Colgin
About Colgin
Founded in 1992 by Ann Colgin and Joe Wender, Colgin Cellars quickly soared to the very top of wine production in Napa Valley. The epitome of their holdings is their Colgin IX vineyard which is located in the Pritchard Hill area overlooking Lake Hennessy at an elevation of 350metres above sea level. This magical vineyard, contains rare volcanic soils that a a result of an ancient lava flow and has been dubbed by Robert Parker, Wine Advocate as ‘close to a viticultural nirvana as I have seen’
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Prices:
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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California | 6 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£626.80 |
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Wine Advocate (100)The blend that Colgin fashions from three vineyards owned by David Abreu (Madrona, Thorevilos and Howell Mountain) is called Cariad. The 2005 Proprietary Red Cariad consists of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 9% Petit Verdot. Offering up spring flowers and garden aromas, sweet blueberry and black raspberry fruit, a touch of charcoal embers, graphite and background toast, it is fleshy and full-bodied, and again, meriting a three-digit score. This is absolutely remarkable wine. As it sat in the glass, it developed some rather compelling chocolaty, licorice undertones. This is a great classic to drink over the next 20-25 years. By the way, for those interested, the cooperage generally chosen is dominated by Taransaud barrels, but there are at least four different coopers. |
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California | 1 | 95 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,238.40 |
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Wine Advocate (95)Originally rated 95+, this dense opaque purple-colored blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot exhibits notes of chocolate fudge, mocha, black cherry, blackberry, licorice, smoke and toasty oak. Dense, full-bodied and chewy, it has not yet begun to reveal the nuances and complexity of other Cariad vintages. While it is a big, rich effort, I think it will develop along the lines of the 2000 and 2003, rather than reach the super qualitative level such as 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2007. |
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California | 2 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,907.46 |
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Wine Advocate (100)The 2010 Proprietary Red Cariad reveals great intensity along with abundant notes of unsmoked tobacco leaf interwoven with blueberry, blackberry and cassis fruit, charcoal and coffee bean nuances as well as a Pauillac-like lead pencil shaving character. This blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 14% Cabernet Franc is one of the finest wines I tasted over the 12 days I spent tasting in Napa Valley in late August and early September. This remarkable 2010 should drink beautifully for 20 or more years. |
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California | 1 | 98 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,558.42 |
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Wine Advocate (98)A close second (and who knows how they might perform at different times and with different foods) is the 2012 Cariad Proprietary Red Wine, made from grapes grown by David Abreu at his estate vineyards in Napa. This blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 9% Petit Verdot shows notes of burning embers/charcoal, blackberry fruit, licorice and floral notes, followed by a full-bodied, dense, layered wine. It has great purity, wonderfully sweet, integrated tannin, and a voluptuous mouthfeel and finish of close to 50+ seconds. This is a stunner that can be drunk now or cellared for another 25-30 years. |
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California | 1 | 98 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,359.06 |
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Vinous (98)The 2013 Cariad is fabulous. Pliant, expressive and nuanced in the glass. Here, the tannins are suave and supple, which makes the wine unusually accessible today. There is plenty of delineation in the dark, mineral-laced flavors, but the 2013 impresses for most of its superb textural depth. Cariad is made mostly from fruit sourced from David Abreu's Madrona Ranch vineyard in St. Helena. |
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California | 1 | 97 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£2,893.33 |
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Vinous (97)The 2014 Cariad is wonderfully expressive, open-knit and gracious. Sweet floral and spice notes give the 2014 much of its aromatics, while fruit is bright, vibrant and intense. I imagine the 2014 will drink well pretty much upon release. Today, the 2014 is showy, plush and inviting, but there is also plenty of depth to back it all up. Although I wouldn't dream of opening any of the 2014s early, but if I had to choose one wine to open before the others, this would be it. Cariad is a blend of fruit from several David Abreu ranches, with Madrona Ranch as the central component. |
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California | 1 | 98+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,464.82 |
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Vinous (98+)The highlight among these 2015s, the Cariad is a total knock-out. Dark, vibrant and powerful in the glass, the 2015 offers notable energy to balance the bold flavors of the year. In this vintage, the Cariad has quite a bit more Franc than is typically the case, a decision that has paid off beautifully. I very much like the sense of energy here. |
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California | 1 | 100 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£2,043.30 |
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Vinous (100)The highlight in this range today, the 2016 Cariad is utterly magnificent. Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot give the wine soaring aromatic intensity and striking savoriness to play off the racy, forward fruit. Time in barrel has done wonders to meld all the elements together. Today, the Cariad is dense, explosive and super-expressive. And yet my sense is that the 2016 still has quite a bit of room to grow. Even at this early stage, the 2016 is a total stunner. The symbiosis of David Abreu fruit and Allision Tauziet's winemaking makes for an electric, unforgettable 2016. Don't miss it. |
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California | 1 | 100 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£4,009.49 |
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Vinous (100)What a thrill it is to taste the 2018 Cariad again. Last year the 2018 was magnificent. It is all that this year too. Powerful and explosive, the 2018 is captivating from the very first taste. Healthy dollops of Cabernet Franc and Merlot add layers to this deep, wonderfully vibrant Napa Valley red. In a big morning tasting at Colgin spanning more than a dozen wines, the 2018 Cariad was a stand out. Superb. |
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California | 2 | 100 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£2,053.94 |
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Vinous (100)The 2019 Cariad is outrageously beautiful right out of the gate. Soaring aromatics and gorgeous fruit race out of the glass, all supported by bright acids and vibrant tannins that lend energy. In 2019, the Cariad is truly exceptional. As always, most of this fruit is from David Abreu's Madrona Ranch. There is a feeling of dimension and breadth here that is truly remarkable. |
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California | 1 | 96 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,350.90 |
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Wine Advocate (96)The dense purple-hued 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard exhibits classic notes of creme de cassis, charcoal/creosote, chocolate, and subtle toasty oak along with beautiful ripeness, sweet tannin, and a full-bodied mouthfeel. It is significantly, as well as atypically, more accessible and fleshy than the 2005, a rarity for these two vintages. |
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California | 1 | 93-96 (VN (ST)) |
Inc. VAT
£2,036.10 |
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Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (93-96)Bright medium ruby. Perfumed aromas of cassis, blueberry, bitter chocolate, menthol, violet and wild mint. Not quite as dense yet as the 2006 but boasts terrific thrust and energy to its flavors of black fruits, licorice and minerals. The big, sweet tannins arrive quite late, allowing this wonderfully suave and minerally wine to open and build on the back. |
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California | 1 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£2,055.53 |
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Wine Advocate (100)From the Pritchard Hill Vineyard, the 2006 IX Proprietary Red Estate is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. The good news is that there are 1,500 cases of this cuvee. It, too, reveals the noble sweetness of tannin, the extraordinary rich, intense mouthfeel, and sumptuous aromas of flowers, burning embers, blackberries, blueberries, spice box, and cedar. With extraordinary intensity, beautiful purity, a texture and flavors that build incrementally on the palate, and a significantly long finish, this is a perfect wine. |
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California | 1 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,925.46 |
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Wine Advocate (100)The 2010 IX Estate is another perfect wine. Its opaque purple color is accompanied by copious aromas of blueberries, cassis, pen ink, asphalt, licorice and subtle oak. Full-bodied and rich but light on its feet, this spectacular effort was created from a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. Enjoy this profound wine over the next 25+ years. |
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California | 1 | 95+ (VN (AG)) |
Inc. VAT
£2,812.93 |
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (95+)The 2011 IX Estate is another super-impressive wine. Mocha, tobacco, wild flowers, white pepper and incense all meld together in a silky, supple wine long on finesse and energy. Firm, muscular tannins support the explosive, brooding finish. Cool, intensely mineral and savory, the 2011 is vivid and thrilling in the glass, just as the single components have always been from barrel. In 2011, IX Estate is 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. |
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California | 1 | 99 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,809.30 |
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Wine Advocate (99)The 2012 IX Proprietary Red Estate, which comes from their gorgeous hillside vineyards overlooking Lake Hennessey high on Pritchard Hill, is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. Absolutely spectacular aromatics of spring flowers, blueberry, blackberry and blackcurrant fruit intermixed with creosote, graphite and floral notes are followed by a wine of great depth, elegance, richness and purity. Simply loaded, but with pristine harmony and equilibrium, this is a sensational tour de force and a great tribute to this spectacular hillside site on Pritchard Hill. Drink it over the next 25-35 years. |
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California | 1 | 99 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£3,402.59 |
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Wine Advocate (99)The 2012 IX Proprietary Red Estate, which comes from their gorgeous hillside vineyards overlooking Lake Hennessey high on Pritchard Hill, is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. Absolutely spectacular aromatics of spring flowers, blueberry, blackberry and blackcurrant fruit intermixed with creosote, graphite and floral notes are followed by a wine of great depth, elegance, richness and purity. Simply loaded, but with pristine harmony and equilibrium, this is a sensational tour de force and a great tribute to this spectacular hillside site on Pritchard Hill. Drink it over the next 25-35 years. |
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California | 1 | 100 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£1,991.46 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)An absolute beast of a wine, the 2013 Ix Estate checks in as a mix of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot that’s all from the estate located at the top of Pritchard Hill. Still a primordial wine that reminds me of a barrel sample, its vivid, saturated purple color is followed by an incredible bouquet of black and blue fruits, graphite, spring flowers, and scorched earth. With a deep, full-bodied, massive mid-palate, background oak, and beautiful purity and freshness, it’s a tour de force and may be the most massive yet perfectly balanced wine I’ve ever tasted. It’s incredible today in an academic sort of way, but it won’t start to hit maturity for at least another decade. Hats off to superstar winemaker Allison Tauziet who, in this critic’s opinion, fashions some of the most profound and captivating wines on the planet! |
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California | 1 | 99 (WI) |
Inc. VAT
£1,631.46 |
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The Wine Independent (99)The 2014 IX Estate is deep garnet-black in color. Scents of creme de cassis, plum preserves, and blackberry pie jump from the glass, followed by suggestions of incense, iron ore, and camphor with a waft of dark chocolate and Morello cherries coming through after a few moments. The medium to full-bodied palate is vibrant and refreshing, thrumming with mineral-sparked energy and supported by firm, grainy tannins, finishing very long and earthy. |
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California | 1 | 100 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£2,053.22 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)Another perfect wine from this estate is the 2015 IX Estate which is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot. This inky purple-colored beauty has everything: incredible aromatics, huge richness, insane purity, and a singular character that needs to be tasted to be believed. Crème de cassis, blueberries, violets, flowers, and lead pencil shaving-like notes all soar from the glass and it hits the palate with a youthful, full-bodied, beautifully concentrated style that builds incrementally, has fine tannin, and integrated acidity. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age but will keep for 3-4 decades. |
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California | 1 | 100 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£4,222.84 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)Another perfect wine from this estate is the 2015 IX Estate which is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot. This inky purple-colored beauty has everything: incredible aromatics, huge richness, insane purity, and a singular character that needs to be tasted to be believed. Crème de cassis, blueberries, violets, flowers, and lead pencil shaving-like notes all soar from the glass and it hits the palate with a youthful, full-bodied, beautifully concentrated style that builds incrementally, has fine tannin, and integrated acidity. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age but will keep for 3-4 decades. |
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California | 1 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£2,111.93 |
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Wine Advocate (100)The 2016 IX Proprietary Red Estate is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple, it comes strutting out of the glass with flamboyant Black Forest cake, blueberry compote and plum pudding notions plus hints of spice cake, unsmoked cigars, menthol, licorice and dusty soil and accented by wafts of tar and black tea. The palate is full-bodied yet incredibly poised and vibrant with amazing freshness and very fine-grained, very firm tannins. It possesses the most provocative earthy sparks, providing arresting depth to the very long, beautifully perfumed finish. Stunning. |
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California | 1 | 98 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£1,356.66 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (98)Blackcurrants, tobacco, gravelly earth, and lead pencil notes emerge from the 2017 IX Estate, which has a Chateau Latour-like austerity and class. Coming from vines around the estate, high up on Pritchard Hill, it builds beautifully on the palate and is full-bodied and massively concentrated, yet has stunning balance as well as polished, silky tannins. Enough can’t be said about the quality coming from this estate, and this is another magical wine that will stand up to the greatest Cabernets in the world. Hide bottles for 5-7 years (if you have more patience than I do) and enjoy over the following 40-50 years. |
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California | 1 | 100 (WI) |
Inc. VAT
£1,660.50 |
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The Wine Independent (100)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. |
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California | 5 | 100 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,841.54 |
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James Suckling (100)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. |
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California | 1 | 100 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£4,323.89 |
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James Suckling (100)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. |
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California | 1 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£851.54 |
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Vinous (92)Good medium red. Black raspberry, plum, gunflint, licorice, smoky oak and a carnal quality on the nose. Lovely filled-in wine with surprising energy and saline complexity to its deep flavors of red and darker fruits, iron, meat and musky gunflint. Notes of burnt sugar and orange peel emerge with aeration. The tannins are a bit drier than most of the subsequent vintages so I suspect there's little to gain by holding this wine longer. This maiden release was aged in 50% new oak and bottled with 16% alcohol. |
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California | 1 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£851.54 |
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Vinous (94)(16% alcohol due to the tiny, concentrated berries, but balanced by 6.2 grams/liter total acidity): Saturated dark ruby! Brooding black fruits, black olive, lavender and flinty, smoky minerality on the nose. Dense, superconcentrated, rather wild flavors of saline olive tapenade, dark berries and smoked meat. Displays superb thickness and chewy depth but still needs time to gain in complexity and open. The tannins are dusty but not dry, and the finish is very long and spicy. |
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California | 1 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,992.00 |
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Wine Advocate (100)The 2010 IX Estate Syrah is one of the most compelling Syrahs ever made in California. It ranks alongside some of the perfect Syrahs from Sine Qua Non in Santa Ynez and the Santa Rita Hills. Tasting like liquified steak au poive with blackberry and blueberry sauce, this amazing wine reveals staggering aromas of flowers, bouquet garni, melted asphalt, licorice, pepper and meaty notes. It should drink well for 15+ years assuming you have that much patience. |
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California | 1 | 100 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£1,212.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)Lastly, the 2016 Syrah IX Estate reminds me of the otherworldly 2010 and is as profound as Syrah gets. Tasting like Guigal’s Côte Rôtie La Mouline (maybe on steroids) with its huge notes of bacon fat, spring flowers, blue fruits, barbecued meats, and incense, it’s full-bodied and massive yet also thrillingly pure, seamless, elegant, and weightless. It’s certainly approachable today yet is going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for two decades. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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California | 6 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
£519.00 |
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Wine Advocate (100)The blend that Colgin fashions from three vineyards owned by David Abreu (Madrona, Thorevilos and Howell Mountain) is called Cariad. The 2005 Proprietary Red Cariad consists of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 9% Petit Verdot. Offering up spring flowers and garden aromas, sweet blueberry and black raspberry fruit, a touch of charcoal embers, graphite and background toast, it is fleshy and full-bodied, and again, meriting a three-digit score. This is absolutely remarkable wine. As it sat in the glass, it developed some rather compelling chocolaty, licorice undertones. This is a great classic to drink over the next 20-25 years. By the way, for those interested, the cooperage generally chosen is dominated by Taransaud barrels, but there are at least four different coopers. |
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California | 1 | 95 (WA) |
In Bond
£1,022.00 |
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Wine Advocate (95)Originally rated 95+, this dense opaque purple-colored blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot exhibits notes of chocolate fudge, mocha, black cherry, blackberry, licorice, smoke and toasty oak. Dense, full-bodied and chewy, it has not yet begun to reveal the nuances and complexity of other Cariad vintages. While it is a big, rich effort, I think it will develop along the lines of the 2000 and 2003, rather than reach the super qualitative level such as 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2007. |
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California | 2 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
£1,580.00 |
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Wine Advocate (100)The 2010 Proprietary Red Cariad reveals great intensity along with abundant notes of unsmoked tobacco leaf interwoven with blueberry, blackberry and cassis fruit, charcoal and coffee bean nuances as well as a Pauillac-like lead pencil shaving character. This blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 14% Cabernet Franc is one of the finest wines I tasted over the 12 days I spent tasting in Napa Valley in late August and early September. This remarkable 2010 should drink beautifully for 20 or more years. |
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California | 1 | 98 (WA) |
In Bond
£1,289.00 |
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Wine Advocate (98)A close second (and who knows how they might perform at different times and with different foods) is the 2012 Cariad Proprietary Red Wine, made from grapes grown by David Abreu at his estate vineyards in Napa. This blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 9% Petit Verdot shows notes of burning embers/charcoal, blackberry fruit, licorice and floral notes, followed by a full-bodied, dense, layered wine. It has great purity, wonderfully sweet, integrated tannin, and a voluptuous mouthfeel and finish of close to 50+ seconds. This is a stunner that can be drunk now or cellared for another 25-30 years. |
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California | 1 | 98 (VN) |
In Bond
£1,123.00 |
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Vinous (98)The 2013 Cariad is fabulous. Pliant, expressive and nuanced in the glass. Here, the tannins are suave and supple, which makes the wine unusually accessible today. There is plenty of delineation in the dark, mineral-laced flavors, but the 2013 impresses for most of its superb textural depth. Cariad is made mostly from fruit sourced from David Abreu's Madrona Ranch vineyard in St. Helena. |
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California | 1 | 97 (VN) |
In Bond
£2,392.00 |
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Vinous (97)The 2014 Cariad is wonderfully expressive, open-knit and gracious. Sweet floral and spice notes give the 2014 much of its aromatics, while fruit is bright, vibrant and intense. I imagine the 2014 will drink well pretty much upon release. Today, the 2014 is showy, plush and inviting, but there is also plenty of depth to back it all up. Although I wouldn't dream of opening any of the 2014s early, but if I had to choose one wine to open before the others, this would be it. Cariad is a blend of fruit from several David Abreu ranches, with Madrona Ranch as the central component. |
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California | 1 | 98+ (VN) |
In Bond
£1,211.00 |
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Vinous (98+)The highlight among these 2015s, the Cariad is a total knock-out. Dark, vibrant and powerful in the glass, the 2015 offers notable energy to balance the bold flavors of the year. In this vintage, the Cariad has quite a bit more Franc than is typically the case, a decision that has paid off beautifully. I very much like the sense of energy here. |
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California | 1 | 100 (VN) |
In Bond
£1,693.00 |
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Vinous (100)The highlight in this range today, the 2016 Cariad is utterly magnificent. Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot give the wine soaring aromatic intensity and striking savoriness to play off the racy, forward fruit. Time in barrel has done wonders to meld all the elements together. Today, the Cariad is dense, explosive and super-expressive. And yet my sense is that the 2016 still has quite a bit of room to grow. Even at this early stage, the 2016 is a total stunner. The symbiosis of David Abreu fruit and Allision Tauziet's winemaking makes for an electric, unforgettable 2016. Don't miss it. |
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California | 1 | 100 (VN) |
In Bond
£3,322.00 |
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Vinous (100)What a thrill it is to taste the 2018 Cariad again. Last year the 2018 was magnificent. It is all that this year too. Powerful and explosive, the 2018 is captivating from the very first taste. Healthy dollops of Cabernet Franc and Merlot add layers to this deep, wonderfully vibrant Napa Valley red. In a big morning tasting at Colgin spanning more than a dozen wines, the 2018 Cariad was a stand out. Superb. |
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California | 2 | 100 (VN) |
In Bond
£1,702.00 |
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Vinous (100)The 2019 Cariad is outrageously beautiful right out of the gate. Soaring aromatics and gorgeous fruit race out of the glass, all supported by bright acids and vibrant tannins that lend energy. In 2019, the Cariad is truly exceptional. As always, most of this fruit is from David Abreu's Madrona Ranch. There is a feeling of dimension and breadth here that is truly remarkable. |
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California | 1 | 96 (WA) |
In Bond
£1,116.00 |
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Wine Advocate (96)The dense purple-hued 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard exhibits classic notes of creme de cassis, charcoal/creosote, chocolate, and subtle toasty oak along with beautiful ripeness, sweet tannin, and a full-bodied mouthfeel. It is significantly, as well as atypically, more accessible and fleshy than the 2005, a rarity for these two vintages. |
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California | 1 | 93-96 (VN (ST)) |
In Bond
£1,687.00 |
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Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (93-96)Bright medium ruby. Perfumed aromas of cassis, blueberry, bitter chocolate, menthol, violet and wild mint. Not quite as dense yet as the 2006 but boasts terrific thrust and energy to its flavors of black fruits, licorice and minerals. The big, sweet tannins arrive quite late, allowing this wonderfully suave and minerally wine to open and build on the back. |
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California | 1 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
£1,703.00 |
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Wine Advocate (100)From the Pritchard Hill Vineyard, the 2006 IX Proprietary Red Estate is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. The good news is that there are 1,500 cases of this cuvee. It, too, reveals the noble sweetness of tannin, the extraordinary rich, intense mouthfeel, and sumptuous aromas of flowers, burning embers, blackberries, blueberries, spice box, and cedar. With extraordinary intensity, beautiful purity, a texture and flavors that build incrementally on the palate, and a significantly long finish, this is a perfect wine. |
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California | 1 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
£1,595.00 |
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Wine Advocate (100)The 2010 IX Estate is another perfect wine. Its opaque purple color is accompanied by copious aromas of blueberries, cassis, pen ink, asphalt, licorice and subtle oak. Full-bodied and rich but light on its feet, this spectacular effort was created from a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. Enjoy this profound wine over the next 25+ years. |
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California | 1 | 95+ (VN (AG)) |
In Bond
£2,325.00 |
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (95+)The 2011 IX Estate is another super-impressive wine. Mocha, tobacco, wild flowers, white pepper and incense all meld together in a silky, supple wine long on finesse and energy. Firm, muscular tannins support the explosive, brooding finish. Cool, intensely mineral and savory, the 2011 is vivid and thrilling in the glass, just as the single components have always been from barrel. In 2011, IX Estate is 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. |
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California | 1 | 99 (WA) |
In Bond
£1,498.00 |
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Wine Advocate (99)The 2012 IX Proprietary Red Estate, which comes from their gorgeous hillside vineyards overlooking Lake Hennessey high on Pritchard Hill, is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. Absolutely spectacular aromatics of spring flowers, blueberry, blackberry and blackcurrant fruit intermixed with creosote, graphite and floral notes are followed by a wine of great depth, elegance, richness and purity. Simply loaded, but with pristine harmony and equilibrium, this is a sensational tour de force and a great tribute to this spectacular hillside site on Pritchard Hill. Drink it over the next 25-35 years. |
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California | 1 | 99 (WA) |
In Bond
£2,816.00 |
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Wine Advocate (99)The 2012 IX Proprietary Red Estate, which comes from their gorgeous hillside vineyards overlooking Lake Hennessey high on Pritchard Hill, is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. Absolutely spectacular aromatics of spring flowers, blueberry, blackberry and blackcurrant fruit intermixed with creosote, graphite and floral notes are followed by a wine of great depth, elegance, richness and purity. Simply loaded, but with pristine harmony and equilibrium, this is a sensational tour de force and a great tribute to this spectacular hillside site on Pritchard Hill. Drink it over the next 25-35 years. |
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California | 1 | 100 (JD) |
In Bond
£1,650.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)An absolute beast of a wine, the 2013 Ix Estate checks in as a mix of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot that’s all from the estate located at the top of Pritchard Hill. Still a primordial wine that reminds me of a barrel sample, its vivid, saturated purple color is followed by an incredible bouquet of black and blue fruits, graphite, spring flowers, and scorched earth. With a deep, full-bodied, massive mid-palate, background oak, and beautiful purity and freshness, it’s a tour de force and may be the most massive yet perfectly balanced wine I’ve ever tasted. It’s incredible today in an academic sort of way, but it won’t start to hit maturity for at least another decade. Hats off to superstar winemaker Allison Tauziet who, in this critic’s opinion, fashions some of the most profound and captivating wines on the planet! |
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California | 1 | 99 (WI) |
In Bond
£1,350.00 |
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The Wine Independent (99)The 2014 IX Estate is deep garnet-black in color. Scents of creme de cassis, plum preserves, and blackberry pie jump from the glass, followed by suggestions of incense, iron ore, and camphor with a waft of dark chocolate and Morello cherries coming through after a few moments. The medium to full-bodied palate is vibrant and refreshing, thrumming with mineral-sparked energy and supported by firm, grainy tannins, finishing very long and earthy. |
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California | 1 | 100 (JD) |
In Bond
£1,703.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)Another perfect wine from this estate is the 2015 IX Estate which is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot. This inky purple-colored beauty has everything: incredible aromatics, huge richness, insane purity, and a singular character that needs to be tasted to be believed. Crème de cassis, blueberries, violets, flowers, and lead pencil shaving-like notes all soar from the glass and it hits the palate with a youthful, full-bodied, beautifully concentrated style that builds incrementally, has fine tannin, and integrated acidity. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age but will keep for 3-4 decades. |
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California | 1 | 100 (JD) |
In Bond
£3,503.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)Another perfect wine from this estate is the 2015 IX Estate which is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot. This inky purple-colored beauty has everything: incredible aromatics, huge richness, insane purity, and a singular character that needs to be tasted to be believed. Crème de cassis, blueberries, violets, flowers, and lead pencil shaving-like notes all soar from the glass and it hits the palate with a youthful, full-bodied, beautifully concentrated style that builds incrementally, has fine tannin, and integrated acidity. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age but will keep for 3-4 decades. |
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California | 1 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
£1,750.00 |
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Wine Advocate (100)The 2016 IX Proprietary Red Estate is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple, it comes strutting out of the glass with flamboyant Black Forest cake, blueberry compote and plum pudding notions plus hints of spice cake, unsmoked cigars, menthol, licorice and dusty soil and accented by wafts of tar and black tea. The palate is full-bodied yet incredibly poised and vibrant with amazing freshness and very fine-grained, very firm tannins. It possesses the most provocative earthy sparks, providing arresting depth to the very long, beautifully perfumed finish. Stunning. |
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California | 1 | 98 (JD) |
In Bond
£1,121.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (98)Blackcurrants, tobacco, gravelly earth, and lead pencil notes emerge from the 2017 IX Estate, which has a Chateau Latour-like austerity and class. Coming from vines around the estate, high up on Pritchard Hill, it builds beautifully on the palate and is full-bodied and massively concentrated, yet has stunning balance as well as polished, silky tannins. Enough can’t be said about the quality coming from this estate, and this is another magical wine that will stand up to the greatest Cabernets in the world. Hide bottles for 5-7 years (if you have more patience than I do) and enjoy over the following 40-50 years. |
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California | 1 | 100 (WI) |
In Bond
£1,374.00 |
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The Wine Independent (100)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. |
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California | 5 | 100 (JS) |
In Bond
£1,525.00 |
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James Suckling (100)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. |
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California | 1 | 100 (JS) |
In Bond
£3,584.00 |
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James Suckling (100)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. |
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California | 1 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
£700.00 |
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Vinous (92)Good medium red. Black raspberry, plum, gunflint, licorice, smoky oak and a carnal quality on the nose. Lovely filled-in wine with surprising energy and saline complexity to its deep flavors of red and darker fruits, iron, meat and musky gunflint. Notes of burnt sugar and orange peel emerge with aeration. The tannins are a bit drier than most of the subsequent vintages so I suspect there's little to gain by holding this wine longer. This maiden release was aged in 50% new oak and bottled with 16% alcohol. |
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California | 1 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
£700.00 |
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Vinous (94)(16% alcohol due to the tiny, concentrated berries, but balanced by 6.2 grams/liter total acidity): Saturated dark ruby! Brooding black fruits, black olive, lavender and flinty, smoky minerality on the nose. Dense, superconcentrated, rather wild flavors of saline olive tapenade, dark berries and smoked meat. Displays superb thickness and chewy depth but still needs time to gain in complexity and open. The tannins are dusty but not dry, and the finish is very long and spicy. |
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California | 1 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
£1,650.00 |
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Wine Advocate (100)The 2010 IX Estate Syrah is one of the most compelling Syrahs ever made in California. It ranks alongside some of the perfect Syrahs from Sine Qua Non in Santa Ynez and the Santa Rita Hills. Tasting like liquified steak au poive with blackberry and blueberry sauce, this amazing wine reveals staggering aromas of flowers, bouquet garni, melted asphalt, licorice, pepper and meaty notes. It should drink well for 15+ years assuming you have that much patience. |
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California | 1 | 100 (JD) |
In Bond
£1,000.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)Lastly, the 2016 Syrah IX Estate reminds me of the otherworldly 2010 and is as profound as Syrah gets. Tasting like Guigal’s Côte Rôtie La Mouline (maybe on steroids) with its huge notes of bacon fat, spring flowers, blue fruits, barbecued meats, and incense, it’s full-bodied and massive yet also thrillingly pure, seamless, elegant, and weightless. It’s certainly approachable today yet is going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for two decades. |
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