Colgin - Cariad 2019

JEB DUNNUCK: "One of the two perfect wines in the lineup, the 2019 Cariad is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot and Merlot, all from David Abreu’s Madrona Ranch Vineyard. Brought up in two-thirds new French oak, it has a regal, noble, full-bodied style that carries incredible tannins and balance, as well as off-the-charts purity in its floral, chocolate, lead pencil, and assorted red, blue, and black fruits. The tannins’ quality is truly something, and it’s rare to find a wine offering this level of purity, balance, and intensity at the same time. As with most 2019s, it already offers ample pleasure, yet smart money will give these 3-4 years, and it’s capable of evolving for 30 to 40 years."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Cariad is Colgin’s stunning expression of David Abreu’s Madrona Ranch vineyard, where the oldest plot is now 36 years old. Even more Cabernet Franc went into the blend this year, giving the wine a captivating brightness. This 2019 simply shimmers!" (Lisa Perrotti-Brown)

JAMES SUCKLING: "Fabulous aromas of forest flowers, currants and tobacco. Turns to tile and stone with some iron. Opulent, yet fresh. Fine, powdery tannins spread across the palate and show lots of blackberry, blueberry and conifer undertones. Iodine, too. A solid and layered wine. Try this after 2026."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Dark, winey and hefty but with a luxurious mouthfeel and an inner purity, as cassis, warmed plum and steeped black cherry notes form a core wound up with additional cast iron, dark tobacco and smoldering alder accents. The long finish has depth and drive, with the fruit and warm earth moving in lockstep. Serious juice. Cabernet Sauvignon. To be released March 2023. Best from 2024 through 2040. 750 cases made."

DECANTER: Colgin want each of their three main wines to have individual character, and this Cariad is certainly very different from Tychson Hill. The blackcurranty nose is stern, ripe but restrained, but with intensity and purity. Initially soft, the palate soon displays powerful tannins and complex texture. It lacks the finesse of Tychson Hill, but has admirable grip and a long, chocolatey finish.