Colgin Cellars
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Colgin Cellars,
Ready, but will keep,
When I first heard about the wine, prior to opening a sample bottle, the concern at the back of my mind was that it was going to be another heavily-manipulated, over-extracted, over-oaked Napa Valley Cabernet, utterly lacking in elegance and finesse. Well, nothing could be further from the truth; the bouquet displays intense aromas of cassis, plum and black cherry, with hints of graphite and crushed rocks. On the palate the richness fills the mouth, with liquorice notes combining with the dark, berry fruit flavours. The tannins are very present but are exceptionally well-managed, so no harshness or austerity intrudes. The finish is extraordinary, with massive length but one is left with an overriding sense of grace and elegance rather than sheer power. In short, this is a wine of sublime sophistication which is highly reflective of its terroir, and is more than a match for top-level Classified Growths of Bordeaux in quality terms. Can be drunk from 2015 but capable of a further 25 years ageing.
The 2008 IX Estate wine is 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. After fermentation the wine spent 21 months in new French oak barrels before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.
The 2008 IX Estate wine is 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. After fermentation the wine spent 21 months in new French oak barrels before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Colgin Cellars,
Ready, but will improve,
Another perfect wine from Ann Colgin and her winemaking team is the 2013 IX Proprietary Red Estate, a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. An absolutely compelling wine, with notes of lead pencil shavings, spring flowers, blueberry, blackberry and cassis, it has the full smorgasbord of black and blue fruits, wonderfully integrated, toasty oak, acidity and tannin, a floral note that is unmistakable, and great richness, density and purity. It is an utterly exceptional wine and a tribute to not only a great vineyard, but impeccable winemaking and upbringing. It should drink well for 30+ years as well.
The Wine Advocat
The Wine Advocat
Colgin Cellars,
Ready, but will keep,
The 2009 IX Estate Red Wine is another breathtaking wine. It is the coolest, most inward of these 2009s. Graphite, tar, smoke, savory herbs, licorice and black fruit are some of nuances that emerge from the IX Estate. Here, too, the tannins are quite imposing at this stage, but the integration of fruit and structure is superb. This has more than enough stuffing to age for a number of years. The 2009 IX Estate is 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot.
Colgin fans will delight in the 2009s and 2010s, two vintages that are fabulous here. The 2009s capture the silkiness and early approachability of the year. They are incredibly appealing wines. The 2010s will probably prove to be even better. I tasted the 2010s from preliminary blends and then in several pure component lots. Let’s just say there is a lot to look forward to. There is no expense spared at Colgin, and it shows in these striking wines. This is a great showing from Ann Colgin, her husband Joe Wender and their winemaker Allison Tauziet.
Antonio Galloni - Wine Advocate #198 - Dec 2011
Colgin fans will delight in the 2009s and 2010s, two vintages that are fabulous here. The 2009s capture the silkiness and early approachability of the year. They are incredibly appealing wines. The 2010s will probably prove to be even better. I tasted the 2010s from preliminary blends and then in several pure component lots. Let’s just say there is a lot to look forward to. There is no expense spared at Colgin, and it shows in these striking wines. This is a great showing from Ann Colgin, her husband Joe Wender and their winemaker Allison Tauziet.
Antonio Galloni - Wine Advocate #198 - Dec 2011
Colgin Cellars,
Ready, but will keep,
Interesting French-like Syrahs are also made from the estate's steep hillside vineyards. The 2008 IX Syrah Estate is performing even better than it did last year from barrel. Juicy bacon fat, roasted meat, grilled herb and smoky notes are classic northern Rhone Syrah characteristics. A floral component suggests some Viognier could be co-fermented, but this is 100% Syrah. The wood is well-concealed in this full-bodied, delicious wine. It is capable of a decade or more of cellaring.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Colgin Cellars,
For laying down,
Smelling this takes my breath away. Cloves, floras, metal shavings, blackberries and smoked meat. Mandarin zest, too. Full body with a perfect balance of ultra-fine tannins and great complexity. Goes on for minutes. Sets a new standard of syrah for California. Don't wait to drink this.
James Suckling - 03/11/18
James Suckling - 03/11/18
Showing 1-16 out of 16 items
Founded by Ann Colgin and releasing its first vintage in 1992, Colgin Cellars has rapidly established a glowing reputation as one of the very finest producers in the Napa Valley, specialising in Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends of stunning brilliance.
Ann and her husband, Joe Wender, adopt an unusual policy with regard to distribution, in that most of the wine is not sold through retailers but is offered in 3 or 6 bottle lots to restaurants or private customers on the winery’s mailing list. Unsurprisingly, given the wines’ stellar reputation, there is a substantial queue waiting to join the mailing list, and for many consumers the only chance to secure a few bottles is at auction.
We have been fortunate enough to secure a small allocation of the Proprietary Napa IX blend to offer in the UK. The wine is grown on a superb site which lends itself perfectly to the production of deeply complex, hand-crafted Bordeaux blends and this is a wine of sublime sophistication which is highly reflective of its terroir, and is more than a match for top-level Classified Growths of Bordeaux in quality terms. Ann Colgin herself is a renowned patron and collector of fine art, and it is no surprise that she sees wine production as a work of art in many ways, fusing the gifts of nature with the skill of man to create wines of exceptional purity.