Colgin Dinner (RPM Seafood - Chicago IL): Magnum. An absolute behemoth. Dense and so ultra rich, the 10% Cab Franc was also front-and-center with animale, gamy, and wild character.. that some moments I adored and others I did not. So much here. I fully appreciate why this was many people’s WOTN, but. I found it almost too complex. I liked this more a decade ago, and think I might like it more again a decade from now!
55% Cab Sauv, 25% Merlot, 10% each Cab Franc and Petit Verdot.
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Great showing of this wonderful 2005. The nose was bright and fresh as it reminded me of standing in a winery and soaking up the smells of cedar and fruit. The wine was classic with ample fruit like blackberry and dark cheery followed by chocolate and tobacco and leather. Only decanted for 10 min but would recommend at least an hour or more. The tannins were well integrated but still with grip and life. This was our best Carid yet.
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I had partially forgotten why I was willing to pay such a premium for this vintage of Cariad. This bottle reminded me, and would be hard pressed to not purchase more if the opportunity presented itself!
Complete perfection from start to finish, with no decant—and I didn’t feel it needed it. It didn’t last long enough to see how it would have held up on day 2…
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Deep garnet color. Fleshy rasberry, tart blackberry, bitter dark chocolate, orange and a still present alcohol level. The wine has a tight, solid structure and buried layers of flavors. This wine could easily use another 5-10 years of cellaring to begin to show its full potential.
p.s. Italian braised pork shoulder with pasta and asparagus
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Decanted briefly. Broad, dense, and pure on the palate with perfectly integrated acid, black fruit, chocolate, and mature tannins leading to long finish. This is the most "cult" showing I've had from a Colgin, which I usually judge as more Bordeaux-like than most high-end California Cabernet blends. It's not about nuance or layers, just seamless, intense, focused fruit and this is what that tastes like at peak aging. No reason to hold longer, it's absolutely singing right now. Crowd pleaser? Sure. I can't imagine who wouldn't love this wine. But connoisseurs of Napa reds will also appreciate this mature gem.
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This elegant and layered Cabernet is drinking at its peak right now - and what a peak it is. A combination of power and finesse, this wine is Napa Cabernet at its finest (and, unfortunately, most expensive): ripe, nuanced, unique, classy, and delicious, this wine is remarkable.
Bright crimson in color and medium in body (light and nimble in the mouth), the wine offers enchanting aromas of sour cherry, fresh cranberry, cardamom, grilled mushroom, and cloves. The flavors are the definition of integrated, with harmonious but distinct notes of boysenberry, mulberry, graphite, dried spices, and peppercorn. This wine ends with a finish so balanced - tannin, fruit, acidity working together - that it almost floats. Blend of 55% Cabernet, 25% Merlot, and 11% Cabernet Franc from 20-year old vines at Madrona Ranch, along with 9% Petit Verdot from Thorevilos. Mind the sediment, of which there is plenty. 15.6% alcohol.
This is the best Colgin I’ve ever tasted (and also the one with the most bottle age - perhaps a correlation), with the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. I’m a sucker for Abreu’s vineyards (and, even more, his wines), but - similar to Bryant’s Bettina - the Cardiad shows a more elegant and lifted interpretation than from Abreu's own label. Just a stunning wine. Drink in the next few years.
Just a beautiful wine. Balanced. Great aromatics. Wonderful finish. Taste, fruit and length for the ages. Dark fruit and red fruit discernible and pushed to the forefront with a touch of tannins. Wish I could drink it every night. Very special experience.
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Rosemary, red currant, mint and sweet blueberries. Volumptuous, well made wine with dark chocolate notes and red licorice. Beautiful, deep wine with a long velvety finish. Excited to try this over several years.
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07 Cariad, 07 IX, 06 IX, and 05 Cariad all tasted blind together. This was the fourth of four. This was a very dark wine with roasted black fruit character and even a hint of bacon fat in the middle. this was getting some solid votes of Syrah and Shiraz and had me jokingly say that this was the Colgin Syrah at one point before the reveal. The darkest and most roasted character of all four up front. However, towards the middle and finish did seem to thin out a touch. Really good. But the 06IX still definitely outdid this one!
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Drank on Father's Day with Filet & Mushrooms sauteed in sherry. Just terrific. Still impressive depth of red currant flavors and good tannins. If I had another one, I'd say it would be fine for another decade
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Wow - a true masterpiece and a wonderful wine. The 2005 Cariad is quite open for business tonight although it is rather evident it will continue to develop given further rest in the cellar. The first impressions offers up the classical licorice, saddle leather, violets, led pencil, ballpoint pen and of course the old dear cigar box. The palate comes across as perhaps less balanced than expected and also reveals signs of age - as the hard edges are polished and not very noticeable anymore. The latter is of course relative and the wine still has plenty of time to go - but it is drinkable tonight without any signs of 'brooding backawardsness'. With a length on the finish lasting well above than one minute - this is a true gem, a wine that needs to be tasted if given the chance. Quite lovely indeed! (score is 98+)
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Served from magnum and decanted for two hours. This is a terrific wine that is in a perfect place for drinking. The wine shows an ideal combination of age while still retaining some youthful characteristics. The tannins are perfectly integrated, the wine itself polished and extremely well balanced. Everything is in harmony here. Sadly my last bottle, bit a real treat to drink.
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Group wine tasting - second highest scoring - second only to Harlan
Fruity; Jam, Prune favors; Leathery; Sweet; Deep oak, tannins, earthy, black cherry, smooth; Chocolate; Rich Color; High alcohol; "Complicated"' "Outstanding"; "Best of the entire tasting"
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last Colgin in my cellar and it did not disappoint. the crowd couldnt wait for it to properly decant - but it didnt make a difference. a gorgeous, full bodied, hedonistic - but smooth, balanced and absolutely delicious CA cab. very much a top notch expression of CA cab at its finest. not showing any signs of going over the hill. a great wine.
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PnP'd, then drank over 7 hours. 1st glass - great nose but tight taste. Needed air. Recorked, opened 4 hours later. Rest of bottle over 3 hours was amazing. Rich, smooth, beautiful fruit, a bit acidic. Last glass evolved into earth/mushrooms with subdued fruit. A special bottle that can be enjoyed now or held.
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Could easily last another 10+ years in bottle. Deep and rich with smooth tanins. I hate to use the word 'complex' but it is.
Parker has this listed as a 100 point wine which it isn't. Maybe this is an example of Parker inflating wine ratings in his later years? Perhaps. Worth trying if you can afford it but know that there are plenty of other really good Napa cabs for a lot less.
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Saw this at a great price at Smith and Wollensky's in Miami Beach so decided to splurge. Impressive wine. Decanted 75 mins. Best I could do at a restaurant. Pleasant nose of Blackberries, chocolate and cherries. Silky smooth on the palate. Lots of fresh fruit with some oak and sweet tannins. No hard edges here. The wine changed considerably over the next hour. With more air it was just a delicious wine. Powerful and complex but very smooth with a lasting finish. A special wine.
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Dinner with Ann Colgin (Crown Wine Cellars, 18 Deep Water Bay Drive, Shouson Hill, Hong Kong): Jeweled translucent ruby colour. Nose is classic restrained Colgin style....graphite and super linearity like a sketch by Leonardo Da Vinci. Palate is FANTASTIC.......stupendous linear, machine-tooled graphite purity. Amazing length and rolling, rolling resonance that just goes on and on and on. Brlilliant! My WOTN despite the fact I generally prefer my wines 10+ years older and despite the presence of an estate-provided bottle of 1992 Herb Lamb in the line-up.
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100 RP Points plus some extra's (@ Bottles): The complex and lush bouquet of this wine is a true feast! Ripe fruits, coffee, tobacco and leather. On the palate a lot of extremely ripe dark fruits, some sweetness, beautifully balanced by good acidity, beautiful tannin and good bitterness. The alcohol is present, but overall this is a very lush, complex and lovely wine. In this stage the bouquet is the best part. Will probably improve with some more ageing. Would like to try again between 2018 and 2020 and it can probably last until well after 2025. 96++
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Tasting of 100PP wines (Restaurant Bottles, Sas van Gent): This was wild, big and classy, but not giving all it's got... unfortunately. I think it would have done better when given more time in the decanter. Now it showed its darker, gloomy side. Brooding, tannic and backward. And a bright future.
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A Privileged Colgin Tasting (One Market, San Francisco): A real standout, even though a few years too soon to be considered at its peak. Tremendous complexity and concentration, with layers of dark fruits, crushed rock, anise and mocha along with some floral aspects. Full-bodied with plentiful, sweet tannins and a fine acidity that seemingly demands food. The longest finish of the 2005's.
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After a major struggle with the extremely dry and crumbly core. I feared the worst. But no such struggle with the wine. I have very little experience with Colgin and none with their mutiple single vineyard bottles. This one is a big, powerful intense heavyweight. But is it balanced? Yes, it is. The fruit is foremost and in the blue/black spectrum with excellent acidity and slightly coarse tannins, which is exactly what it needs to hold this behemoth together. There is also some graphite in the background. Not particularly complex, but it's still young. I don't search for complexity or subtle nuances in California Cabernet anyway, and I don't need it. Outstanding wine in this style.
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Lots of fresh blackberries, licorice, coffee, oak and fresh earth on the nose. Silky, soft, plush and polished, there is a nice freshness coupled with an intensity of flavor and concentration. The stunning wine ends with a plethora of sweet, ripe, blackberries and plums.
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Still deep in color. Cherry blossoms, licorice, smoke, thyme and earthy scents open the experience. On the palate, the wine coats your mouth and palate with thick, rich, intense waves of lush fruit. If you’re seeking a wine that personifies seamless, this is it. There are no hard edges in this sublime combination of power and finesse.
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Beautiful wine' pretty nose shows dark sweet black cherry fruits with mocha. Palate is dark rich dense with lovely soft texture, yet still with texture. Nice underlyaing layers of complexity with good lift. Loads of life left, yet give great plasure today.
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JT is having a baby (Houstons - Irvine, CA): There's a lot about this wine to recommend it, and in many ways I can see why Parker likes it, but for me this wine went a little too far. A massive effusion of red currant jam, black cherries, dark chocolate, and vanillin oak. Bigger isn't always better, especially with wine, and in some ways the extraction of flavor has led to a loss of nuance -- and in this case, too much heat. Notwithstanding some of my issues with it, there is no doubt considerable quality here, and the heat was much less noticeable with food.
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Herby, vegetal, cabernet nose that's intriguing and yet alluring. Silky smooth, flavourful and crystal clear ripe red fruits, hint of light chocolate and coffee, soft elegant tantalizing tannins, and a long long cooling finish. Wow. The best napa cab I've had thus far.
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Colgin: Alcohol :: 15.6% Single decant. The nose is tighter and less expressive than the Syrah but every bit as deep, broad and complex: tobacco leaf, new oak and dense blackberry and blackcurrant core. This too has great focus and precision despite the intensely concentrated sweet dark fruits as there is this solid firm tannic and acid backbone to avoid it being flabby. Powerful entry and continues to put on weight toward the spicy mid palate and long intense, complex finish with strong cedar and sandalwood aftertaste. Quite heavy now but if you give it another 15yrs to mellow and evolve, you will be greatly rewarded. 93-94+
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Colgin Dinner with Ann Colgin (Les Amis, Shaw House): Brilliant - this was a lovely drink. What a nose it had! With loads of flowery violet scents tumbling out of the glass along with deep wafts of black cherry, blackberry and cassis fruit flecked with more savoury bits of loamy earth, a touch of stewed meat and a nice sprinkling of sweet cardammon and cinamon spice. Enchanting, seductive stuff. The palate was lovely too. Young of course, but with a great velvety depth of dark fruited plums and cassis and blackberries lifted by bright acidity and well-chiselled tannins. There was great weight, yet there was also a lovely, transparent purity to the fruit as the wine stretched into a fine, long finish where the black-fruited flavours nestled alongside little motes of dried earth, spice and herbs - more cardammon and cloves, some rosemary and thyme, and hints of dried flowers. Ridiculously delicious. This was chewy, fruity, juicy - pure Napa - yet it was blessed with a beautiful balance and elegance that made it so easy to drink. Blink and you would completely miss the 15.6% alcohol one this. It was such a complete wine. Wonderful now, but it should be really singing in 5 years' time. I might have scored it even higher if not for the fact that it seemed to drop in the glass a bit with time, with some acidity sticking out at an awkward angle before it was refreshed by a fresh pour. A great wine though.
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This wine is drop dead gorgeous. Started with a short decant (about a half hour). Opaque ruby with a tinge of purple, almost no rim. Beautiful aromas of black cherry, cassis, leather, licorice, espresso and a little smoke. On the palate, more of the black fruits mixed with licorice, mocha and a touch of vanilla. There's a certain old world charm to this wine, a first growth Pauillac like character. Full bodied; ripe tannins; caressingly smooth, long finish. The disappointment? When there's no more wine left in the decanter. Extraordinary.
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Giants win the Super Bowl! (Chez Kailin - Northbrook IL): Black cherry and boysenberry aromas with spring flowers, anise and chocolate. Fruit on palate is a little more black, with great concentration, power and intensity. A bit "blockbuster" in style for Colgin, but fruit, spice and excellent structure are in such great harmony that the alcohol (15.5%?) doesn't stand out. Still a baby.
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Not sure if this was too early or the emperor's new clothes. Not much there. Good solid purple fruited Napa experience. A little heat up front, but very little nose to speak of. For 50 bucks, I'd be thrilled. But having had the 2008 Maybach at less than half the price two days ago, I am more left wondering "where's the beef?" Well.....maybe I should take this one back. On day two the nose on this wine is off the charts, flowers, spice. I think we can chalk this up to wait wait wait before consuming these.
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Taste at S&W. Massive wine at six years old. Herbs, piney, floral aromas. Very fresh and clean. Tons of spice - typical Colgin. Red pepper, blood orange and freshly killed game. Hints of smoke. Rich coating palate. Teeth staining and massively structured. A wine needing some serious time on its side. A royal treat.
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Wow a biG price but a great wine. Not the upper scale I had hoped but still great. This wine delivers fruit, texture, aroma, and body. But at the price is lacking. Better than the Abreu of the same vineyard, and better than many wines this year, but a lot of $$$$.
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First time drinking a Colgin. Elegant wine with a true expression of Napa Cab. Elegant and approachable with delicious fruit which was perfectly balanced. Nuances of blackberry, strawberry, mocha and spices. LIngers on palate forever. Much more approachable than anticipated. No reason to hold on to this wine.
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This rating may be a little conservative as this wine is still young. It has a wonderful nose of violets and dark fruit. On the palate you also get a little licorice and raisin. I'll wait couple of years to open the next bottle.
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Drank for Clare's 3rd birthday in Portofino. Seems to be rounder and more fruit forward than the '04, which is odd given the typical characters of the two vintages. Dark, dark ruby/blue color, and an interesting nose that had a lot of complexity. The palate is still somewhat tight, but showed plenty of red and black fruit, along with some sage, hints of toast, and excellent balance. (PE: 95)
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Great wine. First time we tried it. Lynn wanted to give it 98 points but I may have been a bit stingy by "only" giving it 97. This is very well balanced and everything is already integrated. Great fruit, superb structure and a lot of complexities like spice box, Asian spices, minerals and a very long aftertaste.
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holy cow. a great bottle of wine. very young, of course. decanted six hours and probably still not enough. great nose of perfumed fruits, earth, leather and flowers. palate is really two-faced: wild and brambly up front and then silky and sexy smooth on the back palate and into the finish. finish lingers for a good minute. this will get even better i think.
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4/4/2024 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Colgin Dinner (RPM Seafood - Chicago IL): Magnum. An absolute behemoth. Dense and so ultra rich, the 10% Cab Franc was also front-and-center with animale, gamy, and wild character.. that some moments I adored and others I did not. So much here. I fully appreciate why this was many people’s WOTN, but. I found it almost too complex. I liked this more a decade ago, and think I might like it more again a decade from now!
55% Cab Sauv, 25% Merlot, 10% each Cab Franc and Petit Verdot.
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2/10/2024 - f95masv Likes this wine: 97 Points
Blackberry, leather, vanilla oak, and plum. Smooth tannins and emerging maturity. Lovely wine that drinks very well now at 19 years of age.
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11/6/2023 - R_Manhattan wrote: 100 Points
RP
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10/20/2023 - ajm2573 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Silky smooth. Lots of fruit and more structure after 30mins in glass.
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12/10/2022 - ruppdavey@yahoo.com wrote: 96 Points
Great showing of this wonderful 2005. The nose was bright and fresh as it reminded me of standing in a winery and soaking up the smells of cedar and fruit. The wine was classic with ample fruit like blackberry and dark cheery followed by chocolate and tobacco and leather. Only decanted for 10 min but would recommend at least an hour or more. The tannins were well integrated but still with grip and life. This was our best Carid yet.
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11/26/2022 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine: 100 Points
I had partially forgotten why I was willing to pay such a premium for this vintage of Cariad. This bottle reminded me, and would be hard pressed to not purchase more if the opportunity presented itself!
Complete perfection from start to finish, with no decant—and I didn’t feel it needed it. It didn’t last long enough to see how it would have held up on day 2…
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3/12/2022 - dkentaustin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep garnet color. Fleshy rasberry, tart blackberry, bitter dark chocolate, orange and a still present alcohol level. The wine has a tight, solid structure and buried layers of flavors. This wine could easily use another 5-10 years of cellaring to begin to show its full potential.
p.s. Italian braised pork shoulder with pasta and asparagus
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5/27/2021 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 98 Points
Decanted briefly. Broad, dense, and pure on the palate with perfectly integrated acid, black fruit, chocolate, and mature tannins leading to long finish. This is the most "cult" showing I've had from a Colgin, which I usually judge as more Bordeaux-like than most high-end California Cabernet blends. It's not about nuance or layers, just seamless, intense, focused fruit and this is what that tastes like at peak aging. No reason to hold longer, it's absolutely singing right now. Crowd pleaser? Sure. I can't imagine who wouldn't love this wine. But connoisseurs of Napa reds will also appreciate this mature gem.
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2/21/2021 - msuwine wrote: 98 Points
This elegant and layered Cabernet is drinking at its peak right now - and what a peak it is. A combination of power and finesse, this wine is Napa Cabernet at its finest (and, unfortunately, most expensive): ripe, nuanced, unique, classy, and delicious, this wine is remarkable.
Bright crimson in color and medium in body (light and nimble in the mouth), the wine offers enchanting aromas of sour cherry, fresh cranberry, cardamom, grilled mushroom, and cloves. The flavors are the definition of integrated, with harmonious but distinct notes of boysenberry, mulberry, graphite, dried spices, and peppercorn. This wine ends with a finish so balanced - tannin, fruit, acidity working together - that it almost floats. Blend of 55% Cabernet, 25% Merlot, and 11% Cabernet Franc from 20-year old vines at Madrona Ranch, along with 9% Petit Verdot from Thorevilos. Mind the sediment, of which there is plenty. 15.6% alcohol.
This is the best Colgin I’ve ever tasted (and also the one with the most bottle age - perhaps a correlation), with the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. I’m a sucker for Abreu’s vineyards (and, even more, his wines), but - similar to Bryant’s Bettina - the Cardiad shows a more elegant and lifted interpretation than from Abreu's own label. Just a stunning wine. Drink in the next few years.
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2/3/2021 - RAD2626 wrote: 96 Points
Just a beautiful wine. Balanced. Great aromatics. Wonderful finish. Taste, fruit and length for the ages. Dark fruit and red fruit discernible and pushed to the forefront with a touch of tannins. Wish I could drink it every night. Very special experience.
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8/8/2020 - dkentaustin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rosemary, red currant, mint and sweet blueberries. Volumptuous, well made wine with dark chocolate notes and red licorice. Beautiful, deep wine with a long velvety finish. Excited to try this over several years.
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7/20/2019 - mflesh wrote: 94 Points
07 Cariad, 07 IX, 06 IX, and 05 Cariad all tasted blind together. This was the fourth of four. This was a very dark wine with roasted black fruit character and even a hint of bacon fat in the middle. this was getting some solid votes of Syrah and Shiraz and had me jokingly say that this was the Colgin Syrah at one point before the reveal. The darkest and most roasted character of all four up front. However, towards the middle and finish did seem to thin out a touch. Really good. But the 06IX still definitely outdid this one!
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6/17/2019 - DRob Likes this wine:
Drank on Father's Day with Filet & Mushrooms sauteed in sherry.
Just terrific. Still impressive depth of red currant flavors and good tannins. If I had another one, I'd say it would be fine for another decade
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6/15/2019 - robertek wrote: 96 Points
Yes please
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8/3/2018 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Wow - a true masterpiece and a wonderful wine. The 2005 Cariad is quite open for business tonight although it is rather evident it will continue to develop given further rest in the cellar. The first impressions offers up the classical licorice, saddle leather, violets, led pencil, ballpoint pen and of course the old dear cigar box. The palate comes across as perhaps less balanced than expected and also reveals signs of age - as the hard edges are polished and not very noticeable anymore. The latter is of course relative and the wine still has plenty of time to go - but it is drinkable tonight without any signs of 'brooding backawardsness'. With a length on the finish lasting well above than one minute - this is a true gem, a wine that needs to be tasted if given the chance. Quite lovely indeed! (score is 98+)
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5/25/2018 - jclary Likes this wine: 99 Points
Served from magnum and decanted for two hours. This is a terrific wine that is in a perfect place for drinking. The wine shows an ideal combination of age while still retaining some youthful characteristics. The tannins are perfectly integrated, the wine itself polished and extremely well balanced. Everything is in harmony here. Sadly my last bottle, bit a real treat to drink.
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5/12/2018 - starkravingmad Likes this wine: 96 Points
Group wine tasting - second highest scoring - second only to Harlan
Fruity; Jam, Prune favors; Leathery; Sweet; Deep oak, tannins, earthy, black cherry, smooth; Chocolate; Rich Color; High alcohol; "Complicated"' "Outstanding"; "Best of the entire tasting"
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12/12/2017 - RayOB wrote: 92 Points
Drank at 67
Rich vibrant dense but slightly short.
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10/27/2017 - nfafoglia Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank at Sides in Los Olivos.
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5/25/2017 - dcwino wrote: 97 Points
Bad boy wine night - mostly high octane wines with a surprise or two. (The Grill Room at Rosewood DC): Harmonious youthful ripe nose displaying cassis, blackberry jam, plum, cedar, dark milk chocolate and lead pencil. Excellent concentration, nicely layered, round, silky, polished, nicely integrated tannins and a long finish. This is a beautifully mature cult cab at the youthful peak. Voted as WOTN.
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11/30/2016 - fcxj wrote: 94 Points
What a wine. First time trying Cariad. Great aromatics, floral, opulent. Balanced with cassis and slight bitterness at finish. With Joe, Ann and Paul.
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10/29/2016 - bobwire Likes this wine: 99 Points
Spectacular
Amazing finish
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8/13/2016 - winelover1808 wrote: 97 Points
last Colgin in my cellar and it did not disappoint.
the crowd couldnt wait for it to properly decant - but it didnt make a difference. a gorgeous, full bodied, hedonistic - but smooth, balanced and absolutely delicious CA cab. very much a top notch expression of CA cab at its finest. not showing any signs of going over the hill. a great wine.
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11/6/2015 - dcwino wrote: 98 Points
2015 Villa d’Este Wine Symposium - Kelly and Kevin's excellent adventure; 11/3/2015-11/9/2015 (Villa D’este, Lake Como): Round and warm, blackberry pie, beautiful perfumed, ink, dark spices and earth. Excellent concentration, beautifully polished, quite opulent, bright acidity and strong structure. Despite strong fruit concentration, very strong structure and the tannins are quite noticeable though not obtrusive.
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9/19/2015 - patwjr Likes this wine: 98 Points
Decanted a few hours, rebottled & opened 4 hours later. Big & smooth CA Cab - so near perfect. Everyone loved this one. Has many years ahead of it.
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7/18/2015 - Grapehead56 wrote:
Parker 100
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6/7/2015 - patwjr Likes this wine: 97 Points
PnP'd, then drank over 7 hours. 1st glass - great nose but tight taste. Needed air. Recorked, opened 4 hours later. Rest of bottle over 3 hours was amazing. Rich, smooth, beautiful fruit, a bit acidic. Last glass evolved into earth/mushrooms with subdued fruit. A special bottle that can be enjoyed now or held.
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9/26/2014 - wythes Likes this wine: 94 Points
Could easily last another 10+ years in bottle. Deep and rich with smooth tanins. I hate to use the word 'complex' but it is.
Parker has this listed as a 100 point wine which it isn't. Maybe this is an example of Parker inflating wine ratings in his later years? Perhaps. Worth trying if you can afford it but know that there are plenty of other really good Napa cabs for a lot less.
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4/9/2014 - GaryHOhio Likes this wine: 95 Points
Saw this at a great price at Smith and Wollensky's in Miami Beach so decided to splurge. Impressive wine. Decanted 75 mins. Best I could do at a restaurant. Pleasant nose of Blackberries, chocolate and cherries. Silky smooth on the palate. Lots of fresh fruit with some oak and sweet tannins. No hard edges here. The wine changed considerably over the next hour. With more air it was just a delicious wine. Powerful and complex but very smooth with a lasting finish. A special wine.
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3/20/2014 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 97 Points
Dinner with Ann Colgin (Crown Wine Cellars, 18 Deep Water Bay Drive, Shouson Hill, Hong Kong): Jeweled translucent ruby colour. Nose is classic restrained Colgin style....graphite and super linearity like a sketch by Leonardo Da Vinci. Palate is FANTASTIC.......stupendous linear, machine-tooled graphite purity. Amazing length and rolling, rolling resonance that just goes on and on and on. Brlilliant! My WOTN despite the fact I generally prefer my wines 10+ years older and despite the presence of an estate-provided bottle of 1992 Herb Lamb in the line-up.
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3/14/2014 - Zweder wrote: 96 Points
100 RP Points plus some extra's (@ Bottles): The complex and lush bouquet of this wine is a true feast! Ripe fruits, coffee, tobacco and leather. On the palate a lot of extremely ripe dark fruits, some sweetness, beautifully balanced by good acidity, beautiful tannin and good bitterness. The alcohol is present, but overall this is a very lush, complex and lovely wine. In this stage the bouquet is the best part. Will probably improve with some more ageing. Would like to try again between 2018 and 2020 and it can probably last until well after 2025. 96++
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3/14/2014 - jkoenen wrote: 93 Points
Tasting of 100PP wines (Restaurant Bottles, Sas van Gent): This was wild, big and classy, but not giving all it's got... unfortunately. I think it would have done better when given more time in the decanter. Now it showed its darker, gloomy side. Brooding, tannic and backward. And a bright future.
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11/15/2013 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 98 Points
A Privileged Colgin Tasting (One Market, San Francisco): A real standout, even though a few years too soon to be considered at its peak. Tremendous complexity and concentration, with layers of dark fruits, crushed rock, anise and mocha along with some floral aspects. Full-bodied with plentiful, sweet tannins and a fine acidity that seemingly demands food. The longest finish of the 2005's.
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10/5/2013 - sdr wrote: 94 Points
After a major struggle with the extremely dry and crumbly core. I feared the worst. But no such struggle with the wine. I have very little experience with Colgin and none with their mutiple single vineyard bottles. This one is a big, powerful intense heavyweight. But is it balanced? Yes, it is. The fruit is foremost and in the blue/black spectrum with excellent acidity and slightly coarse tannins, which is exactly what it needs to hold this behemoth together. There is also some graphite in the background. Not particularly complex, but it's still young. I don't search for complexity or subtle nuances in California Cabernet anyway, and I don't need it. Outstanding wine in this style.
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9/15/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 98 Points
Lots of fresh blackberries, licorice, coffee, oak and fresh earth on the nose. Silky, soft, plush and polished, there is a nice freshness coupled with an intensity of flavor and concentration. The stunning wine ends with a plethora of sweet, ripe, blackberries and plums.
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6/22/2013 - bonedocnine wrote: 94 Points
The wine is quite amazing at this time. It is at the peak of its drinking window. The fruit and tannin are in nice balance. Overall lovely wine.
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12/11/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 98 Points
Still deep in color. Cherry blossoms, licorice, smoke, thyme and earthy scents open the experience. On the palate, the wine coats your mouth and palate with thick, rich, intense waves of lush fruit. If you’re seeking a wine that personifies seamless, this is it. There are no hard edges in this sublime combination of power and finesse.
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10/28/2012 - KenK wrote: 96 Points
Beautiful wine' pretty nose shows dark sweet black cherry fruits with mocha. Palate is dark rich dense with lovely soft texture, yet still with texture. Nice underlyaing layers of complexity with good lift. Loads of life left, yet give great plasure today.
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5/19/2012 - shiel wrote: 92 Points
not as well developed as the hype that surrounds it.
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3/20/2012 - Paul Lin wrote: 92 Points
JT is having a baby (Houstons - Irvine, CA): There's a lot about this wine to recommend it, and in many ways I can see why Parker likes it, but for me this wine went a little too far. A massive effusion of red currant jam, black cherries, dark chocolate, and vanillin oak. Bigger isn't always better, especially with wine, and in some ways the extraction of flavor has led to a loss of nuance -- and in this case, too much heat. Notwithstanding some of my issues with it, there is no doubt considerable quality here, and the heat was much less noticeable with food.
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3/15/2012 - Mingmong wrote: 95 Points
Herby, vegetal, cabernet nose that's intriguing and yet alluring. Silky smooth, flavourful and crystal clear ripe red fruits, hint of light chocolate and coffee, soft elegant tantalizing tannins, and a long long cooling finish. Wow. The best napa cab I've had thus far.
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3/15/2012 - Sleepy Dave wrote: 93 Points
Colgin: Alcohol :: 15.6%
Single decant. The nose is tighter and less expressive than the Syrah but every bit as deep, broad and complex: tobacco leaf, new oak and dense blackberry and blackcurrant core. This too has great focus and precision despite the intensely concentrated sweet dark fruits as there is this solid firm tannic and acid backbone to avoid it being flabby. Powerful entry and continues to put on weight toward the spicy mid palate and long intense, complex finish with strong cedar and sandalwood aftertaste. Quite heavy now but if you give it another 15yrs to mellow and evolve, you will be greatly rewarded. 93-94+
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3/15/2012 - Paul S wrote: 94 Points
Colgin Dinner with Ann Colgin (Les Amis, Shaw House): Brilliant - this was a lovely drink. What a nose it had! With loads of flowery violet scents tumbling out of the glass along with deep wafts of black cherry, blackberry and cassis fruit flecked with more savoury bits of loamy earth, a touch of stewed meat and a nice sprinkling of sweet cardammon and cinamon spice. Enchanting, seductive stuff. The palate was lovely too. Young of course, but with a great velvety depth of dark fruited plums and cassis and blackberries lifted by bright acidity and well-chiselled tannins. There was great weight, yet there was also a lovely, transparent purity to the fruit as the wine stretched into a fine, long finish where the black-fruited flavours nestled alongside little motes of dried earth, spice and herbs - more cardammon and cloves, some rosemary and thyme, and hints of dried flowers. Ridiculously delicious. This was chewy, fruity, juicy - pure Napa - yet it was blessed with a beautiful balance and elegance that made it so easy to drink. Blink and you would completely miss the 15.6% alcohol one this. It was such a complete wine. Wonderful now, but it should be really singing in 5 years' time. I might have scored it even higher if not for the fact that it seemed to drop in the glass a bit with time, with some acidity sticking out at an awkward angle before it was refreshed by a fresh pour. A great wine though.
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3/4/2012 - Julius. wrote:
This wine is drop dead gorgeous. Started with a short decant (about a half hour). Opaque ruby with a tinge of purple, almost no rim. Beautiful aromas of black cherry, cassis, leather, licorice, espresso and a little smoke. On the palate, more of the black fruits mixed with licorice, mocha and a touch of vanilla. There's a certain old world charm to this wine, a first growth Pauillac like character. Full bodied; ripe tannins; caressingly smooth, long finish. The disappointment? When there's no more wine left in the decanter. Extraordinary.
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2/6/2012 - DRob wrote:
Rich, dense fruit, lush. Almost black in color with a red rim. Powerful stuff
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2/5/2012 - Burgundy Al wrote: 95 Points
Giants win the Super Bowl! (Chez Kailin - Northbrook IL): Black cherry and boysenberry aromas with spring flowers, anise and chocolate. Fruit on palate is a little more black, with great concentration, power and intensity. A bit "blockbuster" in style for Colgin, but fruit, spice and excellent structure are in such great harmony that the alcohol (15.5%?) doesn't stand out. Still a baby.
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10/14/2011 - jaylew1 wrote:
Not sure if this was too early or the emperor's new clothes. Not much there. Good solid purple fruited Napa experience. A little heat up front, but very little nose to speak of. For 50 bucks, I'd be thrilled. But having had the 2008 Maybach at less than half the price two days ago, I am more left wondering "where's the beef?" Well.....maybe I should take this one back. On day two the nose on this wine is off the charts, flowers, spice. I think we can chalk this up to wait wait wait before consuming these.
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9/19/2011 - beezer6 wrote: 94 Points
Taste at S&W.
Massive wine at six years old. Herbs, piney, floral aromas. Very fresh and clean. Tons of spice - typical Colgin.
Red pepper, blood orange and freshly killed game.
Hints of smoke. Rich coating palate. Teeth staining and massively structured.
A wine needing some serious time on its side. A royal treat.
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9/4/2011 - shiel wrote: 92 Points
Strong fruit and alcohol nose after decanted for an hour. Sweet and thick on the palate. Just a little lacking in depth and complexity.
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8/7/2011 - DRob wrote:
Beautiful. Dark and rich, powerful wine without being overly tannic. The hit of the night. Blackberries, cassis, touch of earth, silky texture.
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6/26/2011 - GCru wrote: 94 Points
Wow a biG price but a great wine. Not the upper scale I had hoped but still great. This wine delivers fruit, texture, aroma, and body. But at the price is lacking. Better than the Abreu of the same vineyard, and better than many wines this year, but a lot of $$$$.
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4/16/2011 - cubswinws wrote: 94 Points
Deep dark color. Expressive nose and very balanced. Just a wonderful bottle of wine.
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3/20/2011 - shiel wrote: 94 Points
First time drinking a Colgin. Elegant wine with a true expression of Napa Cab. Elegant and approachable with delicious fruit which was perfectly balanced. Nuances of blackberry, strawberry, mocha and spices. LIngers on palate forever. Much more approachable than anticipated. No reason to hold on to this wine.
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2/26/2011 - burgcamel wrote: 95 Points
This rating may be a little conservative as this wine is still young. It has a wonderful nose of violets and dark fruit. On the palate you also get a little licorice and raisin. I'll wait couple of years to open the next bottle.
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12/2/2010 - sjdoc wrote: 97 Points
Drank with Chimenti. Bouquet of fruit well balanced. Sweet jam taste. I'm not very good at describing wine. But this was awesome.
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7/21/2010 - bonedocnine wrote: 94 Points
excellent but paled in comparison to the SQN we had as well.........
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7/12/2010 - goofy Yno wrote: 95 Points
wonderful wine, dark fruits, tight wound fruit, but structure, complexity and length are present.
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5/24/2010 - MarkC Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank for Clare's 3rd birthday in Portofino. Seems to be rounder and more fruit forward than the '04, which is odd given the typical characters of the two vintages. Dark, dark ruby/blue color, and an interesting nose that had a lot of complexity. The palate is still somewhat tight, but showed plenty of red and black fruit, along with some sage, hints of toast, and excellent balance. (PE: 95)
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3/26/2010 - phenricsson wrote: 95 Points
Very good wine but not as exotic and delicious as a previous bottle last year. Great structure but darker flavors and a bit muted. In the tunnel?
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12/8/2009 - phenricsson wrote: 97 Points
Great wine. First time we tried it. Lynn wanted to give it 98 points but I may have been a bit stingy by "only" giving it 97. This is very well balanced and everything is already integrated. Great fruit, superb structure and a lot of complexities like spice box, Asian spices, minerals and a very long aftertaste.
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2/16/2009 - jc-mmb wrote: 96 Points
holy cow. a great bottle of wine. very young, of course. decanted six hours and probably still not enough. great nose of perfumed fruits, earth, leather and flowers. palate is really two-faced: wild and brambly up front and then silky and sexy smooth on the back palate and into the finish. finish lingers for a good minute. this will get even better i think.
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1/8/2009 - pgruber wrote: 96 Points
Awesome. Just awesome. Way early but as it was the first I had ever tasted I couldn't resist.
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