2018 Grgich Hills Estate Merlot
A wine worthy of giving a maligned grape another chance.
About the Producer
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. Mon Dieu! The results stunned the international wine establishment and immediately earned Mike a reputation as one of the greatest winemakers in the world.
The Paris Tasting served notice to the world that the California wine industry was on the move, and it laid the groundwork for the creation of Grgich Hills Cellar. 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 our signature wine: the exquisite, richly complex Chardonnays that win awards and delight wine lovers across America and throughout the world.
Tasting Notes
This exquisite Merlot opens with aromas of floral rose hip, tangy blood orange and rhubarb with a hint of blackberry, red pepper, and bay leaf. On the palate, a lovely soft entry with plenty of juicy, ripe red fruit is supported by complex, savory undertones. The balanced acid structure and young chalky tannins bring a pleasant freshness, leading to a focused, balanced finish.
Technical Details
Vineyard: Our Merlot grows both in our cooler American Canyon and Carneros vineyards and in our warmer Yountville vineyard. We blended Merlot from all three vineyards to create a balanced, complex wine that combines the richness and depth from the warmer climates and perfume and bright fruitiness from the cooler climates. Committed to natural winegrowing and sustainability, we farm our five estate vineyards without artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides, and they are certified organic.
Alcohol: 14.4%
Fermentation: indigenous yeast
Harvest date: Oct. 18-22, 2018
Sugar: 24.4 Brix average
Bottling date: July 2020
Release Date: October 2021
Total acid: 5.5 g/L
pH: 3.62
