Rising High: Screaming Eagle

For good reason, Screaming Eagle remains the most sought-after wine from the Napa Valley, and probably from the US as a whole. A combination of absolute quality and extreme rarity ensure high prices, and few drinkers come away feeling anything other than wowed by the experience.

Screaming Eagle is not a full-throttle, heavy, dense wine, but instead one of Napa’s most elegant creations; all gorgeous perfume, pure lines and silky tannins. Its valley floor terroir in Oakville certainly helps with its supple fruit, but wonderful winemaking from Nick Gislason should not be discounted either.

The main wine usually runs around 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, propped up by Merlot and a touch of Cabernet Franc; the second wine, The Flight, has a majority of Merlot with some Cabernet Sauvignon. 2019 and 2021 were concentrated, rich vintages, while 2020 offers a fresher expression. All show the breed and distinction of this most celebrated of American wines.