A FAMILY WINE
The Mascot is a small production wine label that can trace its beginnings back to the founding of Harlan Estate by Bill Harlan in 1984. Today, the winery is led by son, Will Harlan. Having grown up surrounded by an excellent pedigree of family-owned vineyards and wineries, it comes as little surprise that Will would turn his hand to his own wine brand. What started off small, informal project shared among the Harlan family, the winemaking team, and a handful of close friends, quickly turned into an expression of Napa Valley that stands comfortably alongside the other greats of the Harlan Estate stable. Ever since its inaugural release in 2008, The Mascot has always been made in small quantities and is highly sought after by all lovers of great Cabernet.
A PURE EXPRESSION OF CALIFORNIA CABERNET
With 97 hectares of natural splendour, the Harlan Estate is set above the fabled Oakville benchlands, which form part of the western hills of Napa Valley, California. Its sibling estates, BOND and Promontory, have enviable parcels in equally in prime hillside sites from Oakville up through Spring Mountian AVA. Replantings in these legendary estates has allowed the opportunity to create a vibrant and approachable expression of exquisite Napa Valley Cabernet from their young vines.
A FAITHFUL MASCOT
A white English Bull Terrier stands proudly on the label of The Mascot, embodying the loyalty, energy, friendliness, perseverance, and heart that the team behind the wine pour into every bottle. The image used for the label comes from the Harlan family's collection of engravings, depicting 'Prince', the faithful hound of the Farmers Deposit National Bank of Pittsburgh. The Mascot continues to acquaint newcomers with the profound and convivial pleasures of Napa Valley Cabernet, opening the doorway to the family's grands vins, whose still deeper roots await.
WINEMAKING
From the start, the main aim of The Mascot was vigour tempered by approachability. The team therefore took the decision to mature the wine for slightly longer (at least 5 years), which results in a wine that, upon release, is not only delicious to drink, but also has enough depth and power to age. In comparison with Harlan Estate, BOND, and Promontory, the focus of The Mascot is less on distinct terroir and site-driven wines. Rather, the wines are made using fruit harvested from multiple properties, where the vines are typically aged between 6 and 12 years old (once these vines reach a certain age, the grapes will then go into the respective Grand Vins). Assembled into a single, youthful expression, The Mascot shares a glimpse into the evolution and pedigree of its parent estates. Unlike the other family-owned wineries of Harlan, which produce several wines each year, The Mascot is only one a year, and always a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and smaller amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.
Will Harlan himself oversees blend selection from a variety of finished barrels, which, in turn, offers a representation of the family’s philosophy and their interpretation of Napa and its unique vintages. The Mascot therefore offers an under-the-radar look into the three estates at a fraction of the price, yet it is a wine of profound beauty and stature in its own right. The Mascot is always made in tiny quantities, though not as small as back in 2008. For example, in 2017 only 4,200 cases were produced, making this wine extremely limited and highly desirable to collectors. The Mascot is never formally shown to the critics as per Will Harlan’s wishes. The Wall Street Journal describes the wine as "a more affordable version of Harlanesque hedonism", which perfectly sums it up. It is a more approachable version of the iconic Harlan wines.
