Colgin - IX Estate Proprietary Red 2018

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2018 IX Estate is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. Very deep purple-black colored, it needs a little coaxing to reveal earth and mineral scents of iron ore, tilled soil, forest floor and truffles with ripe red and black currants, kirsch, Black Forest cake and mulberries plus nuances of tar, lilacs and Sichuan pepper. Full-bodied and built like a brick house, the palate has a rock-solid frame of firm, grainy tannins and exhilarating freshness supporting the taut, muscular fruit. Mineral and savory accents linger long into the epic finish. A thought-provoking, pensive, mesmerizing wine." (Lisa Perrotti-Brown)

JEB DUNNUCK: "Another perfect wine, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon IX Estate is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with 14% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, all from the estate on Pritchard Hill. A monster of a wine that needs serious bottle age, it reveals a dense purple hue as well as a mineral-drenched bouquet of pure crème de cassis, charcoal, spring flowers, tobacco, and earth. Just incredible on the palate, it’s full-bodied and flawlessly balanced, with remarkable purity and a finish that won’t quit. Cabernet – or red wine for that matter – doesn’t get any better! It needs a solid 5-7 years of bottle age. but this legendary wine will see its 50th birthday in fine form."

FALSTAFF: "Nuancen von frischen Heidelbeeren. Am Gaumen schwarze, fast tintige Nuancen, zeigt eine unglaubliche Dichte, straffe, aber sehr feine Tannine, und präsente Frische kleiden den Gaumen aus, die Frucht wird in dieser frühen Jugendphase noch etwas verdeckt, man spürt zarte Nuancen von Heublumen im Abgang, die Textur im Finish gleich feinsten Kakaopuder, ein feinziselierter Wein für Jahrzehnte."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The 2018 IX Estate is deep purple-black in color. It gives up crushed blueberries, fresh blackcurrants, and black cherry preserves with an evocative undercurrent of licorice, sandalwood, clove oil, and cumin seed plus a waft of iron ore. The full-bodied palate is firm, tightly wound, and so, so intense, featuring exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and opulent."

JAMES SUCKLING: " Extraordinary aromas of black truffles, blackberries, bark and violets. Essence of blackberries. Then it goes to crushed stones and pine needles. Aromatic perfection. Full-bodied with well framed tannins and beautiful dark fruit. Superb finish and intensity. Mountain character. Tannic at the end. Cooler and fresher undertone. 77% cabernet sauvignon, 14% cabernet franc, 8% merlot and 1% petit verdot. Try after 2027."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Very dark crimson with a bit of garnet at the rim. Dense colour with opaque core. Deep, rich, complex, deep in black fruit but also a more savoury, tarry quality. Woodland and spice. Extremely concentrated and extremely thickly textured. Knife and fork needed here and nowhere near ready to drink. Opens up to a bloody/iron note. Alcohol is high but does not stand out. This is huge, dark and charry/savoury on the finish. What I like about it is the lack of any sort of sweetness, either fruit or oak. Long, thick, deep. There's just a touch of the Cabernet Franc freshness but fresh is not the word for this wine even if it is not overripe. It is just madly concentrated. (JH)"

WINE SPECTATOR: "A broad, lush style, with a big wave of warmed cassis and plum reduction flavors rolling through, yet this settles relatively gently rather than crashing through the finish, thanks to well-embedded, loamy grip and an alluring backdrop of roasted alder, bay leaf and licorice root notes. A wine that walks softly but carries a big stick. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2022 through 2040. 1,650 cases made."

DECANTER: "There's voluptuous black currant fruit on the nose, yet it's still reserved and somehwat shy. The palate has ample presence and polish, with a suave texture, but it lacks a little energy and drive at present, giving a finish that's solid and dense and quite tannic. But it's clearly youthful and should become more harmonious with more bottle age."