The 2014 IX Estate is deep garnet-black in color. Scents of creme de cassis, plum preserves, and blackberry pie jump from the glass, followed by suggestions of incense, iron ore, and camphor with a waft of dark chocolate and Morello cherries coming through after a few moments. The medium to full-bodied palate is vibrant and refreshing, thrumming with mineral-sparked energy and supported by firm, grainy tannins, finishing very long and earthy.

Gorgeous aromas of lean pencil, blackcurrants and raspberries. So perfumed and glorious. Full-bodied, chewy and intense with great length and intensity. Silky and muscular yet agile and energetic. Needs three to four years to resolve some of the tannins. Better in 2020.

The 2014 IX Estate is a normal blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon supported by Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. From a consistently warm, moderate growing season, this has a layered, forward style in its ripe black and blue fruits as well as loamy earth, tobacco leaf, and graphite, with perfectly integrated background oak. Full-bodied, supple, and utterly seamless on the palate, it’s another wine from Tauziet that delivers sensational richness and depth with no sensation of weight or heaviness. Drink bottles any time over the coming two decades.

(98+ Points) From their steep hillside vineyards on Pritchard Hill, the 2014 Proprietary Red IX Estate is an old-fashioned Médoc blend dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, but with some Cabernet Franc (rarely seen in the Médoc these years) as well as Merlot and Petit Verdot. Striking aromatics of violets, forest floor, loamy soil nuances, blueberry, black raspberry and blackberry soar from the glass of this spectacular 2014. The acidity seems reasonable but on the lower side, the texture is magnificent, and the overall purity and equilibrium flawless. This is a wine pushing, even demanding, a three-digit score once again, but I’m holding back – at least for now. This magnificent effort from Colgin should drink beautifully for 25-30 years. Everything at Colgin is done in such a meticulous, almost obsessive way, it’s no surprise that they have been on a qualitative surge since establishing their winery high on Pritchard Hill. On my last visit there, the 2013s had just been released, and two of those wines, the Proprietary Red IX Estate and the Tychson Hill both scored triple digits, with the Cariad and Syrah IX Estate 2013s a mere 98 points. This is just how magnificent these wines have become. Of course, they have a talented team led by Ann Colgin. Winemaker Allison Tauziet, who mentored under Mark Aubert, continues to develop as a superstar while working with well-known Bordeaux consultant Dr. Alain Raynaud. Furthermore, the long-time viticulturalist managing these fabulous vineyards is none other than David Abreu. The 2014s have put on weight across the board, and it’s no surprise that they are nearly as profound as the Colgin 2013s (just released in September of 2016) have turned out to be. These are all amazing wines from one of the world’s greatest small wineries and merit serious attention.

The 2014 IX Estate is the most vibrant of the 2014s at Colgin. Bright acids and beams of tannin give the IX notable energy, which works so well in conveying the personality of the site in the medium-bodied style of the year. Dried herbs, espresso, crushed rocks, iron and graphite infuse the 2014 with tons of character. This is a terrific showing. -- Antonio Galloni

Rich and broad, this packs an impressive amount of black currant, blackberry and boysenberry reduction notes while staying focused and defined thanks to bolts of licorice snap, roasted apple wood and graphite. The winey, sapid, fruit-laden finish won't quit. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. -- Blind 2014 California Cabernet retrospective (June 2024). Drink now through 2042. - JM

A moderate growing season in Napa, with no heat spikes, delivered finely balanced wines with no rough edges. This is no exception, although the black-fruit nose is certainly dense and even now not fully open. The attack is tight, thanks to fine acidity, and the texture svelte and polished. Although no heavyweight, it's intense and punchy, with admirable elegance and superb length.