Screaming Eagle

Screaming Eagle is one of the most fascinating stories to emerge from Napa Valley. It all began in the 1980s, when Jean Phillips, a real estate agent with an innate passion for wine, purchased a plot in the Oakville area. The vines were already present, but not yet fully developed. For a few years, Jean simply sold the grapes, then decided to keep a small portion of Cabernet Sauvignon and give it a try.

The result is a wine that would become legendary. The first official vintage was 1992, and it was an immediate and resounding success: Screaming Eagle was immediately recognized as one of the most prestigious and sought-after wines in the world.

The philosophy underlying the project is simple yet rigorous. In the vineyard, work is carried out with great precision, yields are extremely low, and harvesting is done by hand. The cellar is small, batches are very limited, and vinification is artisanal. The wine is fermented in custom- made oak vats and then aged in French barrels, always with particular attention to balance and elegance. Nothing is left to chance. The grapes are carefully selected, and the entire process follows a logic of maximum respect for the fruit and the terroir.

The Oakville soils provide the ideal conditions for the maturation of Cabernet Sauvignon: gravelly, well-drained soils, optimal exposure, and a perfect microclimate. This combination results in a powerful but never overpowering wine, endowed with an imposing structure but also depth, grace, and freshness. Alongside the Cabernet Sauvignon, small proportions of Merlot and Cabernet Franc are used. Each plot is vinified separately, each detail is observed with precision, each vintage is the fruit of attentive and constant listening.

In 2006, Jean Phillips transferred the property to E. Stanley Kroenke, who remains its owner today. Since then, Screaming Eagle has retained its spirit, evolving while remaining true to its roots. The winemaking direction is entrusted to an expert team headed by winemaker Nick Gislason and Estate Manager Armand de Maigret, and the wine continues to be considered one of the purest and most refined expressions of winemaking.

Screaming Eagle is more than a wine. It’s a symbol. An icon of Napa Valley.