Colgin Cellars - Napa Valley IX Estate Red 2018

Wine Region: Napa Valley - USA

Grape: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot

Tasting notes: The 2018 "IX Estate" begins with granite, charcoal, and sage aromas which transform into wild blueberry and black cherry. Salivating spices of turmeric and ginger add wildness and intrigue, building a strong sense of character in the wine. The texture is intensely structured with sculpted tannins. The wine’s vibrant minerality and chiseled dense core stand out in its youth, yet will lead to a long, velvety quality on the palate as the wine evolves with time.

Expert Ratings: Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate 100 / 100

"Very deep purple-black colored, it needs a little coaxing to reveal earth and mineral scents of iron ore, tilled soil, forest floor and truffles with ripe red and black currants, kirsch, Black Forest cake and mulberries plus nuances of tar, lilacs and Sichuan pepper. Full-bodied and built like a brick house, the palate has a rock-solid frame of firm, grainy tannins and exhilarating freshness supporting the taut, muscular fruit. Mineral and savory accents linger long into the epic finish. A thought-provoking, pensive, mesmerizing wine."

Jeb Dunnuck 100/100 

“A monster of a wine that needs serious bottle age, it reveals a dense purple hue as well as a mineral-drenched bouquet of pure crème de cassis, charcoal, spring flowers, tobacco, and earth. Just incredible on the palate, it’s full-bodied and flawlessly balanced, with remarkable purity and a finish that won’t quit.”

James Suckling 98/100 

“Extraordinary aromas of black truffles, blackberries, bark and violets. Essence of blackberries. Then it goes to crushed stones and pine needles. Aromatic perfection. Full-bodied with well framed tannins and beautiful dark fruit. Superb finish and intensity. Mountain character. Tannic at the end. Cooler and fresher undertone.”

Wine Spectator 97/100 

“A broad, lush style, with a big wave of warmed cassis and plum reduction flavors rolling through, yet this settles relatively gently rather than crashing through the finish, thanks to well-embedded, loamy grip and an alluring backdrop of roasted alder, bay leaf and licorice root notes. A wine that walks softly but carries a big stick.”

About the Winery:

Colgin Cellars produces exquisitely handcrafted red wines using only the finest neo-classical winemaking methods in concert with small yields, gentle handling, attentive sorting and meticulous blending.

The Colgin winery, completed in 2002, is located at the northern end of IX Estate in the Pritchard Hill area of St. Helena, California. The state-of-the-art winery provides an inspiring view of Lake Hennessey.