Colgin - IX Estate Proprietary Red 2019

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2019 IX Estate is opaque purple-black in color, needing a little coaxing to unlock notions of blackberry preserves, baked plums and crème de cassis, plus hints of pencil lead, star anise, wild sage and Indian spices, leading to a fragrant waft of lavender. Built like a brick house, the opulent, full-bodied palate is perfectly framed by super firm, exquisitely ripe tannins and a fantastic acid line to give lift throughout the long earthy finish. So finely knit together, this multi-layered, seamless beauty is just breathtaking."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Ripe cherries, plums and flowers on the nose. Orange peel, too, together with hints of thyme, bay leaf and sage. Medium-to full-bodied, incredibly deep and fresh, with fine tannins that carry you deep down into the finish. It tells you its great, but makes you spend time in order to understand it. Reminds me of the 1990 Latour. Try after 2027."

JEB DUNNUCK: "One of the more backward, mineral-laced, age-worthy wines in the vintage, the 2019 Cabernet IX Estate comes from the estate property on Pritchard Hill, which is unquestionably one of the greatest terroirs in the Valley. Incredibly pure crème de cassis, smoked tobacco, spicy oak, graphite, chocolate, and crushed stone are just some of the nuances here. Hitting the palate with full-bodied richness, it has a stacked mid-palate, building tannins, utterly flawless balance, and the class to benefit from 5-7 years of bottle age and cruise for 50 years or so. Hopefully I’ll still be around to be test this prediction!"

WINE SPECTATOR: " This offers a pretty large-scaled core of cassis, blackberry and mulberry fruit flavors sitting atop a band of graphite, while singed mesquite and apple wood and sweet tobacco notes fill in along the edges. Dense, but juicy and well-defined through the finish. To be released November 2022. Best from 2024 through 2040. 1,700 cases made."

DECANTER: "The IX Estate merges the merits of Tychson Hill and Cariad. The lush and perfumed nose displays brambly, blackberry aromas with a hint of mocha. The attack is fresh and limpid, with good acidity and ripe tannins that give texture and cut. It may lack a little drive, but it's elegant and fine-grained, with a balanced and persistent finish."