2018 Colgin IX Estate

In the world of heavily allocated, cult Napa Valley producers, Colgin is in the top tier competing with the likes of Screaming Eagle and Harlan Estate. Colgin produce wines in tiny quantities and with most of their bottles taken up by those lucky enough to be on their private mailing list, or by select restaurants in the US, Europe and Asia; these wines are rarely offered for sale at retail.

Colgin first starting receiving perfect scores for their wines in 2002, and these truly exceptional wines regularly achieve some of the highest combined scores for any wines around the world. 2018 Colgin IX Estate is yet another addition to this storied list of Napa Valley perfection; red wine simply doesn't get any better.

Other Reviews....
The 2018 IX Estate is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. Very deep purple-black colored, it needs a little coaxing to reveal earth and mineral scents of iron ore, tilled soil, forest floor and truffles with ripe red and black currants, kirsch, Black Forest cake and mulberries plus nuances of tar, lilacs and Sichuan pepper. Full-bodied and built like a brick house, the palate has a rock-solid frame of firm, grainy tannins and exhilarating freshness supporting the taut, muscular fruit. Mineral and savory accents linger long into the epic finish. A thought-provoking, pensive, mesmerizing wine. Drink 2024 - 2064.
100 points
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

The 2018 IX Estate is dense, powerful and brooding. Inky dark fruit, gravel, smoke, spice infuse the IX Estate with tremendous character. All of the savory intensity that is typical of this site comes through, and yet the richness of the fruit is palpable. Readers will find an exciting, viscerally thrilling wine that hits all the right notes. In 2018, the IX Estate is truly lights out. It is also the darkest and most concentrated of the three Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Drink 2024-2043.
99 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous

Extraordinary aromas of black truffles, blackberries, bark and violets. Essence of blackberries. Then it goes to crushed stones and pine needles. Aromatic perfection. Full-bodied with well framed tannins and beautiful dark fruit. Superb finish and intensity. Mountain character. Tannic at the end. Cooler and fresher undertone. 77% cabernet sauvignon, 14% cabernet franc, 8% merlot and 1% petit verdot. Try after 2027.
98 points
James Suckling

Another perfect wine, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon IX Estate is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with 14% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, all from the estate on Pritchard Hill. A monster of a wine that needs serious bottle age, it reveals a dense purple hue as well as a mineral-drenched bouquet of pure crème de cassis, charcoal, spring flowers, tobacco, and earth. Just incredible on the palate, it’s full-bodied and flawlessly balanced, with remarkable purity and a finish that won’t quit. Cabernet – or red wine for that matter – doesn’t get any better! It needs a solid 5-7 years of bottle age. but this legendary wine will see its 50th birthday in fine form. Drink 2026 - 2068.
100 points
Jeb Dunnuck