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There is enormous beauty to be found in the 2011 vintage! The experiences of the season are what help distinguish the pedigree of the Colgin vineyard sites from others. The 2011 growing season in Napa Valley seems only to be recognized for its challenges, yet a great site can take challenges in stride. With a wet start to the season, we have a significant advantage in that each of our sites is planted on hillsides with well-draining rocky soils. Given the wet spring, we experienced one of our latest blooms on record in June. The summer followed with relatively mild temperatures during which time we worked diligently in the vineyard to reduce the canopy and bring the vines into balance. At veraison in late August, we removed enough clusters to ensure a consistent, even ripening. We began our harvest the final week in September and picked virtually all of our Merlot and Syrah in this period. Two small rain events the first week of October hastened the progress of the harvest-yet what followed was altruistic, sunny weather which remained through the completion of the harvest season. We picked the Cabernet Sauvignon the second half of October and our conscientious team ensured only the most pristine berries were sorted into the fermentation tanks. The wines were made with a slightly more delicate hand in order to capture their freshness and respect the fruit. The resulting wines of the 2011 vintage are brilliantly aromatic. They have deliciously round tannin and are bolstered by a bright and balanced level of acidity. The flavors of each site truly stand out in this vintage, and the quality of the wines is a testament to the quality of the terroirs upon which they are grown.
Wine Description
The Story
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, IX Estate Napa Valley Red is distinguished by complex fruit interplays, a luscious nose of rustic herbs, iron, clay and black fruits, huge layers of flavor and supple, sweet tannins impeccably well-balanced. The number IX refers to the parcel number and is also significant as the date Ann and Joe were married: 9/9. The 2002 vintage was the first, of four vintages, from this property to achieve the highest accolade of “a perfect wine”. Each year the blend displays extraordinary intensity, a beautiful purity, and a remarkably long finish. Approachable when young, it ages most gracefully
Wine Information
The "IX Estate" truly shines in this vintage. This exceptional hillside slope of fractured volcanic rock took full advantage of the long growing season. As the "IX Estate" is an early ripening site, in a later vintage like 2011 we were easily able to fully ripen the fruit and finish our picking by October 20th. The final blend of the 2011 Colgin "IX Estate" Red Wine is 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.
In the 2011 "IX Estate" Red Wine I find many parallels to the great 2006 vintage from "IX Estate." The 2011 has the same aromatic lift and complexity of the 2006; and shares the elegant texture, viscosity and brilliant acidity of that hallowed vintage.
Notes from the Estate: What we love about the 2011 "IX Estate" Red Wine is how the wine bursts with freshness and black fruits. The benefit of a cooler growing season is that it preserves the nuanced flavors in the fruit. Scents of rosemary, sage, cracked pepper, black olive and soy in the wine remind me of a juicy marinated steak fresh off the grill. The inherent flavors of the site: iron, crushed rock, fresh garrigue notes of juniper berry and bay leaves are all extremely well delineated in this wine. A layer of dark blackberry and black cherry complete the nose.
The texture is incredibly appealing with its silky and suave round tannins. The wine is elegantly layered and the tannin feels effortless and very smooth on the finish. This vintage could be enjoyed near term for its approachability and suaveness, yet in my opinion it will have the same long aging curve of our other vintages from "IX Estate" as it matures in bottle. The natural acidity in 2011 will no doubt add longevity to the wine, preserving it for decades.