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Ready, but will improve,
Colgin Cellars,
Ready, but will keep,
The 2009 Syrah IX Estate has developed beautifully over the last year. A blast of heady aromas and flavors burst from the glass in a wine endowed with serious depth. The 2009 stands out for its dazzling inner perfume and balance. Sweet spices, licorice and tobacco all add complexity, while firm mountain tannins frame the saline, focused finish. Although gorgeous today, the 2009 should continue to provide immense pleasure for at least another decade.
Winemaker Allison Tauziet describes 2010 as a year that started later than normal because of a cold March and early April. Conditions returned to normal in June, when temperatures increased. There were no heat spikes during the summer, but a period of heat in September allowed the fruit to catch up. The harvest took place between mid to late October. I also revisited the 2011s, which are now preliminary blends. Readers who want to learn more about Colgin might want to take a look at my video interview with Allison Tauziet filmed during the 2012 harvest. This is a striking set of wines from Ann Colgin, her husband Joe Wender, and the entire Colgin team
Antonio Galloni -Wine Advocate #204 Dec 2012
The 2009 IX Estate Syrah is simply impeccable. It possesses striking finesse in its aromatics and graceful layers of dark black fruit. This is one of the most unique Syrahs being made in California today. Layers of elegant fruit flow seamlessly to the long, textured finish. The 2009 is remarkable from the very first taste. It shows fabulous aromatic intensity and lift throughout. I loved it.
Antonio Galloni - Wine Advocate #198 - Dec 2011
Winemaker Allison Tauziet describes 2010 as a year that started later than normal because of a cold March and early April. Conditions returned to normal in June, when temperatures increased. There were no heat spikes during the summer, but a period of heat in September allowed the fruit to catch up. The harvest took place between mid to late October. I also revisited the 2011s, which are now preliminary blends. Readers who want to learn more about Colgin might want to take a look at my video interview with Allison Tauziet filmed during the 2012 harvest. This is a striking set of wines from Ann Colgin, her husband Joe Wender, and the entire Colgin team
Antonio Galloni -Wine Advocate #204 Dec 2012
The 2009 IX Estate Syrah is simply impeccable. It possesses striking finesse in its aromatics and graceful layers of dark black fruit. This is one of the most unique Syrahs being made in California today. Layers of elegant fruit flow seamlessly to the long, textured finish. The 2009 is remarkable from the very first taste. It shows fabulous aromatic intensity and lift throughout. I loved it.
Antonio Galloni - Wine Advocate #198 - Dec 2011
Ready, but will improve,
81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot, 1% Malbec
2009 was a slightly mixed vintage, weather-wise, for the Napa Valley, with cool weather at flowering and during the key ripening period but interspersed with some burst of extreme heat which brought a pleasing maturity to the grapes in time for the harvest. The bouquet shows traditional cassis and dark chocolate aromas but also some blueberry and graphite, reflecting the coolness. The palate is exceptionally fine, with abundant but ripe tannins integrating beautifully with the French oak and perfectly complemented by crisp acidity. As always, one of the purest expressions of a Bordeaux blend grown in California.
Au Bon Climat,
Drink now,
Jim Clendenen, the talented, highly individual proprietor at ABC, produces a clutch of top-class Pinots from single vineyards but Isabelle is not one of them. Instead it is a blend of the very best barrels that the winery produces from its myriad vineyard sites. After being racked once, shortly after the blend is created and put into barrel, the wine remains undisturbed for 24 months before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. It is a hedonistic experience to drink! Aromas of ripe, black summer fruits abound and the palate has a spicy, rich almost exotic flavour. The texture is velvety but tannins lurk in the background, in no way intrusive and wholly beneficial to the wines’ ageing , but above all ripe and in no way aggressive. A beautiful expression of Pinot Noir which will partner a rib of beef really well and will last for 10 years comfortably.
Ready, but will improve,
The 2009 Dominus saw about 40% new oak compared to the 20% for Napanook. A seamless classic, it offers a symphony of red and black currants, Asian plum sauce, lavender, and underbrush. Sweet Christmas fruitcake characteristics emerge from this magnificent Dominus that finished at 14.5% natural alcohol (slightly higher than usual). The seamless integration of acidity, tannin, wood and alcohol, the brilliant length and overall compelling complexity and richness make it one of the great classics from this historic estate. It should drink well for 20-25 years.
Robert Parker Wine Advocate #209 Oct 2013
Robert Parker Wine Advocate #209 Oct 2013
Cayuse Vineyards,
Ready, but will keep,
A hot vintage that has the grapes harvested mid-September, the 2009 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard offers lots of pepper, dried herbs, white flowers and black and red raspberry fruit to go with a gorgeously ripe, layered, full-bodied style on the palate. Slightly closed at the moment, with lots of structure, give it a few years and enjoy bottles through 2029.
Jeb Dunnuck - Wine Advocate - eRobertParker.com - Jun 2015
Jeb Dunnuck - Wine Advocate - eRobertParker.com - Jun 2015
Inglenook,
Ready, but will keep,
This is the first vintage that the iconic Inglenook name is re-united with the vineyards, and the wine does not disappoint. Classic ripe Napa Cabernet Sauvignon character, skillful winemaking and use of French oak yield a wine of great concentration and surprising elegance. Patient cellaring will be rewarded with great complexity
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
Showing 1-13 out of 13 items