Grgich Hills
2020 Cabernet Sauvignon
, Napa Valley
Estate Grown

94 Points - Decanter Magazine
90 Points - JamesSuckling.com

Deep garnet-purple in color and strides confidently out of the glass with notes of crushed blueberries, ripe blackberry, and warm cassis with hints of cherry, black olive, currant and a touch of black pepper.  Delivers a full-bodied palate chock full of black fruits, framed by rich and ripe grainy tannins with a bold freshness.  It's complex yet nimble on the back palate, with a long balanced finish.  Like many great Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley, this will age well for 10+ years.

Its full-bodied rich mouthfeel carry flavors for a long lingering finish and begs for a grilled steak, rack of lamb or roasted duck.

Vintage:  2020 was one of the warmest vintages on record with multiple heat waves well over 100 degrees, and was also accompanied by exceptionally low rainfall: 50-60% below average.  Despite the low rainfall, the vines prepared themselves for drought by producing less leaves, which requires less water.  The heat and drought produced exceptionally low yields but with excellent quality – beautiful concentration and color.

Vineyard:  Yountville vineyard forms the heart of this Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, with grapes from their Rutherford and Calistoga vineyards rounding out the blend. They farm all of their vineyards naturally, without artificial pesticides or herbicides, and they are certified organic. The result is a full-bodied, elegant Cabernet Sauvignon with pure flavors and a pronounced sense of place.

Alcohol: 14.1% by volume
Varietals:  83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
Appellation: Napa Valley Estate
Harvest date:  Sept. 23 – Oct. 10, 2020
Sugar:  23.5 Brix (average)
Fermentation:  Indigenous yeast with 4 weeks of skin contact.
Total acid:  5.5 g/L
pH:  3.65
Aging:  20 months
Type of oak:  100% French oak barrels
Bottling date:  July 2022
Release date:  August 2024

Tasting Notes  PDF

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