Bond
About Bond
BOND represents the vision of Napa Valley legend Bill Harlan – a name the sight of which will light up the faces of all Californian connoisseurs. Harlan Estate is widely considered to be the “Napa First Growth” - indeed, this is partly self-styled as Bill Harlan coined the phrase when founding the property – yet it is an epithet that is thoroughly deserved. This project, named after Harlan’s maternal surname, is an extension of the immense talent on display at the larger, more well-known Harlan, with its own unique BOND identity.
Since its creation in 1997, these wines have come to compete with Harlan Estate itself, as well as rival cult labels such as Screaming Eagle and Scarecrow at the very pinnacle of what Napa does best – ferociously sought after, micro-production wine of awe-inspiring power and fruit.
Viniculture
Having well and truly established himself as one of the leading vignerons of the New World with the eponymous Harlan Estate in Oakville, Bill Harlan started assembling a team of top wine-growers and wine-makers to embark on a new venture. If it is reasonable to assert that Harlan Estate is an attempt to emulate the great properties of Bordeaux (in certain aspects) through the production of a single “estate” wine, BOND is the formidable vinous visionary’s quest to take his endeavours on a decidedly Burgundian path.
BOND remains definitively Bordeaux in its varietal composition, but the cuvées crafted at this glorious property are from the finest vineyard plots Harlan could select – in essence, these are Napa Valley “Grands Crus”. The search for suitable parcels took many years, and whilst BOND debuted in 1999with releases from the Melbury and Vecina estates, the Quella vineyard cuvée - situated on a dramatically steep slope at an elevation of 600 feet - did not produce its first wine until 2006.
BOND is an unrelentingly terroir-driven project. To date, the demanding Bill Harlan has deemed a mere five parcels worthy of selection, out of the more than 80 vineyards they have worked with over 25 years. Whilst Harlan does not work with anything other than exceptional vineyards, these five most vividly demonstrate the range of Napa Valley's finest terroirs. The five minuscule hillside plots, ranging from seven to eleven hectares, are therefore all remarkably different. In a rather satisfying play on words (and cosmic coincidence), Bill Harlan states that the “BOND” between the cuvées is the driven desire to express as purely and honestly the vineyards’ terroir.
Similarly to Harlan Estate, BOND was sold initially through an old fashioned mailing list. What every merchant and collector would do to have had the foresight to sign up to that when they had the opportunity! The difference with BOND is that the original list was even more exclusive due to the vastly smaller level of production.
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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|
California | 2 | 93 (VN) |
Inc. GST
SG$1,629.22 |
|||||
Vinous (93)The 2010 Matriarch is quite beautiful in this vintage. Supple and juicy at first, the 2010 has plenty of underlying structure. Rose petals, violets, new leather and a hint of orange peel appear on an exotic, perfumed finish laced with veins if dark red and blue fruits. |
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|
California | 1 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. GST
SG$1,629.22 |
|||||
Vinous (92)The 2012 Matriarch is plump, juicy and generous, with plenty of dark red cherry, plums, new leather, cinnamon and floral notes. The succulent, open-knit style is a terrific example of the year. Matriarch is a blend of fruit from various sources in the BOND program that don't make it into the vineyard-designate bottlings. |
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|
California | 1 | 97-100 (VN (AG)) |
Inc. GST
SG$2,947.04 |
|||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97-100)The 2018 Melbury is fabulous. Bright, punchy and full of character, the Melbury is so alluring in this tasting. Sweet floral notes, crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice and blood orange explode from the glass. Medium in body, silky and arresting in its beauty, the 2018 is spectacularly beautiful. In 2018, Melbury stands out for its understatement and total class. What a wine! |
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|
California | 1 | 97+ (WA) |
Inc. GST
SG$2,821.69 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (97+)Very deep purple-black colored, the 2014 Pluribus offers up notions of crushed black plums, black currant cordial and pencil shavings over a meaty core of chargrill and beef drippings plus hints of Chinese five spice and underbrush. Full-bodied and firmly framed with chewy tannins and a lively backbone, it features plenty of earthy and savory layers, finishing long and minerally. |
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|
California | 1 | 99 (VN) |
Inc. GST
SG$3,350.34 |
|||||
Vinous (99)The 2018 Pluribus captures all of the savory, mineral intensity of this site on Spring Mountain. Searing tannins, once such a challenge here, are much more finessed than in the past. Crushed rocks, mint, blood orange, gravel, exotic spice and rose petal lend tremendous complexity as the Pluribus shows off its considerable allure. This taut, mountain Cabernet Sauvignon has so much to offer. Today, it is wonderfully complete and thrilling. Even so, the best is yet to come. |
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|
California | 1 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. GST
SG$2,838.04 |
|||||
Vinous (94)The 2017 Quella is a dark powerhouse. Blackberry jam, grilled herbs, sage, menthol, licorice and chocolate infuse the 2017 with tremendous aromatic complexity to play off its natural richness. Savory and brooding, the Quella is a distinctly brooding Cabernet. |
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|
California | 2 | 97 (VN) |
Inc. GST
SG$2,947.04 |
|||||
Vinous (97)The 2018 Quella is rich, ample and beautifully resonant in the glass. There's terrific depth here and tons of class. Blood orange, game, licorice, tobacco, lavender and dried herbs give the Quella beguiling aromatic presence to play off its muscular, brooding personality. The 2018 needs a few years to soften, but it is already compelling, to say the least. |
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|
California | 1 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. GST
SG$6,370.29 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (100)Vecina vineyard is located in the western foothills of Oakville, just to the south-east of the winery (up on Oakville Grade). Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Vecina slips sensuously out of the glass with gorgeous black cherries, kirsch, wild blueberries and blackcurrant pastilles notes plus suggestions of bouquet garni, pencil lead, tilled earth and underbrush. Full-bodied, taut and packed with ripe, expressive, exquisitely accented black and blue fruits, it has loads of earthy sparks and a compelling fine-grained nature to the firm texture, finishing long and layered. This bright, energetic, incredibly nuanced beauty is built like a brick house and, while approachable in youth, is easily a 50-year wine. I therefore urge readers to wait at least 5-7 years before opening to allow for the myriad of subtle nuances to emerge and offer that "WOW" experience that will reward patience. |
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|
California | 1 | 99 (VN) |
Inc. GST
SG$3,192.29 |
|||||
Vinous (99)A regal, soaring wine, the 2018 Vecina is immediately captivating. Red fruit, iron, dried rose petal and exotic spice all soar out of the glass. Over the last two months the Vecina has acquired stunning aromatic presence to play off its deep, layered fruit. The 2018 is an absolute gem in the making. As a reminder, Vecina is sourced from Vine Hill Ranch, at the southern end of Oakville, where the Cabernets are distinguished by a beguiling combination of power and savory/earthy intensity. |
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|
California | 3 | 100 (JD) |
Inc. GST
SG$3,759.09 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (100)The 2019 Vecina is pure perfection, with a full-bodied, rich, concentrated, yet ultra-pure style that literally stopped me in my tracks. Cassis, currants, graphite, iron, violets, and spicy oak are just some of the nuances here, and this beauty is perfectly balanced, with that rare mix of richness and elegance. This world-class, regal, incredibly impressive Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon will benefit from 5-7 years of bottle age and keep for three decades. |
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
California | 2 | 93 (VN) |
In Bond
SG$1,465.00 |
|||||
Vinous (93)The 2010 Matriarch is quite beautiful in this vintage. Supple and juicy at first, the 2010 has plenty of underlying structure. Rose petals, violets, new leather and a hint of orange peel appear on an exotic, perfumed finish laced with veins if dark red and blue fruits. |
|||||||||
|
California | 1 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
SG$1,465.00 |
|||||
Vinous (92)The 2012 Matriarch is plump, juicy and generous, with plenty of dark red cherry, plums, new leather, cinnamon and floral notes. The succulent, open-knit style is a terrific example of the year. Matriarch is a blend of fruit from various sources in the BOND program that don't make it into the vineyard-designate bottlings. |
|||||||||
|
California | 1 | 97-100 (VN (AG)) |
In Bond
SG$2,675.00 |
|||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97-100)The 2018 Melbury is fabulous. Bright, punchy and full of character, the Melbury is so alluring in this tasting. Sweet floral notes, crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice and blood orange explode from the glass. Medium in body, silky and arresting in its beauty, the 2018 is spectacularly beautiful. In 2018, Melbury stands out for its understatement and total class. What a wine! |
|||||||||
|
California | 1 | 97+ (WA) |
In Bond
SG$2,560.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (97+)Very deep purple-black colored, the 2014 Pluribus offers up notions of crushed black plums, black currant cordial and pencil shavings over a meaty core of chargrill and beef drippings plus hints of Chinese five spice and underbrush. Full-bodied and firmly framed with chewy tannins and a lively backbone, it features plenty of earthy and savory layers, finishing long and minerally. |
|||||||||
|
California | 1 | 99 (VN) |
In Bond
SG$3,045.00 |
|||||
Vinous (99)The 2018 Pluribus captures all of the savory, mineral intensity of this site on Spring Mountain. Searing tannins, once such a challenge here, are much more finessed than in the past. Crushed rocks, mint, blood orange, gravel, exotic spice and rose petal lend tremendous complexity as the Pluribus shows off its considerable allure. This taut, mountain Cabernet Sauvignon has so much to offer. Today, it is wonderfully complete and thrilling. Even so, the best is yet to come. |
|||||||||
|
California | 1 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
SG$2,575.00 |
|||||
Vinous (94)The 2017 Quella is a dark powerhouse. Blackberry jam, grilled herbs, sage, menthol, licorice and chocolate infuse the 2017 with tremendous aromatic complexity to play off its natural richness. Savory and brooding, the Quella is a distinctly brooding Cabernet. |
|||||||||
|
California | 2 | 97 (VN) |
In Bond
SG$2,675.00 |
|||||
Vinous (97)The 2018 Quella is rich, ample and beautifully resonant in the glass. There's terrific depth here and tons of class. Blood orange, game, licorice, tobacco, lavender and dried herbs give the Quella beguiling aromatic presence to play off its muscular, brooding personality. The 2018 needs a few years to soften, but it is already compelling, to say the least. |
|||||||||
|
California | 1 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
SG$5,815.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (100)Vecina vineyard is located in the western foothills of Oakville, just to the south-east of the winery (up on Oakville Grade). Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Vecina slips sensuously out of the glass with gorgeous black cherries, kirsch, wild blueberries and blackcurrant pastilles notes plus suggestions of bouquet garni, pencil lead, tilled earth and underbrush. Full-bodied, taut and packed with ripe, expressive, exquisitely accented black and blue fruits, it has loads of earthy sparks and a compelling fine-grained nature to the firm texture, finishing long and layered. This bright, energetic, incredibly nuanced beauty is built like a brick house and, while approachable in youth, is easily a 50-year wine. I therefore urge readers to wait at least 5-7 years before opening to allow for the myriad of subtle nuances to emerge and offer that "WOW" experience that will reward patience. |
|||||||||
|
California | 1 | 99 (VN) |
In Bond
SG$2,900.00 |
|||||
Vinous (99)A regal, soaring wine, the 2018 Vecina is immediately captivating. Red fruit, iron, dried rose petal and exotic spice all soar out of the glass. Over the last two months the Vecina has acquired stunning aromatic presence to play off its deep, layered fruit. The 2018 is an absolute gem in the making. As a reminder, Vecina is sourced from Vine Hill Ranch, at the southern end of Oakville, where the Cabernets are distinguished by a beguiling combination of power and savory/earthy intensity. |
|||||||||
|
California | 3 | 100 (JD) |
In Bond
SG$3,420.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (100)The 2019 Vecina is pure perfection, with a full-bodied, rich, concentrated, yet ultra-pure style that literally stopped me in my tracks. Cassis, currants, graphite, iron, violets, and spicy oak are just some of the nuances here, and this beauty is perfectly balanced, with that rare mix of richness and elegance. This world-class, regal, incredibly impressive Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon will benefit from 5-7 years of bottle age and keep for three decades. |