2016 Screaming Eagle, The Flight, Oakville, Case of 3 Btls

Screaming Eagle needs no introduction, but The Flight is the estate's answer to a simple question: what if more collectors could experience that same obsessive winemaking without the four-figure price tag?

Sourced from the winery's Oakville vineyards, on the AVA's eastern side alongside neighbors like Dalla Valle and Oakville Ranch, The Flight is built around old-vine Merlot from the southeast corner of the estate, the backbone of the blend and the source of much of its distinct character.

The 2016 has drawn some of the strongest reviews in the wine's history, with one critic calling it the best vintage of The Flight they've tasted. Expect dark, brooding fruit, wild blueberry, plum and black raspberry, layered with violets, dark chocolate and a touch of menthol, all wrapped in bold, plush tannin and real energy.

It's a powerful edition of The Flight even by its own standards, closed in on itself now but showing tremendous promise, a wine critics expect to keep improving for years as it settles into its very best form.

James Suckling | 99 Points

"This is the best Flight I have ever had with so much Merlot character coming through with black olives, hazelnuts, brown sugar and blackberries, as well as violets. Full-bodied yet linear and very long. Extremely refined and fresh. Needs a few years to come completely together, but already so refined."

Antonio Galloni | 98 Points

"The 2016 The Flight is gorgeous. Dark, brooding and closed in on itself, the 2016 is going to need a number of years to be at its very best, but it is incredibly beguiling today. Plum, black cherry, lavender, blood orange menthol, and a host of more mineral-driven notes punctuate this super-expressive wine. This is a decidedly tannic and powerful edition of The Flight. I can't wait to see how it ages. Bottled just six weeks before this tasting, the 2016 appears to have a very bright future. Time in the glass brings out some of the softer edges that will almost surely emerge with cellaring. The Flight is built on a core of older Merlot vines from the southeast corner of the estate. It is an absolutely riveting wine from Screaming Eagle. "

Wine Advocate | 97+ Points

"Composed roughly of two-thirds Merlot with 5% Cabernet Franc and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, the medium to deep colored 2016 The Flight opens with bold, expressive notions of wild blueberries, warm plums and boysenberries with touches of black raspberries, spice cake, violets, dark chocolate and potpourri with a hint of menthol. Full-bodied, rich, spicy and jam-packed with energy, it has beautifully plush tannins texturing the multilayered blue and black fruits, delivering a very long, perfumed finish."