The vineyard, located on the east side of Oakville, slopes from the Silverado Trail toward the Napa Valley with 59 acres of vines. The soil is virtually a rock pile on a gentle, west-facing slope east of the Napa River. The property is conveniently nestled in an area in the valley where the grapes receive enough heat during the day to ripen to its optimum, followed by light, gentle afternoon breezes that blow north from San Pablo Bay. Limited in quantity, only a small portion of the grapes are used to make Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon; the rest of the grapes are sold to other wineries. The signature of the wine is captured in the rich, loamy earthiness that gives the Cabernet a plush structural foundation and folds in with its layers of currant, plum, cherry and herbal flavors. It is not only consistent in its complex and concentrated flavor but also in its blend: 85 percent to 88 percent Cabernet, 10 percent to 12 percent Merlot and 1 percent to 2 percent Cabernet Franc. This wine of humble beginnings first created by the owner, Jean Phillips, at home. Screaming Eagle is now one of the most celebrated wines in Napa Valley.

Screaming Eagle 2008
Napa Valley
Levels: top shoulder
2 bottles per lot