Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
An inky/purple hue is followed by loads of floral-infused creme de cassis and licorice notes with smoky oak in the background. The wine hits the palate with superb ripeness, purity, and richness as well as a seamless harmony and a long, persistent, pure, voluptuous finish. This is a beauty! Anticipated maturity: 2007-2022.
Wine Enthusiast
From the winerys estate vineyard, high up on Pritchard Hill above the Silverado Trail, comes this spectacular Cab-based masterpiece. The color is purple-black, and massively saturated. Very intricate, complex, totally enjoyable, almost perfect. Like a great Pauillac, this monumental wine announces cassis, blackberry, cigar box, pencil lead, spice and cedar flavors that go on and on. Very tannic, but so beautiful, and amazingly rich. Decant if youre drinking now, or open anytime through 2020.
Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
The dense purple-tinged 2003 IX Proprietary Red (a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot - also a change from barrel) is a 1,280-case cuvee revealing deep, rich blue as well as black fruits, hints of licorice and creosote, a smoky, Graves-like, hot rocks character, moderately high tannin, and a full-bodied finish. Give it 2-4 years of bottle age and drink it over the following two decades.
Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
The 2003 IX Proprietary Red Wine, a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and a dollop of Petit Verdot, demonstrates how fabulous the fruit from the estate vineyard can be. Beautiful scents of crushed rocks, spring flowers, licorice, charcoal, blackberries, and cassis are stunningly pure and complex. This opulent, intense, well-balanced, compelling, full-bodied wine appears to have softened considerably over the last year. It can be drunk now or cellared for 20-25 years.
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