Colgin 2019 IX Estate Proprietary Red Pritchard Hill, Napa Valley 100 Points

Robert Parker 100 Points: “2019 was a late-ripening vintage at Colgin’s IX Estate on Pritchard Hill. Much was picked during the third week of October, allowing winemaker Allison Tauzier to perform a little more co-fermentation. 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.”

Jeb Dunnuck 100 Points: “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!”

Winery Notes: “Nuanced yet vivid, the 2019 vintage brims with the hallmark characters from the IX Estate vineyard. Powerful mineral notes of crushed rock and iron intermingle with compelling scents of licorice, black cherry, and huckleberry. Generous notes of sage and juniper meld with subtle hints of graphite and potpourri. A gliding texture of suave tannins seamlessly coats the palate leading to a sleek finish. The pure, gorgeous fruit ties everything together, making for an exquisite wine that sings now but will only reveal more layers in the future.”