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IX Estate, Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
After years of searching for the ideal property in the hills of Napa Valley, Ann Colgin and her husband, Joe Wender purchased IX Estate overlooking Lake Hennessey in 1998. With a vision to create an outstanding Bordeaux style blend, carefully selected clones and rootstocks were chosen and the vineyard was laid out in small plots of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot. There are nearly twenty separate plots in all! In an effort to clearly emphasize the differences of each of these varietals and their positions on the estate, the winemaking team ferments each plot separately in the new state of the art tank room and then tracks the individual lots throughout the aging process. The rocky, low fertility vineyard yields a mere one and one half to two tons per acre. This exceptional site coupled with classic winemaking techniques creates a rich, dense and exotic wine
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"The color and overall intensity of this Cabernet is a deeply pitched red to black. The wine has vibrant clarity which is indicative of a great vintage. Aromatics are also vibrant with a fresh tone of red skinned fruits such as cherries and even raspberries coupled with exotic spices such as tamarind. The complexity of this wine develops further to include earthy, soil driven notes as well. The mouth feel is pure richness framed by ripe, supple tannins and a fine acid structure. Bottled in February 2004, the IX Estate Cabernet Sauvignon was neither fined nor filtered. The wine will continue to improve with bottle aging or will drink well near term."
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
Ann Colgin and Joe Wender's love of wines from the Northern Rhone Valley inspired them to plant syrah at IX Estate. This rugged high elevation, east-facing slope with extremely rocky soil is proving to be an exceptional site for this varietal. Planted on low yielding old clones with pedigrees originating in the Cote-Rotie and Hermitage regions of France, IX Estate produces syrah with saturated black color, essences of wild blackberries and a sauvage note of game and animal.
Winemaking showcases the highly intense, ripe syrah grapes from the four different plots at the vineyard. Each plot is fermented separately in a combination of open top vats and conventional closed stainless steel fermenters. Cold soaks and extended macerations are employed as part of the overall fermentation regime. The 2002 wine was aged for fourteen months in nearly all new French oak barrels while maintaining fine lees contact to further increase the complexity of aromatics and give greater body in the process.
Winemaker Mark Aubert's Tasting Notes -
"An intense deep black with deep red on edge indicates ripe and varietally correct color in this syrah. In the glass, the wine has almost a black center which I feel gives a guarantee of further aromatic complexity developing and long aging potential. Initially, my impressions are of fresh ripe black cherries, intertwined with an earthy background. After just a few moments, there is a complex, savory note of white and black pepper and gamey meats, indicating a true relation between the varietal and the terroir. Across the palate, the wine shows off its pedigree and the wonderful vintage that 2002 is known for; high ripeness and hedonistic, racy tannin structure and uncanny fresh fruit notes. Bottled in February 2004 without fining or filtration, the 2002 IX Estate Syrah is drinking beautifully now but has the structure to age beautifully for ten to fifteen years."
We released 150 cases of 2002 Colgin "IX Estate" Syrah in April 2005. Release price $125.
Average Bottle Price
| 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2010 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 690€ +19.0% | 580€ +9.6% | 529€ +25.1% | 423€ +8.5% | 390€ -15.0% | 459€ |
This data comes from the FINE Auction Index, a composite of average prices for wines sold at commercial auctions in 20 countries. The average prices from each year have been collected since 1990. This chart plots the index value of the average price of the wines.