- CRITICAL REVIEWS
- WINEMAKER NOTES
RP
97
Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The same could be said for the 2004 IX Estate Proprietary Red, a blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot. Deep purple to the rim with sweet blackberry, creosote, camphor, forest floor and fruitcake notes, sweet tannin and a layered mouthfeel, this wine builds incrementally offering up power, but also elegance. It is a spectacular wine from a great site. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.
This spectacularly beautiful estate high on Pritchard Hill with magnificent views in just about every direction has been on a qualitative tear for many years. From their humble beginnings at the co-op Napa Wine Company (their first releases were in the early 1990s), to the construction of their winery and estate vineyard, quality has soared. Reviewed by Robert M. Parker, Jr., Issue date: April, 2014. Drinking window: 2014 - 2029.
V
96
Vinous
(59% cabernet sauvignon, 22% merlot, 13% cab franc and 6% petit verdot) Opaque ruby. Flamboyant aromas of black fruits, licorice, smoke, crushed stone, black tea, lavender and wild sage. Sweet, lush and densely packed, with the wild character following through in the mouth. This comes across as a bit less oaky than the estate's other cabernet based wines, which are aged entirely in Taransaud barrels (this one is about three-quarters Taransaud). The higher percentage of franc here adds freshness, as well as notes of black tea and rustic herbs. Energetic and firmly built, but quite backward in the context of the vintage. Still, there's terrific fruit here; in comparison, the Cariad seems less sweet today. Reviewed by Stephen Tanzer, Issue date: May, 2007. Drinking window: 2015 - 2025.
2004 Colgin Cellars IX Estate Red, Napa Valley, USA
Our “IX Estate” is a powerful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.
“IX Estate” is a wine of great power with towering aromatics of dark fruits, savory herbs, and spice. First produced in 2002, “IX Estate” can be enjoyed in youth and ages gracefully for years to come.
TASTING NOTES
All components of the "IX Estate" continue to mature with each passing vintage. The enticing black color of this wine gives the assurance of ripe grape skins and soft tannins. The high elevation of this outstanding vineyard site creates an average five degrees cooler temperature which means slower ripening, preserving subtle nuances, and creating fine acid structure. The soft tannin structure frames the ageability and reassures continued complexity during bottle aging. The 2004 "IX Estate" will age for a generation.
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
The 2004 vintage will be remembered for its early growing season. Warm yet even summer weather was bracketed by an early spring bud break and several, late summer heat events, creating conditions that allowed for one of the earliest harvests in nearly a decade. The fruit bears the imprint of that early spring, and a slow and steady maturation, which concluded with a fast, hot finish, resulting in wines with impeccable intensity.
All components of the "IX Estate" continue to mature with each passing vintage. The enticing black color of this wine gives the assurance of ripe grape skins and soft tannins. The high elevation of this outstanding vineyard site creates an average five degrees cooler temperature which means slower ripening, preserving subtle nuances, and creating fine acid structure. The soft tannin structure frames the ageability and reassures continued complexity during bottle aging. The 2004 "IX Estate" will age for a generation.
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
The 2004 vintage will be remembered for its early growing season. Warm yet even summer weather was bracketed by an early spring bud break and several, late summer heat events, creating conditions that allowed for one of the earliest harvests in nearly a decade. The fruit bears the imprint of that early spring, and a slow and steady maturation, which concluded with a fast, hot finish, resulting in wines with impeccable intensity.