2016 Cariad Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
Cabernet Sauvignon (approx 50%), Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot. Backbone from bought-in fruit from Madrone Ranch. Richer soils than Tychson Hill with smaller particles. Quite a slope. Merlot unusual but it adds perfume and silkiness. Hillside Cabernet vines are 35 years old. Lower area is 20 years. 3.5 ha. Very deep crimson/purple. Not as aromatic as the Tychson Hill. Very sweet and polished. Less refreshing than Tychson Hill. Slightly more like a liqueur than a wine. Merlot infuses the whole with blackberry fruit. Cold tea leaves on the end.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Amazing aromas of dark fruit and sweet, subtle tobacco. Complex. Multidimensional. Hypnotic. Full-bodied, very plush and rich on the palate with layers of fruit and tannins. Yet, it remains cool.
Coming from the Madrona Ranch and a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, the 2016 Cariad is a more powerful, concentrated, burly effort that has a massive amount of black and blue fruits, charcoal, savory herbs, and graphite-like aromas and flavors. This beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, loads of tannins, a deep, stacked mid-palate, and a huge finish. Where the Tychson Hill is power married to elegance, this beauty is more power and structure. It needs at least a decade of cellaring.
The highlight in this range today, the 2016 Cariad is utterly magnificent. Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot give the wine soaring aromatic intensity and striking savoriness to play off the racy, forward fruit. Time in barrel has done wonders to meld all the elements together. Today, the Cariad is dense, explosive and super-expressive. And yet my sense is that the 2016 still has quite a bit of room to grow. Even at this early stage, the 2016 is a total stunner. The symbiosis of David Abreu fruit and Allision Tauziet's winemaking makes for an electric, unforgettable 2016. Don't miss it.
About the producer
Colgin has been producing some of the finest Cabernet blends in Napa Valley since its first vintage in 1992. Within just 13 years, it was recognised as one of the top 50 wine estates in the world by Robert Parker.