Colgin Cariad 2008 750mL

The 2008 Cariad, a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and the balance Petit Verdot, has been tweaked a bit since I tasted it last year. Another stunning effort, it possesses a Bordeaux-like structural profile along with a dense purple color and a big, sweet perfume of graphite, burning embers, licorice, black currants and blackberries. Very concentrated and in need of 2-3 years of cellaring despite the hefty Merlot component, it should drink well for 25-30 years. As a postscript, there was a big 2005 Bordeaux first-growth tasting in Napa Valley done under blind conditions. The interloper was the 2005 Cariad which 12 of 14 tasters ranked first. A very interesting result, to say the least.