2011 Colgin Cariad

Extremely aromatic with lead pencil and hints of currant undertone. Full body, with silky tannins and a very, very long finish. The texture is just right. This is so racy and refined with fabulous texture. I love the savory character. A wine with a solid core of fruit and super silky tannins. It is beautiful and dense yet refined.

Saturated deep ruby. Very backward, brooding aromas of blackcurrant, black raspberry and minerals. Richer, denser and sweeter than the Tychson Hill and IX Estate bottlings but youthfully shut down in bottle (these wines were bottled last June and July). Shows outstanding breadth and definition to the flavors of dark berries, menthol and bitter chocolate. Finishes with substantial broad, youthfully drying tannins and a lingering note of bitter chocolate. I would not be surprised if this wine needed at least seven or eight years in bottle to approach peak drinkability.

The 2011 Cariad is dark, powerful and intense. Expressive ferrous notes lead to dark red fruit, smoke, licorice, tobacco and orange peel in an exotic, full-bodied wine. There is plenty of stuffing and mid-palate richness, but today the 2011 is raw in its intensity. Ideally the 2011 needs a few more years in bottle. Stylistically, the 2011 is a bit of a departure from past vintages. Because of the challenging weather, Colgin relied more on fruit from David Abreu's Thorevilos more than Madrona Ranch, which gives the wine a distinct sense of Howell Mountain intensity and minerality that is a bit out of character. This is also the first time the Cabernet Sauvignon percentage is under 50%. Readers will have to be patient with the 2011, but there is plenty to look forward to. The blend is 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 6% Cabernet Franc.