Winemaker’s Notes

The 2012 Second Flight offers up floral, blue and black fruit, mocha and white chocolate characteristics. It possesses full-bodied, silky flavors, and a very long finish.

97 points James Suckling

This is very structured with ripe and silky tannins that shows a dense and compacted fruit character. It's full and racy. Impressive tone and form.

96 points Wine Advocate

Very deep garnet-purple color, the 2012 Second Flight has an enticingly savory nose with notes of smoked meats, yeast extract, tapenade and truffles over a core of crème de cassis and plum preserves plus a touch of Indian spices. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated in the mouth, it has firm, velvety tannins and plenty of background freshness supporting the generous fruit, finishing long and spicy.

Blend: 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc

97 points James Suckling

Very bright and aromatic with dark purple fruits on the nose. Mint, floral and vine bark. Spearmint. Full body, very firm tannins, wonderful savoriness. Flavorful finish. A fabulous mouthfeel. Very, very long. Mostly merlot with cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc.

96 points Wine Advocate

Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2013 Second Flight simply sings of spiced blueberries, black forest cake and preserved plums with suggestions of star anise, baker’s chocolate, fertile loam and dried Provence herbs with a hint of lavender. Big, concentrated, full-bodied and packed to the gills with black fruits, exotic spice and floral layers, it has a firm frame of grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with epic length and loads of layers. Still very taut, it needs at least another 2-3 years in bottle. Interestingly, this full-on hedonistic vintage has one of the largest Merlot contributions ever for this wine.

Blend: 65% Merlot with 13% Cabernet Sauvignon 22% Cabernet Franc

97 points James Suckling

Intense blackberry and blueberry aromas with hints of fresh mushrooms. Black truffles, too. Full-bodied, tight and chewy with polished and velvety tannins. Long and muscular finish. Energetic.

96 points Wine Advocate

Very deep purple-black, the 2014 Second Flight is a little closed at this youthful stage, offering glimpses of blueberry compote, blackberry pie and cassis notions with touches of garrigue, bay leaves, black truffles, rose hips and underbrush plus a hint of wood smoke. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers wonderful freshness, with very firm, very finely grained tannins and layers of vibrant black fruits, finishing on a profound minerally note. With this vintage, we can see something of a stylistic departure, offering an expression of Merlot that is bright, refreshing, elegant and perfumed, and it is perhaps more similar to Screaming Eagle in terms of style than it has ever been. Beautiful!

Blend: 57% Merlot and 43% Cabernet Sauvignon