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Wine Description
The Story
From low yielding clonal selections originating in the Cote-Rotie and Hermitage regions of France, the IX Estate Syrah is characterized by the Old World aromatics of the Northern Rhone and a remarkably nuanced bouquet of cured meat, pepper, blackberry, coffee and acacia, graced with a black floral uplift. Its voluptuous texture, savory palate with mouthwatering tannins, and dense black color is truly irresistible, smooth and expressive. Considered “one of the most unique Syrahs being made in California today.”
Wine Information
The 2009 vintage was one that was characterized by balance. Budbreak started right on schedule in mid March. Though we had only received about two thirds of our normal rainfall over the winter, we were fortunate to have a few small rain events in April and May which would tide the vines over through the beginning of summer. A fairly classic weather pattern set in over the summer time. We experienced only a few days of heat over 100 degrees, which was followed by our traditional fog pattern coming in from the bay. The fog continued through much of August which lengthened the early maturation stage of the fruit, giving ample time for the vines to create fruit deep in pigment, and complex in flavor.
Several small heat events in September rounded out the flavor and tannin development, allowing us to begin picking the Merlot and Syrah. Gorgeous mild weather the first week of October provided perfect conditions for ripening the Cabernet, which we picked steadily through the middle of the month. We finished harvest just before the cold and wet weather hit on October 13. The wines of this vintage are inky in color, fresh in flavor, and have incredibly silky and approachable tannins. The quality of the fruit in 2009 was uncompromised, and the wines reflect that purity of fruit and elegance of tannin.
The 2009 Colgin IX Estate Napa Valley Red Wine is a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. The 2009 vintage was our eighth vintage from IX Estate, and we continue to be overjoyed with the quality of the wines from this site. As our vines become older with each passing year, the wines become more and more consistent. We take incredible care to maximize the potential from this site in so many ways. Through attentive tending of the vines, careful irrigations, strict crop thinning and thoughtful decisions of the timing of harvest, we work to bring out the absolute best in the IX Estate.
Tasting Notes from Winemaker Allison Tauziet:
Wow, the 2009 IX Estate Red Wine is incredibly inviting on the nose! A great marriage of aromas of the soil and the dark fruit flavors I associate with this vintage. My first observation is the dark black licorice aroma coming from the Cabernet Franc, but the more I examine the wine, the more number 9 estate notes come through. Gravel, soapstone, talc and especially graphite round out the nose, giving it its sense of place. The purity of aroma is striking and very tempting. I find a meaty side to the wine, of grilled steak and even savory jerky. More memorable than the nose, is the texture of the wine on the palate. Upon first sip, the tannins are both silky and full bodied. The fresh acidity brings a juicy quality to the wine. With tannins that are both round and plump, this wine is just delicious. The lingering structure from the tannin proves the pedigree of the wine. I recommend a minimum of 4 to 5 years of aging, but with long term cellaring the wine could last 20 years or more.
We released 1200 cases of the 2009 Colgin IX Estate Red Wine in November 2012.
