The October 2026 Auction: Part 5
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1 / 2Lot 551
Estimate: $425
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Collection name
Reviews
100WA
"The 2016 IX Proprietary Red Estate is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple, it comes strutting out of the glass with flamboyant Black Forest cake, blueberry compote and plum pudding notions plus hints of spice cake, unsmoked cigars, menthol, licorice and dusty soil and accented by wafts of tar and black tea. The palate is full-bodied yet incredibly poised and vibrant with amazing freshness and very fine-grained, very firm tannins. It possesses the most provocative earthy sparks, providing arresting depth to the very long, beautifully perfumed finish. Stunning. '2016 is like 2013 with more character,' Colginâs winemaker Allison Tauziet told me. 'It offers the harmony of 2013, but it has just a little more to say. In fact, it has some post-drought qualitiesâcreating more flavor, more color and more stuffing. And it seems to have the texture of a riper vintage. I love the aromatics of a cooler season like this. It was the weather at the end of the season that drove everything home. The harvest was well-paced, although the flavors peaked simultaneously, so you couldnât take it for granted.' Tauziet and the team at Colgin were 100% on their game in 2016, as were the 'grand cru' vineyard sites they bottle: Tychson Hill (in St. Helena), Cariad (a blend of David Abreu vineyards) and IX Estate (on Pritchard Hill). When the planets align so perfectly for the Cabernets in a vintage and the wines are this jaw-dropping, how else can you rate the results?"
Region
Red
Country
Score
"The 2016 IX Proprietary Red Estate is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple, it comes strutting out of the glass with flamboyant Black Forest cake, blueberry compote and plum pudding notions plus hints of spice cake, unsmoked cigars, menthol, licorice and dusty soil and accented by wafts of tar and black tea. The palate is full-bodied yet incredibly poised and vibrant with amazing freshness and very fine-grained, very firm tannins. It possesses the most provocative earthy sparks, providing arresting depth to the very long, beautifully perfumed finish. Stunning. '2016 is like 2013 with more character,' Colginâs winemaker Allison Tauziet told me. 'It offers the harmony of 2013, but it has just a little more to say. In fact, it has some post-drought qualitiesâcreating more flavor, more color and more stuffing. And it seems to have the texture of a riper vintage. I love the aromatics of a cooler season like this. It was the weather at the end of the season that drove everything home. The harvest was well-paced, although the flavors peaked simultaneously, so you couldnât take it for granted.' Tauziet and the team at Colgin were 100% on their game in 2016, as were the 'grand cru' vineyard sites they bottle: Tychson Hill (in St. Helena), Cariad (a blend of David Abreu vineyards) and IX Estate (on Pritchard Hill). When the planets align so perfectly for the Cabernets in a vintage and the wines are this jaw-dropping, how else can you rate the results?"
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The fourth-largest wine producer in the world, led by California. American fine wine is defined by ripe, expressive fruit and a spirit of innovation, with Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon among the most sought-after wines globally.
California's most prestigious wine region, celebrated worldwide for opulent, structured Cabernet Sauvignon. Diverse soils and mountain-to-valley-floor sites yield wines of remarkable ripeness, power and longevity.
California's flagship appellation for opulent, structured Cabernet Sauvignon of ripe fruit, plush tannins and cellar-worthy depth.
2016 in Napa Valley capped a run of drought years with a near-ideal, balanced growing season; the Cabernets are ripe, structured and classically proportioned, powerful yet balanced, with fine tannins and excellent aging potential.
Cabernet Sauvignon is a red grape known for deep color, firm tannins and a clearly defined structure. Blackcurrant, often described as cassis, is a signature flavor, accompanied by blackberry and, depending on the wine, cedar, graphite, mint or herbal notes. Oak aging can add spice and toast, while bottle age may bring tobacco, leather and other savory layers. The grape is a cornerstone of Bordeaux's Left Bank, especially the Médoc and Graves, where it is commonly blended with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and smaller amounts of other varieties. Beyond Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon has established distinctive regional identities, including Australia's Coonawarra and Margaret River. Vineyard climate and ripeness influence whether the emphasis falls on fresh fruit and herbs or richer, fuller expressions. Its tannins, acidity and concentration can support long development in well-balanced examples. Many accessible styles are made for earlier enjoyment, while more structured wines reward time as their tannins soften and their aromas evolve. Cabernet Sauvignon brings depth and backbone to blends and can also express a vineyard's character as a varietal wine.