Grgich Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
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- wa92
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Category | Red Wine |
Varietals | |
Brand | Grgich Hills |
Origin | California, Napa Valley |
Miljenko “Mike” Grgich first gained international recognition at the celebrated 'Paris Tasting of 1976'. Then, in a now-historic blind tasting, a panel of eminent French judges swirled, sniffed, and sipped an array of the fabled white Burgundies of France and a small sampling of upstart Chardonnays from the Napa Valley. When their scores were tallied, the French judges were shocked: they had chosen the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, crafted by Mike Grgich, as the finest white wine in the world. The results stunned the international wine establishment and immediately earned Mike a reputation as one of the greatest winemakers in the world.
After his victory in Paris, Mike sat down with Austin Hills and his sister, Mary Lee Strebl, from the Hills Bros. coffee family, and on Independence Day 1977, they gave birth to Grgich Hills. It was an ideal partnership. Austin owned premium vineyards in Rutherford, in the heart of the Napa Valley, and with his extensive background in business, he put the winery on its financial feet. Mike, with his fierce commitment to making wines of the highest quality, began producing what immediately became the signature Grgich Hills wine: exquisite, richly complex Chardonnays. Now 93 years old and still sporting his signature blue beret, Mike was inducted into the Vintners Hall of Fame in 2008 in honor of his many contributions to the wine industry. While many other Napa wineries pursue strategies of expansion, Mike, along with his daughter, Violet, and his nephew, Ivo Jeramaz, prefer to stay small. Their aim, year after year, is to improve the quality of their vineyards and their wines, relying on Mike’s unique artistic and intuitive touch.
Committed to natural winegrowing and sustainability, Grgich Hills farms five estate vineyards without artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides, relies on wild yeast fermentation and uses the art of winemaking to handcraft food-friendly, balanced and elegant wines. In keeping with their goal of sustainability, the winery switched to solar power in 2006. As Mike often says, “From our vineyard to your glass, naturally!”
This 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley epitomizes the purity of structure and place. Powerful on the nose, this full-bodied wine has a dense core of forest strawberries and sweet cranberries with the warm essence of vanilla bean and subtle nuances of sandalwood. Soft tannins create a round mouthfeel with dense notes of blackberries underscored with a hint of rosemary and cloves. The midpalate is dense with balanced acidity that supports a satisfying, velvety aftertaste.
Decanter
- d93
Sweet black cherry, black olive and charred red meat with graceful, enticing aromas of flowers, blackberries and blackcurrants. Clove and tobacco finish.
Wine Advocate
- wa92
Blended of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep garnet-black color and nose of black and red berries, earth and herbs with savory hints. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm, chewy and lively.
James Suckling
- js91
A very assertive, powerful and alluringly fresh nose with lively boysenberry and blackberry aromas, leading to a palate that offers a succulent core of fresh, rich and deep-set fruit flavors. Superb depth and richness here.
Vinous
- v90
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is an attractive, mid-weight wine to drink now and over the next handful of years. Dried cherry, tobacco, licorice, cedar and earthy notes all grace this expressive, understated Cabernet from Grgich Hills.
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wa91Wine Advocate
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ws91Wine Spectator
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st91International Wine Cellar
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we91Wine Enthusiast
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js91James Suckling
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bs91Bottle Shop
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w&s91Wine & Spirits
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bh91Burghound
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wj91Wine Journal
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wsk91Whiskey Advocate
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agv91Vinous
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d91Decanter
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tp91The Tasting Panel
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jd91Jeb Dunnuck
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