“IX Estate” Syrah

Tasting Notes

The 2018 "IX Estate" Syrah attracts with alluring notes of violets, plum, and licorice. Warmed spice notes of toasted coriander seed, white pepper, and salt brine entice a sip and are complemented by salivating notes of smoked bacon. Deep, yet elegantly textured tannins frame the palate with a voluminous and juicy finish.

Climatic Conditions

The 2018 growing season in Napa Valley will be remembered for its mild weather throughout the year. The dormant season of winter, however, began with an unusually dry spell. Half of the rain we received did not arrive until after March 1st. A modest 20 inches in total, slightly below our average. By mid-April, the rains ceased and a contented season in the vineyard unfolded. Perhaps the biggest challenge to the entire season was the burgeoning grasses on the vineyard floor, a sign of the healthy soils.

Weather in May was cool, giving us moderate growth of the vines. A few sprinkles of rain occurred at the tail end, causing some flowers to shatter during bloom, resulting in looser clusters at harvest. Temperatures for the remainder of the season were incredibly mild. Much like 2013 and 2016, there was only 1 day over 100 degrees at the IX Estate for the entire year.

The first fruit was harvested the last week in September and was followed by a rain event in the first days of October. Drying winds coupled with our timely removal of leaves enhanced airflow around the clusters. After a one week pause, we began harvesting once again the second week of October. The photogenic clusters harvested in 2018 had dark blue plump berries rich in flavor.

The wines of this vintage are classic and pure, with a spectrum of flavor and are aromatically pixelated. They exhibit an intellectual character which displays distinct moods with time in the glass. Counter to some vintages, the 2018’s transform from savory aromatics into deeply fruity aromatics rather than vice versa. As they open, their well-defined, firm tannins evolve into a very full, velvety texture.

Tasting Notes

The aromas of the 2016 “IX Estate” Syrah exemplify the strikingly coastal feel of the growing season. The bouquet offers delicious flavors of black cherry and dark licorice, alongside wild notes of game meats, niçoise olives, and sea breeze. Hints of graphite and cracked pepper reveal themselves subtly. The viscous texture of this wine is tempered beautifully by a bright acidity with a markedly saline feel. Flavors fill the palate, ensuring this delicious wine will become even more captivating over time.

Climatic Conditions

The winter of 2016 began with steady rainfall, bringing small doses over the entire winter and ending with a very rainy beginning of March. Following a sequence of drought vintages beginning in 2012, the wet winter brought a final reprieve from dry conditions. Budbreak arrived shortly thereafter as vines began a season that restored balance to vine and soil health. Steady shoot growth followed in April, and warm weather took hold in May during the blooming period. This healthy start to the season was a blessing, but the incredible weather that followed in the summer and fall would become the story of the vintage. We began harvest under foggy conditions in the middle of September. The mild nature of the remainder of the season would serve to retain flavor nuances and accumulate heightened amounts of color in the grape skins. Fruit condition over the entirety of harvest was impeccable. Supple skinned berries bursting with flavor and color extracted to form wines of freshness and vibrancy with an intensely harmonious palate. The wines of the 2016 vintage are thrilling and multifaceted- every nuance of delectable fruit is matched by vivid notes of each distinctive terroir.

Tasting Notes

The 2014 “IX Estate” Syrah has an enticingly seductive perfume of tangerine that is complemented by aromas of dark chocolate, dried flowers, and white pepper. Saline notes of oyster shell and tapenade are interwoven with iron mineral notes from the “IX Estate” volcanic soils. Flavors of blackberry cobbler, grilled steak fat, and cured meats have a rich texture on the first sip. The palate is enveloped with smooth and deeply layered tannins.

Climatic Conditions

The wines of 2014 have an immense sense of purity. The mild weather of the 2014 vintage produced wines with sophistication that beautifully balance elegance with true power. The superbly delineated flavors are both fresh and fully ripe. A harmonious quality is apparent in the suave texture of these wines. The 2014 vintage seductively draws you in, then piques your curiosity and keeps you returning repeatedly for more. The 2014 season followed the unseasonably dry 2013 vintage and began with one of the driest Januarys in recent history. It wasn’t until February came that we received the bulk of our wet weather. Despite all the references to a drought, what perhaps made an even bigger imprint on the 2014 season was the warmth we experienced in the winter. As both factors combined we began one of the earliest growing seasons since 2005. As spring and summer unfolded, we saw marginally warmer temperatures all year long and yet we experienced very few heat waves. The vines set a beautiful crop, and it was no surprise that 2014 led to one of our earliest harvests, beginning on August 29th. Berries were plump and fresh as they were harvested. As the wines evolved in the cellar, we observed how their flavors span a broad spectrum- from powerful dark fruits, to classic and subtle Napa Valley herbal and earth notes, reminiscent of an earlier era. With their silky textures developing over the course of the fermentation, we extracted the wines using longer, slower macerations, adding to their nuance and length. The 2014 vintage comes in a sequence of stellar vintages. Following the classic structure of the 2012 and the concentrated nature of the 2013 vintages, the 2014 stands apart from its predecessors in that it captures the supple dense qualities of a warm vintage, married with the perfumed characteristics of a cooler vintage. Such qualities harken back to great vintages like 2005, and even further back to the age worthy 1995, as witnessed in our 1995 Colgin “Herb Lamb.”

Tasting Notes

The floral perfume nuance that defines the “IX Estate” Syrah is truly vibrant in the 2012 vintage. Jasmine, orange blossom, niçoise olive, and herbes de provence notes captivate the nose. Subtle smoky notes add a savory essence to the wine’s signature black fruit. The floral, fruit, spice, and earth elements are so intertwined that the aroma is seductive and beguiling. The are rich and exquisite, making this a luxurious wine on the palate. The concentration and structure ensure that there is much evolution ahead for this aromatic and opulent wine.

Climatic Conditions

The 2012 begins a series of three exceptional vintages for the Napa Valley. The 2012 season was quite temperate and long, and began with moderate rainfall, much of which fell during early March. Small rain events occurred in April, which helped to nurture the soil, and by mid-May we had steady beautiful weather. The climatic conditions were so ideal that the vines set quite a healthy crop. As summer evolved, the vineyard team meticulously removed excess fruit from the clusters, ensuring a higher level of quality. The wines were crafted with a commitment to preserving freshness and capturing the distinct fruit flavors and textures of the vintage. The wines of 2012 contain exceptional intensity and a lovely seductive opulence.

Tasting Notes

The cooler growing season helped to bring new dimensions of flavor to our 2010 “IX Estate” Syrah. In addition to perfumed floral notes that the Syrah exudes, the 2010 also brings seared beef and grilled duck meat. The mixture of savory meats and floral notes continues onto the palate, with polished, savory tannins. There is a tasteful salty flavor on the palate, very reminiscent of the Northern Rhone. This vintage of "IX Estate" Syrah will bring great enjoyment in the near term for its silkiness, yet like other vintages, it will add more layers of complexity and breadth with time in bottle.

Climatic Conditions

The 2010 growing season in Napa Valley was cooler in nature, with periods of late rainfall in April and May. The late spring led to rapid growth in early summer, making it imperative to bring balance between canopy and vine. Moderate temperatures defined the summer until the heat returned in late August, allowing the grapes to fully ripen. Because of the cooler weather and later harvest, the grapes were picked with wonderful levels of acidity and nuanced flavors. 2010 will be remembered as an excellent vintage that is heralded for its richness and brilliance.

Tasting Notes

The 2008 “IX Estate” Syrah is incredibly perfumed and is full of delicate and exotic aromas. Effusive notes of violets, talc, and jasmine tea mingle in the glass, along with a very savory note of the classic bacon fat and cured meats. A beautiful aroma of tangerine rind lingers on the nose. On the palate, the texture is silky, and the wine possesses great elegance despite its full-bodied flavor.

Climatic Conditions

The 2008 vintage was shaped by the La Nina weather pattern. Our vineyards received only 60% of our average rainfall, which tapered off by mid-March. Due to the mild winter, the dry soils prompted the vines to push their growth earlier than usual, which set the stage for the remainder of the season. The drier conditions meant the vines naturally produced less fruit than average. Several heat events in the summer sped up ripening, bringing uniformity of color and flavor to the fruit. A heat wave at the beginning of September started harvest with Merlot and Syrah. Mid-September brought cooler weather, allowing the Cabernet to ripen slowly, and be picked at the end of the month. The 2008 crop was quite small, but the resulting wines are elegant with great structure and concentration.