Intense aromatics abound in the 2021 "IX Estate," revealing a soulful wine with an immense sense of place. Notes of raspberry, plum and cocoa lace together with IX Estate’s telltale nose of sage, juniper, and crushed rock. Potpourri and iron subtly accent the wine’s deeper flavors. Finely polished tannins, with their velvety mouthfeel, meld with the wine’s salivating and succulent sensibility. Structured, yet juicy, the 2021 "IX Estate" echoes the finesse of the greatest of vintages.
The 2021 growing season yielded fruit extraordinarily rich in character and concentration. A decrease in rainfall in the wintertime, just half of normal, set the stage for a precocious season. The soil warmed earlier, leading vines on an accelerated timeline for the season. Summer unfolded with just one heat event in late June after the summer solstice. The remainder of the season was moderate, but momentum still gained in late summer, leading to a fast-paced harvest in September and October.
As moisture was low in the soil in 2021, it was essential to maintain an awareness of the nutrition of the vines. A healthy soil with adequate nutrients and minerals ensures fruitfulness of the crop and a harmonious ripening of not just the vintage in progress, but also those to follow. Our perennial strategy of ensuring a thriving microbiology in the soils enhanced the success of the 2021 vintage at Colgin. For many years, the use of compost, organic inputs, and annual cover crops that capture nitrogen from the atmosphere for tillage into the soil, have verified that our commitment to organic farming is not just beneficial for our environment, but in 2021, we see it also ensured the sustainability and quality of our crop.
The moderate weather of the season ensured every aspect of nuance in the fruit was well captured. Across all sites, fruit was in impeccable condition. The modest rainfall of the season culminated in the vines producing small berries brimming with flavor and color. The 2021 vintage has appeal in every facet- aroma, texture, and taste, in just the right amounts. Site driven flavors of mineral, flora and fauna are maximized in this vintage, with varietal flavors naturally infused in the wines.