Tasting Notes
Robert Parker 100
The 2019 IX Estate is opaque purple-black in color, needing a little coaxing to unlock notions of blackberry preserves, baked plums and creme de cassis, plus hints of pencil lead, star anise, wild sage and Indian spices, leading to a fragrant waft of lavender. Built like a brick house, the opulent, full-bodied palate is perfectly framed by super firm, exquisitely ripe tannins and a fantastic acid line to give lift throughout the long earthy finish. So finely knit together, this multi-layered, seamless beauty is just breathtaking.
Anticipated maturity: 2025-2065
Jeb Dunnuck 100
One of the more backward, mineral-laced, age-worthy wines in the vintage, the 2019 Cabernet IX Estate comes from the estate property on Pritchard Hill, which is unquestionably one of the greatest terroirs in the Valley. Incredibly pure creme de cassis, smoked tobacco, spicy oak, graphite, chocolate, and crushed stone are just some of the nuances here. Hitting the palate with full-bodied richness, it has a stacked mid-palate, building tannins, utterly flawless balance, and the class to benefit from 5-7 years of bottle age and cruise for 50 years or so. Hopefully I ll still be around to be test this prediction!
Anticipated maturity: 2027-2069
James Suckling 100
Ripe cherries, plums and flowers on the nose. Orange peel, too, together with hints of thyme, bay leaf and sage. Medium-to full-bodied, incredibly deep and fresh, with fine tannins that carry you deep down into the finish. It tells you its great, but makes you spend time in order to understand it. Reminds me of the 1990 Latour. Try after 2027.
