Screaming Eagle is the acme of great Californian wine and the defining cult wine of the US. It is also the most expensive American wine and arguably the most critically acclaimed, the lack of availability in the market is astonishing: in 2013 only 800 cases were produced. It is nearly impossible to secure older vintages and is globally sought after. Following on from the 100 point scoring 2012, Parker has said the following in regard to this 2013 vintage, ‘The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Screaming Eagle is another wine with 100-point potential’ and he goes on to compare it to the 2012. His second tasting note then goes on to compare it to the other most recent 100 point effort, the 2010.
As demonstrated in the table below, Screaming Eagle offers an extremely strong vintage premium and prices continue to rise across the board. However, even the lower scoring vintages have soared in price; the 91-94 point 2011 released at £2,950 two years and now trades at £4,600 – already equal to that of this new release. The 2004, which has been awarded 97+ trades at £7,000, 27% up on its price in the last year!
| Vintage | Current Price | Price 2015 | YOY, % | Parker |
| 2013 | £4,650 | n/a | n/a | 97+ |
| 2012 | £5,200 | £4,950 | 5% | 100 |
| 2011 | £4,600 | £2,950 | 56% | 91-94 |
| 2010 | £5,750 | £5,500 | 5% | 100 |
| 2007 | £7,500 | £6,500 | 15% | 100 |
| 2004 | £7,000 | £5,500 | 27% | 97+ |
| 1997 | £14,000 | £10,250 | 37% | 100 |
Screaming Eagle is one of the most acclaimed and sought after icon wines in the world. Yet with only 800 cases made a year, there is not enough for the domestic U.S. market, let alone Europe and new markets. Our offer today is comfortably the lowest in Europe and we expect its secondary market price to be above £5,000, in line with the 2012 in the coming months. 2013 is destined for 100 points, the 2007 started life with 96-98+ points, the 2010 95-97 and the 2012 96-100, all achieving 100 points from Parker within three years.
A little background on the mythical Screaming Eagle
Screaming Eagle is located on the stony valley floor of the Napa Valley in Oakville between the Vaca and Mayacamas mountains. Oakville AVA is considered as one of the premier wine appellations in the world and known for producing superb Bordeaux varietals. The Estate was originally purchased by owner and founder Jean Philips in 1986 who appointed Heidi Barrett (wife of Bo Barrett from Montelena) as her winemaker. She bottled her first vintage in 1992, subsequently releasing it in 1995 when it was awarded 99 points by Robert Parker: overnight it became the most celebrated wine in California. Philips replanted the 18 hectare vineyard with Cabernet Sauvignon (which generally dominates the assemblage), Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot make the wine a true Bordeaux blend.
Philips sold Screaming Eagle to Charles Banks and Stan Kroenke in 2006 for an undisclosed sum, rumoured to be $30m dollars. In 2009 Banks left Screaming Eagle and Stan Kroenke is now the sole proprietor. The current winemaker Nick Gislason, formally of Harlan Estate, was officially appointed in 2012 and Michael Rolland is consultant Oenologist. Under the stewardship of Stan Kroenke the vineyard has been replanted and a new cellar has been built. He has introduced a second wine called Second Flight which produces 550 to 800 cases per year, it is a premeditated attempt to solidify Screaming Eagle’s Romanee-Conti-esque legendary status.
James Suckling, 100
Breathtaking aromas of blueberry, wet earth, black truffle, vine bark and lavender undertones. Full-bodied, yet tight and compressed with fabulous savory and dark fruit flavors. It lasts for minutes on the finish. The classicism in this wine is second to none. Incredible subtlety. Lovely austerity. Beauty in simplicity. Glorious to taste, yet a wine for decades ahead. 76% cabernet sauvignon, 13% merlot, and 11% cabernet franc. 800 cases made.
Antonio Galloni, 98+
Continuing along a similar theme, the 2013 Screaming Eagle is incredibly concentrated and powerful. Today, the 2013 tastes like a concoction of liquefied rocks, crème de cassis, blackberry jam and lavender. Deep, dense and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2013 captivates all the senses with its majestic complexity. With time in the glass, the 2013 gets better and better, to the point I would have liked to follow it over several hours and perhaps days, which was not practical. Screaming Eagle fans will not want to miss the 2013s, although these wines will not be ready to deliver maximum pleasure for a number of years.
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 97+ Points
The 2013 Screaming Eagle flagship wine is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc. As one might expect, the purity of the cassis, which is always a hallmark of this estate and wine, is well-displayed in this beauty. Dense purple in color, it offers up some floral notes intermixed with damp earth, blackcurrant jam, blackberry and hints of licorice and incense. This reminds me somewhat of the 2010 Screaming Eagle. Full-bodied, rich, but perfectly balanced, it’s another terrific example of this iconic estate. It should drink well for 30 or more years.
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