Limited Colgin red available. 100 points, Robert Parker: "The 2010 IX Estate is another perfect wine. Its opaque purple color is accompanied by copious aromas of blueberries, cassis, pen ink, asphalt, licorice and subtle oak. Full-bodied and rich but light on its feet, this spectacular effort was created from a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. Enjoy this profound wine over the next 25+ years... ..There are a lot of magnificent estates with Shangri-La-like beauty spread throughout California, and the Colgin property is in the top ten list for spectacular views as well as top quality. Sitting atop Pritchard Hill with stunning views of Lake Hennessey and the surrounding mountains, their IX Estate Vineyard is on a steep, intimidating hillside. It is one of the must-see attractions in Northern California, if not the entire state. The longstanding winemaking team of Ann Colgin, Allison Tauziet and Bordeaux consultant Dr. Alain Raynaud has produced some magnificent wines over the years (the 2001s, 2002s, 2005s, 2007s and 2008s) as well as amazing efforts in 2009, 2010 and 2012. There are three Bordeaux blend offerings, one from their Tychson Hill estate vineyard off Highway 29, north of St. Helena, and the second, the IX Estate blend. The Cariad is fashioned from a blend of grapes purchased from a number of David Abreu-s well-known and highly respected vineyards. There is also a fourth wine, the IX Estate Syrah, which is often a dead-ringer for a great Northern Rhone. In 2010, March and early April were very cold, but normal conditions persisted over the summer with no heat spikes, and September and October were ideally warm. The results include some spectacular wines that are among the finest I have ever tasted from Colgin. The 2011s were the result of a Draconian-like sorting procedure in both the vineyard and the winery, and significant bleeding of the tanks to concentrate the wines. The wines have turned out well, although as I might expect they are lighter and less significant than the other vintages reviewed. 2012 promises to be a spectacular vintage. This was a big as well as ripe crop (without over-ripeness), and the growing conditions were nearly ideal. In the past, I have underrated Colgin-s Syrahs only to have them in blind tastings later and be blown away by just how profound they are. They are completely different from any other California Syrahs and have an affinity to some of the great 100% single vineyard Syrahs from Michel Chapoutier and the up-and-coming firm of Delas."
Brian S
Love the blue red fruit with sanguine
Love the blue red fruit with sanguine
9.6Matt
Great showing for IX Estate today, harmonious, concentrated, textural and inviting. Really enjoyed where this was at. Layered. Complexities are really beginning to show while maintaining rich and pure of fruit. Suave tannin, broad, deeply spiced; love the level of integration the oak had achieved at this point
Great showing for IX Estate today, harmonious, concentrated, textural and inviting. Really enjoyed where this was at. Layered. Complexities are really beginning to show while maintaining rich and pure of fruit. Suave tannin, broad, deeply spiced; love the level of integration the oak had achieved at this point
9.6Antoine Pin
Wine Buyer Kroger/QFC
Amazing is all. $535 / 100pts Cordon206
Amazing is all. $535 / 100pts Cordon206
9.9Rob Mondavi
Owner/President of Winemaking Folio Fine Wine Partners
Wow,... Did I mention Wow!!! The best wine I've tasted in the past year. Perfection. Sultry coating boysenberry with undertones of white fig gorgeous semi sweet chocolate and muddled bing cherry. Superb. Perfect tannin integration.
Wow,... Did I mention Wow!!! The best wine I've tasted in the past year. Perfection. Sultry coating boysenberry with undertones of white fig gorgeous semi sweet chocolate and muddled bing cherry. Superb. Perfect tannin integration.
10Ted Mandes
Outstanding wine. Like all of Ann Colgins wines there is structure with finesse. This one will be great for years to come. I wish I could save her wines but I enjoy drinking them so much they never get a chance age for very long.
Outstanding wine. Like all of Ann Colgins wines there is structure with finesse. This one will be great for years to come. I wish I could save her wines but I enjoy drinking them so much they never get a chance age for very long.
10Rob Brobst III
An almost Bluish-purple color, with blueberries, tobacco, violets and truffle. Beautiful oak notes.
An almost Bluish-purple color, with blueberries, tobacco, violets and truffle. Beautiful oak notes.
9.8Will Costello MS
Master Sommelier, Wine Director Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas
Olives and Garrigue. Super savory and picholine salty style.
Olives and Garrigue. Super savory and picholine salty style.
9.3Ted Mandes
Great. Just great. What can I say
Great. Just great. What can I say
10Diego de la Peña
Just checkin' on this boy... 10 years from now it will be one of Napa's best wines.
Just checkin' on this boy... 10 years from now it will be one of Napa's best wines.
10Ian Blackburn
100 points - rich, fruit driven, stylish, fantastic - hard to not drink now but better in 2016
100 points - rich, fruit driven, stylish, fantastic - hard to not drink now but better in 2016
10WARNING: DRINKING DISTILLED SPIRITS, BEER, COOLERS, WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK, AND, DURING PREGNANCY, CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.