Napa Valley Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

Napa Valley Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon: The Holy Grail of Californian Wine

History and Philosophy

The Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most iconic and rare wines in the world, a true symbol of exclusivity and excellence. Produced in the prestigious Oakville AVA of Napa Valley, this wine was born from the vision of Jean Phillips, the winery’s founder, and quickly gained legendary status thanks to its exceptional quality and extremely limited production.

Since 2006, under the ownership of Stan Kroenke, the winery has maintained its philosophy: uncompromising attention to terroir, meticulous winemaking, and rigorous grape selection. Each vintage represents the purest expression of Napa Valley, blending craftsmanship with innovation.

Vineyard and Terroir

The Screaming Eagle vineyards are located in Oakville, one of the most prestigious areas of Napa Valley for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. The terroir is composed of gravel, clay, and volcanic soils, providing excellent drainage and allowing the vines to produce grapes with outstanding aromatic intensity.

Oakville’s warm days and cool nights create the perfect conditions for slow and complete grape ripening, preserving acidity, balance, and complexity. The winery follows sustainable, low-impact viticulture, ensuring that only the finest fruit is harvested.

Winemaking and Aging

The winemaking process for Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon is designed to achieve maximum purity and varietal expression.

• Fermentation: The grapes ferment in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures, using only native yeasts to highlight the unique characteristics of the terroir.

• Aging: The wine is aged for about 20 months in French oak barrels (65-75% new), a process that enhances depth and silkiness without overpowering the fruit.

• Bottling: No aggressive filtration is used, ensuring the wine retains its structure, elegance, and aging potential.

Tasting Notes

The Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine of unparalleled elegance, power, and longevity, evolving beautifully over decades.

• Color: Deep ruby red with vibrant purple reflections.

• Aroma: Exceptionally complex, with layers of blackcurrant, blueberry, and cassis, alongside hints of graphite, dark chocolate, and sweet spices.

• Palate: A full-bodied wine with velvety tannins, a remarkable balance of freshness, ripe fruit, and mineral undertones. The finish is incredibly long, leaving notes of licorice, vanilla, and leather.

Varieties

• Cabernet Sauvignon: 85-100% (depending on the vintage).

• Other grapes: Possible small percentages of Merlot or Cabernet Franc.

Serving Temperature and Alcohol Content

• Serving temperature: 16-18°C (60-64°F) to enhance its complexity and elegance.

• Alcohol content: Approximately 14-15% ABV, depending on the vintage.

Food Pairing

The Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon is a meditation wine, but it also pairs exceptionally well with rich, flavorful dishes:

• Grilled red meats: Perfect with dry-aged steak, Wagyu beef, or a tomahawk steak.

• Game meats: A great match for venison, wild boar, or roast duck.

• Aged cheeses: Excellent with 36-month Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino, or Blue Stilton.

• Truffle and mushrooms: Enhances dishes with black truffle or porcini mushrooms, such as a truffle risotto.

Conclusion

The Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon is the ultimate symbol of luxury and excellence in the wine world. Rare, collectible, and incredibly age-worthy, it represents the pinnacle of Napa Valley winemaking. Every bottle is a masterpiece, treasured by wine lovers and collectors alike.

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Screaming Eagle: The Myth of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

History and Philosophy

Screaming Eagle is one of the most exclusive and legendary wineries in Napa Valley, a symbol of excellence and rarity in the wine world. Founded in the 1980s by Jean Phillips, a real estate agent with a passion for wine, the winery achieved instant success thanks to the extraordinary quality of its wines and its extremely limited production.

In 1992, the first Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon was awarded 99 points by Robert Parker, catapulting the estate into the global elite. In 2006, the winery was acquired by Stan Kroenke, the American billionaire and owner of Arsenal FC, who has preserved its artisanal and highly selective production philosophy.

Screaming Eagle’s vision is clear: to produce wines of unmatched quality, with meticulous attention to detail and terroir, without compromising on quantity.

Vineyards and Terroir

The Screaming Eagle vineyards are located in the heart of the Oakville AVA, one of Napa Valley’s most prestigious areas, with a microclimate perfect for Cabernet Sauvignon. The soil, composed of gravel, clay, and volcanic rock, provides excellent drainage and allows the vines to develop grapes of the highest quality, with an unparalleled concentration of flavors.

The winery practices sustainable and meticulous viticulture, maintaining extremely low yields to ensure the purest expression of the terroir. The harvest is done by hand, and every grape cluster is carefully selected to preserve only the best fruit.

Production and Winemaking Philosophy

One of Screaming Eagle’s most distinctive features is its limited production, which ranges between 500 and 800 cases per year. This approach guarantees total quality control and keeps the wine among the rarest and most sought-after in the world.

Vinification takes place in a state-of-the-art winery, with fermentation in stainless steel tanks and aging in French oak barrels (65-75% new) for approximately 20 months. The result is a wine of extraordinary complexity, elegance, and aging potential.

The Cult and the Market

Screaming Eagle is not just a wine—it is an icon of luxury and rarity. Its limited production and outstanding quality have made it one of the most coveted wines in the world, with years-long waiting lists to purchase directly from the winery.

Bottles are sold through allocation, and their market price easily exceeds $5,000 per bottle, with some vintages reaching record-breaking figures at international auctions.

Conclusion

Screaming Eagle is more than just a winery—it is a living legend, an icon of perfection, and a benchmark for Napa Valley excellence. Each bottle represents the pinnacle of craftsmanship, passion, and dedication to terroir, making it a must-have for collectors and wine enthusiasts worldwide.