The Mascot, a Napa Valley designated Red Wine, started as an informal project shared among one of the world’s most famous American winegrowing families. Between 2008 and now, the brand has quickly grown to resemble the cult status of the Harlan family’s flagship bottlings.

Produced exclusively from the younger vines of Harlan Estate, BOND, and Promontory, The Mascot provides an entry point for wine consumers who have yet to experience the lore of their more rarified offerings.

Each of the three “parent” properties contribute components to The Mascot, and the winemaking teams – led by Cory Empting, Director of Winegrowing for the family domain - work collaboratively to weave together the final blend.

Depending on the vintage, The Mascot is composed of 85-95% Cabernet Sauvignon, along with small quantities of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot.

The vines that contribute to The Mascot average from 5 to 12 years of age. As the vines of the parent properties are replanted approximately twice per century—or the equivalent of around 2% of acreage per year—the supply of young vines is continually replenished.

Many young vines are beginning to manifest now; as a result of replanting at Harlan Estate and BOND starting more than a decade ago, and at Promontory since it was acquired in 2008.

The winemaking teams vinify the grapes from each property in accordance with the character of their land. For aging the wines, Harlan Estate and BOND use new and neutral French oak barrels, while Promontory employs larger casks made of Austrian oak.

The winemaking teams evaluate the young vine lots at the blending table between 6 and 14 months after fermentation, selecting the finest for inclusion in The Mascot. In total, The Mascot is aged in barrel for nearly three years prior to bottling and another 18 months in bottle before release.

Today’s Mayacama wine offer is The Mascot’s 2017 bottling. This vintage proved to test both the winegrowing team as well as the land to which they tended. Early spring experienced a disruption of hailstorms, while the following summer months saw heat waves that accelerated ripeness in the grapes. Despite the challenges met thus far, knowledge and understanding of their environment paid off significantly, as the team decided to let the vines take their course. The discipline was rewarded as temperatures in the Valley normalized in September, allowing the sugars and acidity levels to find a balance. Harvest began shortly thereafter, and fruit was fully brought into the wineries before wildfires plagued the region in early October.

There is rarely an evening in the Mayacama Clubhouse when a bottle of The Mascot is not being enjoyed. To that end, I know how much our members love and appreciate the wine poured from this bottle, vintage after vintage.

When I reached out to the Harlan family to taste the 2017 vintage, I was both excited and curious. I knew that if they bottled a wine from grapes harvested during this challenging year, it must have proved to be a fantastic success. After all, this is not a family that puts their name on anything that doesn’t exceed all standards and expectations. Let it be known my intuition was not off.

The 2017 vintage bottling of The Mascot is simply stunning. The growing season’s relative warmth is absent in the glass, replaced by freshness and a piquant tension. The nose draws forward notes of red fruit and earthy spice elements— forest floor, cedar, dark espresso. Lithesome tannins and vibrant acidity attend a crystalline structure that is finely wrought and radiantly transparent.

It’s my honor and pleasure to be able to bring our Mayacama membership access to one of the most exciting Napa Valley wines being made today. Only 4,200 cases were produced for this vintage.

There is no minimum and no maximum. Order as much as you’d like.

As always, please feel free to let me know if you have any questions regarding today’s offer. Thank you for your support!

Cheers!

Carey Vanderborg, Wine Director

The Mascot 2017- $160

Click here for more information regarding the wine.