Colgin - IX Estate Syrah 2018

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Still showing a bit of youthful tautness, Colgin's 2018 Syrah IX Estate reveals a bit more herbal nuances in its makeup than the other vintages tasted on this occasion, bringing even more complexity into the mix. Sage and bay leaf notes accent blueberry fruit in this full-bodied wine that's elegantly framed by fine-grained tannins while showing fantastic length, energy and balance, finishing with echoing notes of espresso and crushed stone."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2018 Syrah from this estate is another majestic example of the variety and actually reminds me of the 2010. Gorgeous blackberry and blue fruits, notes of bacon fat, bouquet garni, and peppered game, full-bodied richness, and flawless balance all make for a captivating Syrah that can be drunk today or cellared for 15+ years. It’s as good as anything out there."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Amazing aromas of graphite, blackcurrant, black pepper, and blue fruit. Slate, too. Full-bodied, yet so agile and light, in a way that makes it irresistible to taste and drink. The palate is full of flavor with extraordinary mushroom, dried-meat., chocolate and black-fruit character. So long, with a creamy texture from the intense yet fine tannins. Great finish. Hard not to drink now, but will be better in 2025."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Black core with deep purple rim. Intense, spicy, with a touch of orange as well as incense. Like the IX Estate blend, this is super-thick, chewy, dense. Monolithic and the complete opposite of today's trends in light, fresh, juicy wines. The alcohol is felt a bit on the back of the throat. So dense it is hard to taste. Opens to a peppery fragrance, and peony fragrance remarkably emerges from this intensity, like the northern Rhône but also tarry. This is more fragrant and less savoury than the red blend. Impossible to drink now but rewarding to taste and smells lovely! There is a fresh bite on the finish but mostly it is that dark tarry concentration with shafts of perfume like sunlight through the clouds. "(JH)

WINE SPECTATOR: "Potent yet polished, this broad-shouldered red offers deep blueberry, bitter chocolate, smoky meat and licorice flavors that build richness and tension toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2030. 350 cases made."