Colgin - Cariad 2018

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Blended of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2018 Cariad Proprietary Red Wine has a deep purple-black color and slips out of the glass with the most seductive black fruit preserves notions of crème de cassis, blueberry pie and baked plums plus hints of Indian spices, lavender, mocha and licorice with a waft of cardamom. Full-bodied, rich, opulent and spicy, it delivers a wonderfully powerful expression of this vintage with firm yet plush tannins, finishing very long and hedonic." (Lisa Perrotti-Brown)

JAMES SUCKLING: "Incredible aromas of blackcurrants, licorice, blackberries. black mushrooms, crushed stones, cement and flowers. Full-bodied with wonderfully polished, refined tannins. So long. Great tannin integration. Goes on for minutes. Rich. Best in 2025, but already so amazing to drink now."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2018 Cariad isn’t far off and has a wealth of blue fruits, musky earth, spice, and floral notes as well as a deep, rich, layered style on the palate. As with all the 2018s here, the tannin quality is incredible, and it has a plush, sexy, already complex style that’s hard to resist. It’s going to evolve for 25+ years. The blend is 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot."

WINE SPECTATOR: "What a show of ripe, pure and unadorned fruit, with an immense core of cassis, warmed kirsch and black Mission fig paste flavors that glide through as they're given center stage, while beautifully integrated alder and warm earth notes flow underneath. There's serious drive for the long haul, with flickers of anise and violet darting in on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2022 through 2040. 735 cases made."

FALSTAFF: "Eine sehr beerige Nase, die von Brombeeren, Cassis und Heidelbeeren spricht. Der Gaumen ist sehr dicht, sehr konzentriert mit feinsten, reifen, festen Tanninen, die bereits sanft sind. Es gibt keine offensichtliche Eiche, so üppig ist die Frucht. Ein sehr geschmeidiges, elegantes Paket mit nachhallender Frische langem Atem. Der Abgang ist kakaohaltig."

DECANTER: "Opaque red. Hedonistic on the nose, with sumptuous black fruits and plum aromas. Lush and velvety, this shows polished tannins despite the density. There's a light torrefied tone from the oak. The finish is luxurious and long. More harmonious now than Tychson Hill."