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Wine Description
The Story
Cariad, the Welsh word for “love”, is a Bordeaux-style red wine blended from three outstanding vineyards owned and managed by David Abreu. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc from Madrona Ranch are blended with small amounts of fruit from Thorevilos and Howell Mountain, producing a wine of enormous proportions with a classic structure that is the Colgin hallmark: a plethora of vibrant aromas, voluptuous at mid-palate, with impeccable balance and an exceptionally long finish. A wine as seductive as its name.
Wine Information
The 2008 vintage was shaped by the La Nina weather pattern. We experienced just 60% of our average rainfall in the Napa Valley, and most of that rain came in the winter time and tapered off in mid March. Because of the dry spring, the dry soils prompted the vines to push their growth earlier than usual. This would set the stage for the remainder of the season. Because of an early budbreak, the vines were much more vulnerable to springtime frosts. Much of the valley experienced frost burn, but our sites were safely protected from such problems.
With a dry spring, vines naturally produced less fruit than average during bloom in May. Several heat events in the summer sped up the season but also helped to bring uniformity to the ripeness of the fruit, causing the berries to change color simultaneously. A heat wave at the beginning of September started the harvest off fast and furiously with Merlot and Syrah. Soon the weather cooled off, allowing the cabernet to ripen slowly and be picked at the end of September. Crops were quite tiny, but the results are elegant wines with great structure and concentration.
Winemaker notes from Allison Tauziet:
"The 2008 Cariad blend is composed of 54% Cabernet, 32% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc all from Madrona Ranch and 7% Petit Verdot from Thorevilos vineyard. In order to make the best blend year after year, we rely on our French consultant, Alain Raynaud, to give us his thoughtful insight. Slowly and meticulously we construct the blend together.
The 2008 vintage of our Cariad Red wine is savory straight out of the glass thanks to the old vine Cabernet. Dark aromas of barbecue rub, broiled steak and black licorice infuse the wine. The Madrona Ranch components of the blend bring a vivid gravel and mineral graphite quality to the wine. Nuances of musk and clove of the Petit Verdot add intrigue to the nose. This wine has a deliciously layered texture on the entry, yet to me it also has the structure of a great first growth. As the Cariad ages, its aromas in particular become more and more complex, so we recommend a minimum of 5 to 7 years of aging in the cellar. The wine will then age for 20 or more years."
We released 350 cases of the 2008 "Cariad" Napa Valley Red Wine in March 2012. Release price $290.