10 Promontory Wine Bottles To Uncork In 2024 (Tasting Notes, Prices)

Promontory is a prestigious Napa Valley winery whose first vintage came out in 2008. 

Well-known vintner Bill Harlan came across the stunning region of Promontory in the 1980s while hiking along Oakvilles southwestern borderlands.

Today, the winery and its stunning vineyards (flanked by the viticultural areas of Oakville and Yountville) are among the most famous wine destinations in the world.

Let’s discover the best Promontory wine bottles, their tasting notes, prices, food pairing ideas, and investment potential. Also, discover the region’s historic terroir and its longstanding winemaking process.

Promontory Wine: Characteristics and Food Pairings

Promontory is one of the most sought-after Napa Valley wines, showcasing the region’s beautiful terroir. 

The Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wines from this Napa Valley wine label reveal robust fruit flavors, firm tannins, and a refreshing minerality. 

This fine wine pairs perfectly with beef, venison, lamb, deer, and poultry.

10 Best Promontory Wine Bottles (Including Tasting Notes, Prices)

Here are the best Promontory wine bottles to uncork on special occasions:

• 2008 Promontory, Napa Valley
• 2016 Promontory, Napa Valley
• 2015 Promontory, Napa Valley
• 2014 Promontory, Napa Valley
• 2009 Promontory Napa Valley
• 2010 Promontory Napa Valley
• 2012 Promontory, Napa Valley
• 2016 Promontory Penultimate, Napa Valley
• 2012 Promontory Penultimate, Napa Valley
• 2014 Promontory Penultimate, Napa Valley

1. 2008 Promontory, Napa Valley, USA ($1,362)

This wine opens with the enticing aromas of forest floor, creme de cassis, and mint. It has a rich, fruity palate with balanced acidity. 

2. 2016 Promontory, Napa Valley, USA ($1,157)

Characterized by fruit flavors, this California wine has the intense fragrance of black cherries, blueberry pie, and licorice. 

3. 2015 Promontory, Napa Valley, USA ($937)

Here we have one of the best Promontory red wines with the exotic aromas of cinnamon toast, wilted roses, and unsmoked cigars. The fruity palate has hints of mineral sparks and gives way to a smooth finish. 

4. 2014 Promontory, Napa Valley, USA ($902)

This wine opens with hints of graphite, wet stone, and fresh spices. The vibrant palate reveals the tasting note of dark berries and apple cider. 

5. 2009 Promontory, Napa Valley, USA ($887)

This California wine has a gorgeous red color with blackberries, unsmoked cigars, and dried herbs fragrance on the nose.

6. 2010 Promontory, Napa Valley, USA ($877)

Vibrant and fruity, this bottle of Promontory red wine carries the tasting note of dark bramble fruits, cinnamon toast, wet stones, and fresh spices. 

7. 2012 Promontory, Napa Valley, USA ($761)

Characterized by vibrant acidity, this wine reveals wet stone, cassis, and resin aromas. The palate has an intense fruity taste with subtle hints of mineral sparks. 

8. 2016 Promontory Penultimate, Napa Valley, USA ($695)

Here we have a full-bodied red wine featuring fruity notes and dominant flavors of crème de cassis, gravelly earth, cedar pencil, and chocolate. 

9. 2012 Promontory Penultimate, Napa Valley, USA ($638)

This fine wine is enriched with blackcurrants, tobacco, and dark chocolate flavors. The palate packs the tasting note of wilted roses and forest floor, giving way to a smooth finish. 

10. 2014 Promontory Penultimate, Napa Valley, USA ($551)

This red wine is a pleasing outcome of the divine winemaking practices by Promontory’s esteemed winemakers, Cory Empting and David Cilli. It opens with a bouquet of dried herbs, mint, leather, tobacco, and dark cherry. 

Investing in Promontory Wines

Promontory wines are among the most expensive Napa Valley wines and favorable for wine investors due to their good aging potential (15-20 years), high critic scores, and steady price appreciation. 

For example:

• Robert Parker gave the 2016 Promontory vintage a perfect 100, while Antonio Galloni rewarded it with a solid 99. 
• The Wine Advocate scored the 2009 vintage a 97, describing it as “dense, masculine, rich and full.” 
• Wine Spectator awarded the 2015 vintage with 95 points, whereas Robert Parker gave it 98 points.  

Some note-worthy price appreciations include:

• The 2010 Promontory’s price increased by 25% within a year - from $772 in 2020 to $966 in 2021.
• The 2015 Promontory vintage showed a 17% price increase, going from $886 in July, 2020 to $1,035 in May, 2021.

If you want to build a premium wine collection from the comfort of your home, check out the Vinovest website. Vinovest is a world-class wine investment company that lets you buy, sell, and store fine wines online from around the world. 

Let’s also look at the terroir, winemaking techniques, and the origin story of this stellar winery.

The Promontory Wine Region: Terroir and Vineyards

Promontory lies beyond the upper reaches of Oakvilles southwestern borderlands in Napa Valley. The dense forests and steep slopes enjoy a cool, misty climate. 

The vineyards spread over 80 acres dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon vines. There are a few vine plantations of Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. 

The Promontory vineyards enjoy a mix of volcanic, sedimentary, and metamorphic soils and optimal sun exposure - thanks to its location on the Mayacamas Mountain. 

This perfect wine-growing environment and the winery’s winemaking practices create extraordinary wines. 

Promontory Winemaking Practices 

The winemaking team at Promontory is led by Bob Levy (Director of Winegrowing at Harlan Estate) and veteran winemaker Cory Empting in close partnership with David Cilli. 

The winery’s fermentation hall consists of over 30 small, customized tanks selected as per the quantity of grape juice in every batch of winemaking. 

This Napa Valley estate comprises a tasting room and a barrel room to ferment residual grape pieces from the vineyard. The fermentation process is rather drawn out, allowing tannin and flavor development over a period of time. 

Promontory wines are aged in wooden Austrian casks for five years. Cory Empting introduced these casks at the Promontory winery to produce fresh and rich wines. 

A Brief History of Promontory 

Along with Bob Levy and winemaker Cory Empting, Bill Harlan dreamt of creating an unparalleled Napa Valley wine label, and it materialized in the form of Promontory.

The owner of Harlan Estate, Bill Harlan, came across the mesmerizing region of Promontory while hiking along the western hills in Napa Valley in the 1980s. But the Harlan family could purchase the land only in 2008.

Famous architect Howard Backen designed the contemporary look of the Promontory winery, and the earliest plantations of Cabernet Sauvignon vines and other grape varieties were done by the Girard winery. 

Apart from being the proprietor of Harlan Estate, Bond, and Promontory winery, Bill Harlan was also the founder of the private wine club, Napa Valley Reserve.

Today, his son Will Harlan manages the Promontory estate and upholds the leadership values passed down to the generations of the Harlan family. 

Add Sparkle To Your Festivities (And Your Cellar) With A Promontory Wine! 

Promontory wines are one of the finest offerings from Napa Valley. Its perfect medley of bright fruit flavors, crisp tannins, and age-worthiness makes it a perfect addition to any wine cellar. 

Check out Vinovest today to build a winning portfolio of rare and remarkable wines from San Francisco, New Zealand, or any other wine-producing region.