Ratings & Tasting Notes:

100 points James Suckling

A absolute masterpiece that carries tremendous structural power, this blend showcases monumental aromas of lead pencil, black olives, orange peel, and dried violets. The full-bodied palate is tight and profoundly polished, seamlessly layering volcanic, crushed stone elements over a luxurious cashmere texture. It is a distinctive powerhouse built for the long haul, presenting itself as “a distinctive masterpiece for the vintage that will age for infinity.” James Suckling, January 2024

100 points Jeb Dunnuck

Evoking the regal stature of a top-tier First Growth Bordeaux, this stunning proprietary red delivers immense concentration and deep, multi-layered richness. The bouquet is dominated by dark currants, smoked tobacco, graphite, and exotic, savory nuances. Despite its massive framework, it offers unexpected upfront appeal thanks to its immaculate balance and flawless mid-palate texture, emerging as a wine that “is massively concentrated on the palate, with full-bodied richness”. Jeb Dunnuck, December 2023

98 points Wine Advocate

Wonderfully vibrant, energetic, and remarkably fresh, this expression reveals an engaging bouquet where hints of dried sage perfectly accent notes of purple raspberries and cassis. The full-bodied palate is taut yet beautifully velvety in texture, weaving complex layers of earth and spice into a long, incredibly elegant finish that remains safely “wrapped in a cocoon of dry, silky tannins.” Joe Czerwinski, March 2024

Cult Wines International Notes:

Colgin Cellars stands at the absolute vanguard of Napa Valley’s elite cult wine landscape, founded in 1992 by the visionary Ann Colgin. Revered for crafting handcrafted, ultra-premium red wines of astonishing perfume and longevity, the estate operates with a devotion to capturing the purest expressions of Napa’s finest terroirs. “Cariad”—the Welsh word for love—is a magnificent proprietary Bordeaux-style blend born from a long-term partnership with legendary viticulturist David Abreu. The wine is meticulously sourced from three of Abreu’s most revered, low-yielding properties: Madrona Ranch, Thorevilos, and Howell Mountain. These unique vineyards feature ancient riverbed hillsides and diverse volcanic soils that naturally restrict vine vigor, producing an incredibly small crop of tiny berries that give Cariad its trademark spherical, multi-dimensional texture and exotic gravelly minerality.

The 2021 growing season in Napa Valley is widely celebrated as an absolute benchmark apex vintage, yielding fruit of extraordinary concentration and impeccable structural precision. The cycle kicked off with a historically dry winter that provided just half of the region’s normal rainfall, warming the soils early and setting the stage for a precocious, low-yielding season. A serene, remarkably moderate summer followed without any major, late-season heat spikes, allowing the small berries to ripen evenly while preserving dazzling natural acidity and intense phenolic development. A sequence of very cold nights in early October slowed things down beautifully, allowing the team to harvest in mid-October under flawless conditions. The 2021 Cariad emerged from this textbook vintage as a monumental, full-bodied triumph, marries deep graphite and boysenberry flavors with creamy, layered tannins built to effortlessly endure the test of time.