SCREAMING EAGLE Cabernet Sauvignon - Oakville, Napa Valley 2020 Bottle

Description

Screaming Eagle is widely regarded as one of California's most prestigious cult wineries, producing highly sought-after wines from its small 57-acre vineyard in Oakville, Napa. The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon has achieved notable acclaim, earning 99 points from both Decanter and James Suckling, along with 96 points from Vinous. Decanter describes it as balanced and elegant, offering aromas of blue and violet wildflowers, boysenberry, graphite, and cedarwood, with earthy undertones. James Suckling highlights fabulous notes of blackcurrants, blueberries, and fresh mushrooms, showcasing a full body with a rich, lingering finish. Vinous mentions its vibrant character and harmonious balance of dark fruit and spice. This vintage is best enjoyed after 2028, promising exceptional development and complexity.

*****

Screaming Eagle is perhaps the most famous California Cult winery of all time and produces one of the most sought-after wines in the world. Sourced from a small, 57-acre vineyard in Oakville, Napa, production of this exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend is supremely limited and older vintages are increasingly rare.

DECANTER 99 points
Tasted by: Jonathan Cristaldi (at Screaming Eagle, Oakville, 28 Mar 2023) Part of Oakville 2020: The top Cabernets from this Napa AVA
Drinking Window: 2024 - 2035 - "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. Winemaking can capture the essence of a winery's signature style."

JAMES SUCKLING 99 points
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. Best after 2028.

VINOUS 96
Drinking Window 2025 - 2035
From: Napa Valley: The Frantic 2020s & Stunning 2021s (Feb 2023)
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. In 2020 Screaming Eagle is not as immediately alluring as it so often is, so a measure of patience is warranted. - By Antonio Galloni on January 2023