Screaming Eagle

Screaming Eagle

Considered the absolute “Cult Domaine” from California, this very small domaine was founded in 1986 by former real estate broker Jean Philips.

Since the first release of Screaming Eagle in 1992 (when the wine was awarded 99 points from Robert Parker), this winery has become the benchmark for limited production, high-quality and super expensive wines. Based in Oakville, in the Napa Valley region of California, Screaming Eagle produces only 500 – 800 cases of regular 750 ml bottles.

Heidi Patterson Barrett became the first wine-maker at the estate. In 1995 they decided to completely replant the vineyards with three grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. A couple of years later, a small amount of the white Sauvignon Blanc grape was also planted in the vineyard.

The total vineyard area barely covers 20 Ha and has been planted in rocky soils on a mostly west-facing slope and has an excellent drainage. Screaming Eagle is loaded with blackcurrant and cassis fruit. Furthermore, the wines are pure, very concentrated and incredibly rich, but never out of balance. Unfortunately, the wines are only sold through a mailing list, which has been full since 2000. The waiting list is almost endless.  

Until 2015 Screaming Eagle also produced a wine made from younger vines, called “Second Flight”, however in 2015 they changed the name of this wine into “The Flight”. This was mainly because the wine became over the years a more Merlot based wine and the name “Second Flight” suggested this was a second wine. Besides the two red wines they also produce a very rare white version of “Screaming Eagle”, made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes.

Since the Screaming Eagle wine received 100 points multiple times, the price of a bottle went stratospheric. Unless you are on the mailing list, the price of a single bottle may reach € 3000 or more. The vintages which received the perfect score are: 1997, 2007, 2010 and 2012 so far. In 2006, Screaming Eagle was sold to Stan Kroenke and Charles Banks, but Mr. Banks left the estate three years later, leaving Mr. Kroenke as the sole-proprietor since.