2013 Colgin Cariad Proprietary Red California Red

2013 Colgin Cariad Proprietary Red

98 RP

Featured Review

The 2013 Cariad Proprietary Red Wine, a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 9% Petit Verdot, shows great intensity, with a slightly more burning ember and scorched earthiness to it, giving it a more Graves-like character compared to the purity of the Tychson Hill. The wine is full-bodied, rich, layered and possibly slightly more tannic and backward than the Tychson Hill, but that could be because it had recently been bottled. It should evolve over the course of 30+ years. Robert Parker

Robert Parker | 98 RP

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.

Vinous Media | 98 VM

Superb aromas of black fruits, black truffle and leather. Black olives. Full body, fabulous soft and velvety tannins, and superb length. The texture to this is so luxurious and sexy. Cardamom, game, earth and intense fruit. Yet poised. A blend as always of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, and petit verdot. Hard not to drink now.

James Suckling | 97 JS

Exhibits a tight bundle of rich, extracted dark berry, mocha, licorice, savory herb and underbrush flavors, with accents of smoky oak. A tour de force that is best served after a long decant or some cellar time. The finish is deep and extracted. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2020 through 2032. 900 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 93 WS

Type of Wine	California Red : Whether it's Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or Zinfandel, Californian red wine producers have a lovely habit of taking a varietal and expressing its essence in a unique, never before seen way. From Napa Valley to the regions south of Los Angeles, there's a red for everyone - and it's never too late to start exploring.
Varietal	Proprietary Blend : Proprietary Blend is a general term used to indicate that a wine is comprised of multiple grape varietals which are either “proprietary” to the winery or is blended and does not meet the required maximum or minimum percentage of a particular varietal. This also is the case for the grape’s place of origin, especially for region, appellation or vineyard designated wines. There are endless examples of blended wines which are labeled as “Proprietary Blend” and in conjunction with each region’s stipulated wine laws and regulations makes for a vast blanket for wines to fall into. Perhaps the simplest example is California; if a wine is to be labeled as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it is required to have at least 75% of the varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 85% of the fruit must be cultivated from the Napa Valley wine district. If the wine does not meet the requirements, it is then labeled as Proprietary Blend.
Country	US : As one of the most prolific and innovative wine regions in the world, America is a joy to explore. Most wine connoisseurs will agree that the nation's finest and most compelling wines are being produced today, which means that we have front-row seats to one of the most inspirational stories in wine history. While other regions tend to focus on specific wine styles and have somewhat strict rules as to which varietals you could grow, areas like California have few such restrictions in place. As a result, creative visionaries behind America's most reputable estates have been able to develop compelling, unique, and innovative styles, with a level of terroir expression that rivals even France's largest giants.
Region	California : With a history of wine production that dates back to the 18th century, California currently sits as one of the world's most prolific and reputable wine regions. With an area as vast as California, you can expect a colorful collage of terroir profiles, a series of microclimates, and micro-environments that give the wine a unique, memorable appeal. The region's produce is far from homogenized in that sense, and it would take you countless hours to sample all of it. While the region boasts scars from the Prohibition era, it went through what can only be described as a viticultural Renaissance sometime after the 1960s. At that point, California went from a port-style, sweet wine region to a versatile and compelling competitor on the world market. Today, no matter which way your taste in wine leans, you can find a new favorite producer among California's most talented. Notable sub-regions include legendary names like Napa Valley and Sonoma County, places that any wine lover would die to visit. California's quintessential warm climate allows for incredibly ripe fruit expressions, a style that provides a stark contrast to Old World-inspired, earthy classics. Even where inspiration was clearly taken from staple French appellations, Californian winemakers put their own unique spin on the wine.

Producer	Colgin : Colgin Cellars burst onto the scene with the 1992 vintage and immediately carved itself a formidable reputation among collectors and connoisseurs alike. The handcrafted ultra-premium red wines are produced in miniscule amounts and have a three year waiting list just to be placed on the actual mailing list. A rare breed of Napa Valley that delivers just as much in investment as it does pleasure. Colgin is a producer that keeps enthusiasts fascinated with wine and thrusts Napa Valley and California into the spotlight of world class winemaking. Many winemaking ventures are birthed by the desire to attain a lifestyle synonymous with the joy and happiness that wine brings. Perhaps it is a desire to craft something that others can become captivated by and enjoy with family. Ann Colgin is no exception; she began her venture out of love for Napa Valley and her passion for wine. Though it seemed to be an overnight sensation with the debut of her 1992 vintage, it was not as if a 125-acre empire was implanted in the heart and soul of Napa Valley. Colgin’s sheer determination and passion drove her efforts grape by grape, vineyard by vineyard. After attending the Napa Valley Wine Auction in the late 1980’s, Colgin’s fascination with winemaking came to fruition in 1992 when she was able to source fruit from the famed Herb Lamb vineyard and crafted her own wine. It was released in 1995 and set the market on fire. Her ambition would not be placated and in the years following would purchase small historic vineyard sites near and around the St. Helena, Rutherford, and Oakville districts. Finally in 1998, her acquisition of a 125 acre parcel on Pritchard Hill, over-looking Lake Hennessey, enabled her to build the wine-making facility, and thus continuing her dream. Though 2007 was the final year of Colgin’s Herb Lamb offering, it does not diminish its significance nor the pride that helped drive a vintner towards greatness. Trailing in its success are three tremendous vineyard sites that were diligently acquired by Ann Colgin, each offering elegant characteristics from their own unique terroir; from the rocky hillsides of Cariad in St. Helena, overlooking the heart of Napa Valley to the steep East facing slopes of IX Estate on Pritchard Hill, to the historic vineyard of Tychson Hill originally planted in the 19th century. Cariad is perched upon rich, volcanic, stony soil with gravelly-alluvium, with bountiful sunlight and a cool climate stretching out over some of Napa’s finest land. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot, which enjoys opulence and structure characterized by exotic notes of violet, dark fruit, and a gravelly minerality. Tychson Hill, named for Josephine Tychson, who originally planted the vineyard in 1860, is constructed with weathered, volcanic rocks with reddish-brown stone and obsidian. This singular expression of Cabernet Sauvignon reveals intense, deep layers of crème de cassis, barbecue smoke, graphite, blackberry and fresh cut flowers. Finally, the IX Estate Syrah consists of well drained, reddish clays with weathered, igneous rocks carved from ancient lava flows and offers both a unique, Northern Rhone inspired Syrah, as well as the “IX Estate” label which is a powerful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, and exudes towering aromatics of dark fruits, savory herbs and spice. The wines of Colgin Cellars can be enjoyed young, but also have the ability to age gracefully for years to come. With a miniscule annual production of 2,600-2,800 cases produced and a waiting list for a waiting list, the wine is as great an investment as it is a joy to own, drink or collect. Of course it doesn’t hurt when Colgin has been named “One of the Fifty Greatest Wine Estates in the World,” by Robert Parker in 2005. He also stated that Ann Colgin’s pride and joy, “IX Estate is as close to a viticultural nirvana as I have ever seen.” Colgin has crafted a product that radiates elegance, inspires memories, and brings joy and happiness to all who have the pleasure of encountering it.