2006 Tychson Hill Cabernet Sauvignon

Good saturated ruby. Deep, brooding nose offers superripe scents of plum, mocha, smoked meat and dark chocolate, all lifted by a floral nuance. Wonderfully sweet and lush, showing slightly less clarity of flavor and refinement today than the Herb Lamb but even greater pliancy of texture. Finishes very long and sweet, with the ripe tannins thoroughly supported by mid-palate stuffing. This seemed to firm up in the glass as its underlying minerality made itself felt.

From Colgin’s first-growth quality estate vineyard, Tychson Hill, located north of St. Helena, on the western slopes, the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill Vineyard is performing far better out of bottle than it did from cask. An extraordinary bouquet of flowers, cedar, tobacco leaf, black currants, blueberries, chocolate, and scorched earth scents is followed by a wine of prodigious concentration, purity, depth, and sweet tannins. An amazing effort for this vintage, it is a compelling bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. Colgin is one of the reference points for just what heights mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux varietals, and more recently, Syrah, can achieve in Napa Valley. This beautiful estate and winery overlooking Lake Hennessey is owned by Joe Wender and his wife, Ann Colgin (equally renowned for her auctioneering skills), who are assisted by David Abreu, the well-known Bordeaux wine consultant, Dr. Alain Raynaud, and Allison Tauziet, who has skillfully replaced the brilliant Mark Aubert. As the scores and tasting notes suggest, this was an exceptional tasting. Colgin’s 2006s are among the finest wines produced in the vintage. Tel. (707) 963-0999; Fax (707) 963-0996

Deep ruby-red. Captivating aromas of cassis, black cherry and flowers; more expressive today than the Herb Lamb. Big, broad, rich and sweet, offering terrific fat and depth of flavor. The dark fruits are beautifully framed by floral and mineral elements. Today I find this very suave and solidly structured wine even more complex than the '06. The minerality gives it a distinct firmness and juiciness.