Screaming Eagle Winery
and Vineyards
LocationOakville, California, U.S.
AppellationOakville AVA
Founded1986
First vintage1992
Key peopleJean Phillips, founder
Heidi Barrett, former winemaker
Stanley Kroenke
Nick Gislason, winemaker
Robert Black, associate winemaker
Cases/yr600–700
VarietalsCabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon blanc
Websitescreamingeagle.com

Screaming Eagle Winery and Vineyards is a California wine estate producing limited amounts of varietal wine; due to the small quantities produced and high prices commanded, their wines are considered cult wines. The winery is located in Oakville, California, north of the town of Napa in the Napa Valley.

History

Jean Phillips, a former real estate agent, bought the 57 acre Oakville vineyard in 1986 which was planted to a mix of varieties, most of which Phillips sold to various Napa wineries[1][2] except the 1-acre (4,000 m2), approximately 80 vines of Cabernet Sauvignon. For this one acre of Cabernet, Philips sought the opinions of Robert Mondavi Winery employees on the commercial potential of her wine before hiring Richard Peterson as a consultant, and subsequently met Peterson's daughter, Heidi Peterson Barrett, who became Screaming Eagle's first winemaker.[3] The entire vineyard was replanted in 1995 to three varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The 1992 vintage, released in 1995, through a combination of very low production numbers and highly positive reviews (wine critic Robert Parker awarded the wine 99 points)[4] resulted in Screaming Eagle becoming one of the most celebrated and expensive wines in the Napa Valley.[1][2] Today the estate's flagship wine retails at an average price of $2,983 per bottle.[5]

On March 17, 2006, the estate was sold to billionaire Stan Kroenke and Charles Banks.[6] Phillips disclosed the sale in a letter to Wine Spectator, saying she received an offer she couldn't refuse. In a letter to clients, Phillips stated, "they will renovate old structures or build new ones and replant the vineyard. The new owners have exciting plans to keep it small but raise the bar on quality." Three years later, in April 2009, Charles Banks left Screaming Eagle leaving Stan Kroenke as the sole proprietor.[7] Armand de Maigret is the estate manager.

Prestige Hong Kong in May 2023 named Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 1992 by Screaming Eagle as one of the world's most expensive wines, with a bottle having sold for a half a million US dollars at the 2000 Napa Valley Charity Auction. Robert Parker had awarded that specific vintage a "near-perfect" 99 points in 1995. The vintage was considered the most expensive wine in the world until surpassed by the Romanee-Conti bottle.[8]

Production

The vineyard area extends 48.21 acres (19.51 ha), planted with varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and a small amount of Sauvignon blanc.[9] The vineyards are managed by David Abreu Vineyard Management and tended to by vineyard foreman Jorge Delgado and his team. In 2006, 34 acres were replanted.[1] The annual production ranges from 400 to 750 cases (between 5,000 and 9,000 750ml bottles). The winemakers are Nick Gislason, Robert Black and Michel Rolland is a consultant.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Laube, James; Sogg, Daniel (March 21, 2006). "Screaming Eagle Sold". Wine Spectator.
  2. 1 2 Robinson, Jancis (November 10, 2007). "Screaming Eagle – the new regime". jancisrobinson.com. Archived from the original on January 12, 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
  3. ↑ Laube, James (April 5, 2000). "Focus On: Screaming Eagle". Wine Spectator. Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Heidi Peterson Barrett". Calwineries.com. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA: prices". Wine Searcher. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  6. ↑ Gray, W. Blake (March 23, 2006). "Oakville's Screaming Eagle Winery sold". San Francisco Chronicle.
  7. ↑ Laube, James; Weed Augustus, Wine Spectator (April 9, 2009). "A Shake-Up at Screaming Eagle"
  8. ↑ "Raise a Toast to the 15 Most Expensive Wines in the World". www.prestigeonline.com. Prestige Hong Kong. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Screaming Eagle Winery". Calwineries.com.
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