Sourced from a premier vineyard in the heart of Oakville, Napa Valley, Screaming Eagle is one of the most highly sought-after wines in the world. For many producers 2011 was a complex vintage across California, yet this is another sensational release.
99 points, Jonathan Cristaldi, Decanter
Balanced, polished, seamless, and elegant—and just what you’d expect from this Oakville estate, humbly delivered in 2020. I had the chance to taste this release at Screaming Eagle on a cool, rainy day at the end of March 2023. It possessed the freshness of the air outside, coupled with the warmth of the vintage, offering expressive blue and violet wildflowers, boysenberry fruit, graphite, cedarwood and spearmint and beautiful loamy earth notes. Medium-bodied and flush with the purity of red crunchy cherry and plum fruit augmented by undercurrents of blue and black-toned notes as well this vintage. All this is framed by a rich tapestry of long, silky, layered tannins and the finish is punctuated by rose petal notes. This wine is unquestionably in the running for an upgrade to a 100-point score. It's a dynamic, expressive, and gorgeous showing from the challenging vintage. The team’s unyielding effort to bring harmony and balance to the vineyard comes together in the glass. It's an example of how precision farming and precision. Winemaking can capture the essence of a winery's signature style.
99 points, James Suckling Fabulous aromas of cabernet sauvignon with blackcurrants, blueberries, bark, fresh mushrooms and violets, follow through to a full body with an elegance that builds at the finish, leaving you with a freshness and minerality that goes on for minutes. Unique wine in so many ways. A blend of 76% cabernet sauvignon, 18% merlot and 6% cabernet franc.
96 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media The 2020 Screaming Eagle is one of the great surprises of the year. Energetic and vibrant in the glass, the 2020 offers a bit more energy than most readers are likely used to. All the elements are so well balanced. Dark blue/purplish fruit, lavender, menthol, spice, leather and a soft touch of all fill out the layers effortlessly.
