Colgin - IX Estate Proprietary Red 2013

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Another perfect wine from Ann Colgin and her winemaking team is the 2013 IX Proprietary Red Estate, a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. An absolutely compelling wine, with notes of lead pencil shavings, spring flowers, blueberry, blackberry and cassis, it has the full smorgasbord of black and blue fruits, wonderfully integrated, toasty oak, acidity and tannin, a floral note that is unmistakable, and great richness, density and purity. It is an utterly exceptional wine and a tribute to not only a great vineyard, but impeccable winemaking and upbringing. It should drink well for 30+ years as well."

JEB DUNNUCK: "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!"

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Blumig unterlegte reife schwarze Kirschenfrucht, Nuancen von Lakritze und Cassis, feine Gewürznuancen, ein Hauch von Nougat. Ungemein saftig, komplexe Textur, schwarze Waldbeeren, getragen von reifen, hocheleganten Tanninen, finessenreiche Säurestruktur, schokoladiger Nachhall, bleibt sehr lange haften, verspricht größtes Trinkvergnügen."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "With a boatload of fresh ground spice, wet earth, perfectly ripe, sweet, juicy black fruits and smoke on the nose, the wine gets going. On the palate, the wine is full bodied, dense, rich, fleshy and equally, polished and fresh in its textures. The plush endnotes have a spicy kick and in spite of its low acidity, there is more than enough lift, making you want to refill your glass before it’s empty. The wine was made from a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. 2013 has to the best vintage ever for Colgin, and considering their incredible track record, that's really saying something!"

JAMES SUCKLING: "The aromas to this are perfect with black truffle, sage, blueberry and wet earth. Changes all the time. Full body with lots of richness and fruit. The intensity is electric. Chewy tannins yet polished and silky. It lasts for minutes on the palate. A joy to taste (drink) now but it's made for long-term aging."

WINE SPECTATOR: "A powerful expression of rich, detailed, polished Cabernet, with layer upon layer of blackberry, licorice, kirsch, graphite and savory herb flavors. Impeccably balanced and nuanced, authoritative and refined in the same sip. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2019 through 2025. 1,880 cases made."