In the Early 1980S While Hiking Along Oakville's Southwestern Ridge, H

In the early 1980s while hiking along Oakville’s southwestern ridge, H. William Harlan discovered an isolated territory. The hidden expanse — ancient and untamed — moved him deeply, but remained elusive until the Harlan family finally captured it in 2008. As the second generation explored and worked with the land, they began to make discoveries of their own. At the core of this wild terrain they found a powerful geologic convergence, which had shaped its steep, rugged topography, and created the conditions for an altogether exotic winegrowing environment. Over time they found that the dramatic landscape — just beyond the edge of the known — would slowly change them, and ultimately inspire a new endeavor: Promontory. I. DISCOVERY – H. William Harlan As we evolve through the seasons of our lives, there is always the “missing piece” that draws us onwards… maybe it’s the challenge of the next vintage, the next level of enrichment, a new discovery, or a greater meaning. And at a certain point we start to look past our lifetime, with the hope that the next generation might, in their own way, go beyond the dreams we initiated. When I first came upon the land that would become Promontory, its untamed ruggedness was a surprise — quite different from anything I had encountered in the Napa Valley. This wild place, overlooked for most of the 20th century, emanated a power and a mystery and an undefinable allure. It wasn’t until the first decade of the 21st century that we had the good fortune of acquiring the unmarked territory. This was the beginning of a new era, a time of exploration and discovery led by the next generation. II. TERRITORY – Cory Empting The road to Promontory unfolds slowly. Its winding path begins in the benchlands of south-western Oakville alongside a small seasonal creek, then ascends gradually through a narrow ravine in the mountains. The air cools, ferns appear among rocky outcroppings, and moisture clings to moss hanging from surrounding trees. Almost forbiddingly, steep slopes rise up seven hundred feet on either side and slivers of light struggle to penetrate the dense forest canopy. A moment later reveals a meadow in the full glow of day, and the first glimpse of the territory’s rangelands stretching upward toward the sky. Promontory is truly a world apart from the Napa Valley that most people experience. Within this secluded canyon there are two distinct fault lines, roughly demarcating the boundaries between volcanic, sedimentary, and metamorphic soils. This diverse geology is stretched across 500 feet of elevation, on a multitude of dramatic slopes and panoramic exposures. Less than ten percent of the land is under vine, weaving an intricate patchwork among the wild expanse of forest and woodlands. This natural landscape, along with the warmth of the rock-studded western exposure, invites morning fog and slightly cooler air to fill its narrow canyon on an almost daily basis. The enviable — if sometimes daunting — task of unearthing and translating the essential qualities of this majestic formation has given us a deeply visceral connection to the place. The land is speaking at last, awakening a long-dormant story of this uncharted territory. III. Vision – Will Harlan In its highest form, we feel that winegrowing has the potential to transcend fine craftsmanship and enter the realm of art. While it is the pursuit of art that drives us, the role of artist belongs to nature, with our part being more closely defined as translator. We must first listen closely, observe, and work diligently to understand the character of our land; and only then can we begin transposing it into a medium communicable to others: wine. Throughout the years we have strived to identify lands with a story to tell — a story that is beautiful, meaningful, and of epic substance. It is our firm belief that Promontory, through the wine that embodies it, will be able to profoundly move people in a way we have found ourselves moved. My background is not in oenology, formally, above and beyond growing up as my father’s son. What drew me to the family endeavor has been the evolution of our philosophical journey; cultivating those points of discovery that are able to take us beyond the everyday, and reveal a glimpse of the sublime. The Wine Wines from hillsides of Promontory reflect the many aspects of the territory: the native forests, the moisture of the ephemeral fog, and the minerality of the geologic underpinnings. These disparate facets in symphony provide a natural balance of freshness, energy, and tannin. We believe these traits, in wine, are the building blocks of great vitality and long life. Vintage 2012 Growing Season Budbreak on April 18th marked the beginning of an idyllic growing season. The weather was warm throughout the year, but without spells of extreme heat. While most of Napa Valley experienced an earlier harvest, the cooler climate of the territory provided a much more typical ripening pattern. Due to even ripening, the harvest period was compressed to fifteen days as opposed to the normal twenty to thirty in past vintages. Picking began on October 12th along the western ridge and continued a few days later with the low lying blocks on volcanic soil. The east-facing slopes followed, and harvest concluded on October 26th. As has become customary with the diversity of the territory, forty-six harvest passes were made resulting in nearly thirty distinct vinifications. After a year of aging, the selection for the final blend was made. The consistency of quality was a theme, but ultimately the lots that were chosen reflected both the power of the vintage and the restraint of the territory’s more temperate environs. Tasting Notes A rich garnet color and youthful brilliance define the appearance in glass. As is typical with the youthful wines of Promontory, the nose is subtle yet intricate. Several minutes after pouring, the different facets begin to emerge. Though one might discern distinct aromas of wet stone, cassis, and hints of resin, the nose seems to more appropriately transport one to the place itself. There is a feeling of moist fog, bringing both humidity and the scents of the native landscape, while projecting in the mind’s eye a vision of sunlight without heat. On the palate, this vintage is decidedly forward. The acidity is forthcoming on entry and balanced by the sheer muscle and density of fruit. The tannins have a chiseled definition, but remain soft and pliant, delivering a long and persistent finish. While the 2012 reveals its precocious virtues, it is unable to hide the underlying truth that patience will provide great reward. March 12, 2018 • The Harlan family is to give the exclusive distribution (outside of USA) of their Napa Valley wine Promontory to 3 wine merchants from La Place de Bordeaux. • Starting with the 2012 vintage release. Background • Harlan family has 40 years of experience of winegrowing and hospitality in Napa Valley. • Generational shift is key to understanding Promontory and how it sits apart from both Harlan Estate and the family’s Bond wines – all Cult Cabs at the top of their game. • It’s not just Will Harlan who represents this shift, but also Cory Empting, the director of winemaking and successor to Bob Levy. • The land was first spotted by Bill Harlan when he was out hiking in the hills behind Oakville in the early 1980s. • At the time it was totally undeveloped, no vineyards, no houses, just a wildly rugged canyon with the remains of a former bootlegging still from the Prohibition era. He was finally able to buy it in 2008. • ‘Promontory is a different story. Different soils, at higher elevation, a little more pared back than Harlan, very much a wine that is about capturing a sense of place’. Background • A full soil study revealed ‘a whole new metamorphic soil type that doesn’t really exist elsewhere in Napa’. • In this small, secluded valley there are two distinct fault lines that roughly demarcate the boundaries between volcanic, sedimentary, and metamorphic soils. • These diverse soils are arranged from 150m to 340m of elevation, on a multitude of dramatic slopes and panoramic exposures. • This natural landscape, along with the warmth of the rock-studded western exposure, preferentially invites morning fog and slightly cooler air to fill its narrow valley on an almost daily basis. • Although much of it had been carelessly planted over the years, there were 11ha of heirloom blocks that gave them a clue to the quality, and that they have kept, replanting 16ha of the rest block by block from 2011, and expanding by an extra 5ha. Wine • The wines appeal to both the senses and the intellect. The native beauty, the alluring evocative tones and textures reflect the unique and mysterious aspects of the many complex elements above and below the surface. The land is speaking at last with a very clear voice, awakening the long-dormant story of this uncharted territory. • ‘Promontory captures both the controlled high-end buzz of a new Napa release with a wine that is a throwback to a more classic Napa style, using only 30% new oak barrels along with the larger-sized Stockinger Austrian oak casks. Adding to all that is the promise of what it means for one of Napa’s most eagerly-watched First Families’. Jane Anson, Decanter February 2018 Facts • Originally discovered in early 1980’s • Purchased first parcel starting in 2008 • The entire “territory” is 840 acres (340 hectares) • Vineyards only make up 74 acres (30 hectares) • Metamorphic geology discovered (along with sedimentary and volcanic) • 2008 was first vintage produced, never released • 2009 was first released vintage, ex-winery • 2012 is first released vintage with 3 négociants from Bordeaux outside of the USA • Release schedule is 5 years from harvest • Production is currently ~ 20,000 bottles 2012 VINTAGE Budbreak on April 18th marked the beginning of an idyllic growing season.

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