2021 Colgin Cellars, Cariad, Napa Valley, Case of 3 Btls

JD100 The 2021 Cariad is another First Growth Bordeaux look-alike from Colgin. Darker currants, smoked tobacco, graphite, bouquet garni, and some exotic, meaty notions dominate the bouquet, and it's massively concentrated on the palate, with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered mid-palate, polished tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It actually has some upfront appeal due to its incredible balance and texture, yet smart money will still hide these for 5-7 years. It will have 30+ years of overall longevity.

JS100 So much graphite here with blackcurrants, black olives, black everything. Some orange peel, dried violets and iodine. Volcanic and pumice-like. Amazing aromas. Full-bodied but so tight and polished with crushed stone, iodine and cashmere. Leather undertones. A distinctive masterpiece for the vintage that will age for infinity.

DR100 The 2021 Cariad is nothing short of a seamless, bold, and captivating masterpiece. It carries an effortless suavity and precision, with silky dark berry fruit, exotic spice, and deep cedarwood complexity, all woven into a powerful and finessed structure. This wine embodies the very best of Napa Valley, offering impressive density, levity, and an opulent yet balanced tension. It’s the kind of wine that transcends vintages, showcasing depth and refinement, placing it among the greatest Napa Cabernets of the past decade. Simply flawless. 56% Cabernet, 22% Cabernet Franc, 14% Merlot, and 8% Petit Verdot. (Colgin’s inaugural release was the 1992 Herb Lamb Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. In 1998, Ann Colgin acquired a 125-acre parcel on Pritchard Hill overlooking Lake Hennessey, planting 20 acres and establishing the estate winery. The site is a sprawling, rugged landscape of woodlands and steep terrain, with soils composed of weathered volcanic lava flow, well-drained reddish clays, and weathered igneous rock. The vineyard is divided into 24 blocks and planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Syrah.)