied by floral notes of violet and wild rose. Nuances of peppermint and Spanish cedar intertwine with mineral touches of graphite and pencil lead, hallmark of Oakville’s complex terroir. With aeration, notes of mocha, toasted herbs, and spices enrich the bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, Screaming Eagle 2021 combines power and finesse with rare elegance. The attack builds gradually, revealing an exceptional concentration of dark fruit and blackcurrant. The silky texture wraps around firm, muscular, perfectly integrated tannins that lend remarkable tension across the palate. The terroir’s signature minerality shows in full, alongside notes of dark chocolate, licorice, and graphite. The exceptionally long finish lingers with dark-fruit aromas, floral freshness, and a persistent minerality that leaves the palate refreshed.

Food and Wine Pairings

This outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon pairs beautifully with premium grilled red meats, notably a beef tenderloin or a dry-aged rib steak. Game meats such as venison or duck, prepared with aromatic herbs, also create remarkable harmonies. Aged cheeses such as well-aged Comté, Gruyère, or Parmigiano-Reggiano make excellent pairings. Truffle- or wild mushroom-based dishes elevate the wine’s mineral, savory dimension.

Serving and Cellaring

Screaming Eagle 2021 can be enjoyed now but will fully reveal its potential after a few years in the cellar. An optimal drinking window extends approximately from 2028 through 2060 and beyond. Decanting for at least one hour is recommended for early tastings. Ideally serve between 16 and 18°C.

An iconic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at the height of excellence

The estate

Founded in 1986 by Jean Phillips in the Oakville appellation in California, Screaming Eagle has established itself as the ultimate icon of American cult wines. The estate spans 57 acres of vineyards on the rocky hillsides of Napa Valley. Since 2009, the property has been owned by Stan Kroenke, who has invested heavily in infrastructure and the vineyard. Nick Gislason has overseen winemaking and viticulture since 2011, producing wines of exceptional consistency that routinely earn perfect scores. Extremely limited production—between 500 and 850 cases per year—and restricted access via a legendary waiting list contribute to Screaming Eagle’s mythical status, recognized as the most expensive and sought-after American wine.

The vineyard

Screaming Eagle’s vineyard enjoys a privileged location on the eastern slopes of the Oakville appellation, in Napa Valley, positioned along a geological fault line that creates an exceptionally complex mosaic of soils. The estate’s 57 acres are divided into around fifty distinct parcels, planted predominantly to Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The soils show remarkable diversity, with eroded volcanic stones from the nearby Vaca Range, igneous rocks uplifted by tectonic activity, alluvial gravels deposited by a mountain stream, and clay sections influenced by the Napa River. This geological complexity gives the wines their distinctive mineral signature. The estate practices sustainable, respectful viticulture, favoring dry farming without artificial irrigation, which forces the vines to develop deep root systems. Cover crops are maintained between the rows, and an integrated farming system—bringing in sheep in winter and chickens during the growing season—naturally supports vineyard health. Twenty-three acres preserve the original vines planted in the 1980s, bringing concentration and character to the wines.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in Napa Valley was marked by historic drought and particularly challenging conditions for the vine. A cold winter was followed by frost pressure at budbreak, then drought conditions intensified throughout the growing season. These natural constraints significantly reduced yields but produced grapes of exceptional concentration. Water stress encouraged ideal phenolic ripeness, yielding wines with remarkable structure, intense aromatic purity, and outstanding aging potential. The conditions of this vintage produced fruit with color intensity, flavor concentration, and tannin ripeness far exceeding years with more generous water availability.

Winemaking and aging

Winemaking for Screaming Eagle 2021 follows a rigorous parcel-by-parcel approach, with each block harvested and vinified separately. Fermentations are carried out in different types of vessels depending on the specific characteristics of each parcel: stainless steel tanks, oak vats, and concrete tanks, each selected to optimize fruit expression. Concrete tanks are favored for more floral lots, oak to round out the fruit tannins in certain Cabernets, while stainless steel offers valued versatility. After fermentation, the wines are transferred into 100% new French oak barrels for aging over 18 to 24 months. During this period, the lots remain separate until the final blend, when the team seeks synergistic interactions between the different blocks to create the most harmonious expression of the terroir. This California wine is bottled without filtration or fining, preserving the full integrity of its texture and complexity.

Grape varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by Merlot and Cabernet Franc in proportions that vary by vintage.