Community Tasting Note
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msuwine wrote: 93 points
December 29, 2019 - This dark and brooding wine currently tastes too savory and rustic to be that impressive, at least to me. I opened this one too early, since it probably needs another few years in the bottle and may have entered a closed down phase, as have many 2015s.
Dark purple in color and full in body, the wine offers aromas of charcoal, peppercorn, boysenberry, and rosemary. The tastes are dense but tightly coiled, with notes of blackberry, pencil lead, espresso, and ground asphalt, followed by a tannic and briary finish that softens, a bit, after a few hours of air. (If drinking now, give it at least three hours, if not more.) There is a ripe mountain intensity here, but it needs another 2-3 years to outgrow its current grumpiness. Blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 21% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot. 15.1% alcohol. 93+ as of now, with near certain upside in 2022 or later.
P.S. Similar to my experience with Ridge Monte Bello, I'm genuinely surprised that I haven't enjoyed the Colgin wines more. I love the 2015 wines from Colgin's neighbors on Pritchard Hill - including Ovid, Nine Suns, and Continuum - and I enjoy other mountain wines, even in the early going (e.g., La Jota, Arkenstone, Mt. Brave, Adamvs). When it comes to Colgin, though, I've yet to find a wine that lives up to the winery's reputation (or price). More research needed, I guess...2 people found this helpful 4,773 views
4 Comments
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LiteItOnFire commented:
12/30/19, 9:51 PM - MSU- colgin to me is typically a hold for 5-7 years before opening. It tends in the early going to be way too rustic for my palate (although the 2016 Tychson Hill was the anomaly) and surprresses the fruit component that is required to round it out. I would offer my perspective of them being more of a Bordeaux like experience, to be overly generic, but that might help shed some light?
Unfortunately I have not had a chance to try Ovid or the 2015 Colgins recently (as they are sitting in my cellar) or I could be a bit more helpful.
if I may, what are your thoughts on early Opus? Do you get a similar sense from them (only one that came to mind that may be similar). -
msuwine commented:
12/30/19, 10:53 PM - Thanks, LiteItOnFire - I really appreciate the advice. I had the sense that I opened it too early (a mistake I make often!). I usually can handle a mouthful of fruit and tannin, but this one just seemed less interesting than other young mountain wines I’ve tasted, even from Pritchard Hill. I’ll keep your time frame in mind, though, for my other bottle.
Truth be told, I haven’t had an Opus in several years, so I don’t have much wisdom to add on that front. I did enjoy the 2015s - a lot - in the early going, with some incredible valley wines (Carter, Vangone, Maybach, Revana) and more than a few from the mountains as well (Ovid, Adamvs, Continuum). I’ll chalk this one up to bad timing - opening too early or just catching it at an awkward time. Thanks again! -
LiteItOnFire commented:
12/31/19, 7:21 AM - I am not an Opus fan but had the 2015 and 2006 recently which pinged my memory as a good reference point. By means am I suggesting trying either (I feel there are much better wines out there).
The wines that we typically drink are more ready to wear but can still improve with time. Colgin like Bordeaux really needs time before getting the vision of the full potential. -
msuwine commented:
12/31/19, 8:28 AM - Agree with you on Opus. I do think the 2015s may be in a funny phase right now, but I appreciate your point on Colgin. Patience is sometimes a necessity. Thanks again!