“Cariad”

Tasting Notes

The 2019 “Cariad” bears a soulful mark of the land, with the polish and esteem of pristine fruit. A bevy of dark fruit flavors like blackberry, cherry, and black currant are woven together with generous notes of earth and spice. Commanding aromatics make way to reveal a wine loaded with the succulence of a tender cut of meat. Finely polished tannins melt across the palate as dark chocolate and herbal notes of mint build into the finish. Both classic and modern, the 2019 “Cariad” is a poignant example of the charm of this sophisticated vintage.

Climatic Conditions

The 2019 growing season paralleled the moderate season of 2018, with several, key elements distinguishing it both at the beginning and the end. An abundance of rainfall came in the winter of 2019 and continued into early May. Vines thrived under such verdant growing conditions. Enhancing the airflow of the vine by spacing out the shoots and adjusting leaves in the late spring was an important yet laborious element for success in 2019. Nature yielded vines with an abundant crop, a result of the extra soil moisture and nutrients. We adjusted crop size using strict criteria for cluster thinning to bring the vines into balance.

A peaceful summer ensued, leading us into ideal ripening conditions throughout September. In early October, a sequence of very cold nights downshifted the pace of ripening, just as the days were shortening. Harvest took place during the middle two weeks of October. The cold nights and cooler days captured freshness, infusing intensity of both flavor and perfume into the wines. Seamless tannins and a strikingly gliding texture define the wines of the 2019 vintage. Though not lacking for structure, the wines are complete in their youth, making for undeniable, immediate enjoyment. Patience in the cellar will only highlight their soaring aromatics, as the palpable fruit integrates with the more subtle savory character.

Tasting Notes

The 2017 “Cariad” dances between exuberance and restraint. Deep notes of blackberry and licorice weave with warm spice flavors of curry, cumin, and cinnamon. Wet gravel, menthol, and chocolate notes imbue the wine with a pensive quality. On the palate, the wine’s density and full texture of broad tannins evoke a strong similarity to recent vintages. Bolstered by the heightened acidity of 2017, freshness and longevity abound in this vintage of “Cariad.”

Climatic Conditions

The 2017 vintage began with double the average rainfall in winter, refilling the water reserves, and delaying the beginning of the season. Warm weather in late April triggered a beautiful, rapid flowering, and an extended heat wave in late May forced vines to taper off growth and focus efforts on the berries. The summer of 2017 experienced a few, intense heat events, whose ultimate effect on our sites was to minimize the berry size and enhance concentration of the fruit. The balance between the canopy and the fruit in 2017 was unlike other years—the lusher than normal green shoots and leaves of springtime added extra protection to the crop during the frequent heat waves. Harvest began in the middle of September, with cold nights and sunny days, and continued at a rapid pace until its completion on October 6th.

In 2017, thoughtful decisions about canopy management, irrigation, crop thinning, and picking dates led us to craft wines that enhanced the strengths of this growing season, such as its aromatic complexity, greater natural acidity, and pleasurable structure—qualities that will guarantee a long evolution in bottle. In the near term, the wines of 2017 express an inward nature, yet they hold within them a resilient spirit.

Tasting Notes

The 2015 “Cariad” is intensely aromatic. The duality of the growing season is highlighted in the wine’s vibrancy and concentration. Dark fruits, like blackberry and juicy plum, layer with notes of pain grillé and charcoal. Mineral, wet stone, and forest floor guide the character of the wine, emphasizing the earth tones. 2015 highlights not only the ripe fruits, but also the gorgeous elements of the stones at this site. On the palate, the tannins coat the mouth with tremendous breadth. In 2015, we find structure and texture paired seamlessly.

Climatic Conditions

2015 continued the streak of exquisite vintages produced from the extended drought that began in 2013 in the Napa Valley. Much of the rain for the 2015 season came before winter even began. A long pause, until early February, followed, when a large storm came. These alternating wet and dry conditions, combined with a warm winter, led to an early budbreak at the beginning of March. A long, cool spring ensued, bringing sporadic growing conditions leading into bloom. Uneven weather during flowering led to very light clusters with few berries, delivering a small crop. What began as a challenge ultimately resulted in a blessing. The small crop with tiny berries ripened quickly over the warm summer and fall, bringing fruit with vivid color and exciting levels of flavor. We crafted the 2015 vintage with an emphasis on preserving the aromatic exuberance of the wines. The lush textures and inky color in the nascent wines guided us toward gentler extraction that would preserve the wine’s balance and let the energy shine through.

Tasting Notes

The 2013 “Cariad” encapsulates a broad spectrum of flavors. Starting with deep, dark notes of ripe plum and black cherry, the nose quickly leans into more earth-driven aromas. Forest floor, cinnamon stick, and cardamom layer in with the cooling scent of black licorice. The 2013 “Cariad” expresses an elixir of spices, earth, and complexity. The depth of flavor continues onto the palate as tannins envelop with refined abundance. Broad, ripe, and layered, this is a “Cariad” for the ages.

Climatic Conditions

With the ideal blend of cool and warm weather at the right time, the 2013 growing season gave us perfectly ripened fruit, with purely preserved flavors, and inky grape skins. What was somewhat atypical about 2013 was the rainfall pattern, as we were in our second year of a drought. All of our winter rain fell in late 2012 and a small amount in January. Beyond January, we had no rain, yet the weather, as it relates to temperature and fog patterns, was absolutely magical. With a classically timed budbreak to start the season, then gorgeous warm weather during bloom, the vines set a homogenous and fruitful crop—an ideal setup to harvest. In a sense, the 2013 season was “made to order.” By mid-September, we reached a holding pattern of sunny and mild weather. By that point, the berries had attained an unbelievable intensity of flavor, color, and delicious tannin. The 2013 vintage was one that tested our courage to pick early rather than our patience to ripen the fruit longer. That same fortitude and self-restraint carried into the winemaking. With fruit so rich in flavor and texture, we found the wines extracted very effortlessly, and thus the balance between power and elegance in the 2013 vintage was achieved with shorter macerations in the cellar.

Tasting Notes

The 2011 “Cariad” is brimming with purity, freshness, and richness. Concentrated aromas of bright cherry, licorice, and grilled meat give way to notes of incense, chocolate, and orange peel. An amazing amount of minerality comes through in this wine with notes of cobble, iron, wet stone, and forest floor. The wine is layered with silky, almost oily, delectable tannins. This complex, palate-enveloping wine is deep in color with a long finish. Supported by its natural acidity and the fine polish of the tannins, the 2011 “Cariad” will age with a more graceful, elegant tone.

Climatic Conditions

There is enormous beauty to be found in the 2011 vintage. With a wet start to the season, we had a significant advantage in that each of our sites is planted on hillsides with well-draining, rocky soils. Given the wet spring, we experienced one of our latest blooms on record, in June. The summer followed with relatively mild temperatures during which we worked diligently in the vineyard to reduce the canopy and bring the vines into balance. At veraison in late August, we removed enough clusters to ensure a consistent, even ripening. We began our harvest the final week in September and picked virtually all of our Merlot and Syrah in this period. We picked the Cabernet Sauvignon the second half of October and our conscientious team ensured only the most pristine berries were sorted into the fermentation tanks. The wines were made with a slightly more delicate hand in order to capture their freshness and respect the fruit. The resulting wines of the 2011 vintage are brilliantly aromatic. They have round tannin and are bolstered by a bright, balanced level of acidity. The flavors of each site truly stand out in this vintage, and the quality of the wines is a testament to the quality of the sites upon which they are grown.

Tasting Notes

The 2009 “Cariad” is replete with dark black cherry, meaty barbecue, and curry spices that reveal themselves after the initial notes of mineral, talc, and gravel subside. The texture is decadent, nearly oily, with a refined structure and bright acidity. Rich and introspective, the 2009 “Cariad” has tremendous stamina on the palate and a long, lingering finish. The 2009 “Cariad” is just beginning to reveal its true magic after its first decade.

Climatic Conditions

The 2009 vintage was one 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 summertime. 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.

Tasting Notes

The gravelly notes of the 2007 “Cariad” immediately jump from the glass yet are quickly overtaken by exotic spices of cardamom and coriander seed. Savory aromas of grilled meat and herbs lie just beneath the surface. The tannins envelop the palate with broad and rich layers. The 2007 “Cariad” is seductive, with a stunning profusion of minerality. The structure and richness of the tannins guarantee that the wine will age gracefully for over twenty years.

Climatic Conditions

The 2007 vintage was defined by an exceptional growing season from beginning to end. The Napa Valley received just 60% of normal rainfall, encouraging our vines to begin budbreak a week ahead of schedule. A mild spring followed, with several light rains that helped the vines to cope with the mild drought. Sunny, beautiful weather during bloom resulted in fruitful clusters that were uniform in size and maturity. A wonderfully moderate summer followed, with cooler than average temperatures, allowing for slow, even development of the berries. By late August, the berries were intensely pigmented and showing signs of outstanding quality. A brief heat wave around Labor Day resulted in our earliest picking of Merlot ever at Colgin. But, cool weather soon followed, allowing the Cabernet to mature longer, and to develop ripe tannins, at lower sugar levels, with great natural acidity. Overall, the 2007 vintage was truly a winemaker’s dream. The wines are defined by their intense color, their deep aromatics, and their coating and supple tannins.

Tasting Notes

The 2005 “Cariad” is formidable, a result of the cooler weather experienced in 2005, which is expressed in the freshness and depth of this wine. This wine boasts more black fruit notes of sweet, black cherries and black licorice, while hinting at a unique, savory character reminiscent of Asian plum sauce and soy. The gravelly minerality and deep leather aromas exemplify the breeding of this world-class site. The 2005 “Cariad” perfectly showcases the balance between richness and elegance and its fantastic texture is captured by deliciously soft and layered tannins, resulting in an undeniably serious wine. The 2005 “Cariad” will continue to drink well for three decades plus.

Climatic Conditions

Typical, winter rains halted early, leaving a dry, mild March, but spring rains returned, with frequency, through June, delaying the fruit set. The summer was temperate, with few heat events, yielding one of the most bountiful crops since 1997. Thinning was key to achieve ripeness and flavor development. Mild days and cool nights continued after veraison, allowing ample time for flavor development. The wines of the 2005 vintage display elegant richness and impeccably balanced acidities.

Tasting Notes

The 2003 “Cariad” is dark in color and profile, with fresh tones of black cherries and black raspberries. Earth aromas add additional complexity to this wine, as forest floor and exotic spice intermingle with the fruit. Across the palate, the texture is pure richness, framed by ripe, supple tannins and elegant acidity that draws one back for another sip.

Climatic Conditions

The unpredictable nature of the 2003 growing season began with a series of heat events in March, proceeded by a wet April. A long, cool summer allowed a beautiful evolution of flavor in the fruit, ahead of sugar accumulation. Heat returned in September, spurring harvest forward after many expected a late year. The 2003 vintage emerged with tremendous character and longevity after several challenges.

Tasting Notes

The 2001 growing season reigned supreme, providing grapes that were very ripe and deeply colored. This vintage of “Cariad” exudes uplifting aromatics of orange rind and exotic spices, such as tamarind and clove. The 2001 “Cariad” further encapsulates the vintage with seamless, velvety, rich, almost chocolate-like tannins, and a wonderful ripeness. This vintage of “Cariad” hedonistic in its complexity, yet the balance of the wine will carry it for the long-term in the cellar.

Climatic Conditions

An early spring, a surprise frost, and early heat events led to a whirlwind growing season in the 2001 vintage. The high variability in temperatures began with a cold, harsh March, which included two deceptive heat spikes that coaxed the vines into a slightly earlier bloom. The hottest May on record, at the time, followed by an equally warm June, gave way to a cooler August with near-perfect days and distinctly cool nights. The fruit then settled for an extended maturation, though the heat early in the season led to harvest’s start two to three weeks ahead of schedule. The 2001 growing season produced deeply pleasurable wines reminiscent of few others. While yields were minuscule, the wines produced are exceptional and long-lasting.

Tasting Notes

The 1999 “Cariad” marked Colgin’s first bottling of a Cabernet-based blend from this gravelly site in the hills west of Saint Helena. A powerful nose of plum, gravel, and black pepper immediately entice the senses. Strong black cherry and raspberry aromas with a hint of sweet tobacco leaf combine to create a beautifully balanced wine. Concentrated yet soft fruit tannins give this wine a voluptuous texture. The 1999 “Cariad” offers a seductive experience with a long silky finish and persistent structure, ensuring the wine will continue to age beautifully.

Climatic Conditions

A cool, prolonged spring gave way to a mild summer where a balanced season unfolded. A sole heat event occurred in the first part of July, permitting the 1999 vintage to experience a lengthy maturation under rather ideal conditions. Harvest commenced following a weekend of intense heat in late September, continuing through October, and concluding the first week of November, due to the temperate nature of the season as a whole. The resulting wines possess impressive concentration and a strong backbone of acidity.