We fermented the grapes using only yeasts that naturally occur on the grapes and allowed the wine to gain flavors and color from extended skin contact. Each lot is aged separately for several months, and then blended to create a wine that is more complex than the individual parts. After blending, the wine spent another year and half in barrel to completely harmonize before bottling. This is an elegant wine with aromas of black cherries and licorice and a long finish. Full bodied with smooth tannins, it’s the perfect partner with filet mignon, grilled steak or lamb chops.
Vintage
About the Vintage
Starting with a wet winter and spring that delayed budbreak and led into a slow, even, ripening of the grapes, 2006 was a relatively cool vintage. A heat spike in July helped the grapes catch up to a normal physiological ripeness, followed by an unusually cool August that allowed the grapes to completely ripen without dehydrating.
Vineyard
About the Vineyard
Our Yountville vineyard forms the heart of our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, with grapes from our Rutherford and Calistoga vineyards rounding out the blend. We farm all of our 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.
Technical Specifications
Alcohol 14.5% by volume
Fermentation Indigenous yeast; 5 weeks of skin contact
Harvest date Sept. 26 - Oct. 24, 2006
Sugar 24 ̊ Brix
Bottling date January 2009
Release date May 2010
Total acid 6.1 g/L
PH 3.68
Time in oak 21 months
Type of oak 100% French oak, 60% new
Blend 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc
Upon founding Grgich Hills, it was of utmost importance that both Mike Grgich and Austin Hills were equally represented on the winery’s label. Mike chose to represent his Croatian heritage by including the Croatian Coat of Arms, a red and white checkered shield, which also appears on Croatia’s national flag. The winery’s Croatian roots are celebrated with an annual festival, Croatian wines and menu items, and ties to Grgich Hill’s sister winery, Grgic Vina, located on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast.
Hills Family Crest
Upon founding Grgich Hills, it was of utmost importance that both Mike Grgich and Austin Hills were equally represented on the winery’s label. Austin Hills chose to represent the Hills family with an element of the family crest, a rearing horse holding a baton. For generations, the Hills family were known in San Francisco for their thriving coffee business, Hills Brothers Coffee Co., and the Hills horse appearing on the winery’s label marked a new venture in the Hills legacy.
