Grgich Hills Estate, Zinfandel, Napa Valley

What a surprise. Frankly I opened this to make room for other bottles, since I was convinced this would be vinegar. Cork came out easily with no deterioration. Nose is a little funky but not a surprise given the age. Still surprising fruit presence. We were very pleased.

1984 vintage

Un nez de confiture aux fraises/framboises, de cerises Bing, épices du chêne...vanille et cannelle, et de bois de cerisier fumé. Souple, mi-corsé, fruité sec, rond, sapide. Soupçon d'anis. Finale moyenne sur de notes de chocolat noir avec un soupçon de griotte, et de poivre. Prêt à boire.

2018 vintage

Bold black currant and raspberry with smooth tannin finish.

2018 vintage

Gave it about an hour of air in the bottle. Good flavor. Not overly fruity More of a darker fruit profile. Some spice as well. Nice nose. The nose has more going on than the actual flavor of the wine. Pretty good showing all in all.

2018 vintage

A lighter style of zin. It was fine but felt some sharp edges. Knowing Grgich was hoping for more going on here. Didn't get any one trait that stood out super positively to me. A little more complexity on day 2. 88/89 2.5 hr decant / unknown glass (smaller)

2018 vintage

Not great. I drank one glass and tossed the rest of the bottle. Very disappointed.

2018 vintage

Medium ruby colour. Medium and developing nose with blackberry, rhubarb, flint, charred wood, violet and cedar. Medium taste of blackberry, blueberry, rhubarb, charred wood, dark chocolate flint, potting soil, stems and cedar. Medium and dry finish. Medium acidity. Medium and grainy tannins. Full body. A very good Napa Valley Zinfandel with good potential that needs more time. Drink in up to five years. Goes well with beef or lamb.

2018 vintage

Nice bright nose of dark fruit. Taste: round plum & cherry tart lingering finish.

2018 vintage

Not always a fan of Zinfandel. However this was lighter than most full of Strawberry and lighter spice notes. Paired well with beef roast, and baked carrots.

2018 vintage

Lighter zin good am medium spice a little more tannin which can be nice

2018 vintage

Red and black berry nose. Rich extract and hot alcohol on the palate; weighty finish. 3/5

2018 vintage

Napa 2018 Grgich Hills Zinfandel. Mid-dark garnet, viscous (14.5 alc.); berry, bramble, wood nose; mid acids; mid+tannins; long, rich, chewy finish; opens with air. w/flourless chocolate torte. 16.5 UC Davis scale, 91 other scales.

2018 vintage

Red fruits with chocolate and coffee. This has aged beautifully and is drinking very well.

2011 vintage

Super disappointing for me. This was one of those bottles I had high hopes for and it was totally cooked. Wrote Spectrum to let them know and no response. Pity.

1988 vintage

Clear, medium ruby color. Moderate nose: Jammy raspberry, black pepper and smoke. A little funky, wondered if it was a tad corked. Dry with medium body, medium-, soft tannin and med+ intensity on the palate: blackberry, black cherry, jammy/stewed. Well balanced with medium length.

2011 vintage

Starts out with structure and minerality leading to crushed berry and black currant flavors. A dry and subdued Zinfandel that reads more like a merlot if you ask me. Interesting, but I was hopeful for a bit more fruit and less savory profile.

2011 vintage

Wine Institute of California Tasting (Hotel Radisson Blu, Amsterdam Airport, NL) : Tasting brief note. Lovely typicity and purity, elegant in spite of 14.5% ABV, lovely skin phenolics, good length.

2011 vintage

A bit too much oak for me. It's still a bit too water on the palate. Good spice.

2011 vintage

Strawberry, black cherry, plum, flowers and pepper on the nose. There is a chalky mouthfeel from its volcanic soil. The palate is tart and bright w/ black cherry, currant, coffee, crushed stone and spice. Delicious.

2011 vintage

Medium red, brick edge. Mature cherry fruit and leather nose. Tobacco, blackberry and fir needles. Soft and elegant. In great shape.

2000 vintage

Deep ruby in color and promising on the nose, this blend of 98% Zinfandel and 2% Petite Sirah offers aromas of strawberries, blueberries, anise and pepper. Full-bodied, tart and with medium-weight, rustic tannins, it delivers comparable flavors which struggle to find definition in an acerbic, astringent environment. Although reasonably solid in the middle, the finish is marred by a whiff of heat from its (reported) 14.5% alcohol. This disappointing effort is likely a casualty of the vintage. Drink now-2019.

2011 vintage

Started from a root stock planted in 1889. Not the dark jammy sweet style. Very elegant old world style. Volcanic so k in the vineyard. Spicy driness on the nose. Full on the palate. Does have the chalky afforementioned tannins due to the volcanic soil.

2011 vintage

What exactly does one drink this with? Surprisingly balanced, but too much of a challenge.

2011 vintage

Really enjoyed for a zin.

2011 vintage

Tight. Too soon - waiting 3 years for the next one

2011 vintage

Gave it one hour to open and it remains very tight. I look forward to my other bottles in 2-3 years. Needs more time. Leather, dark plum, strong tannins. Deep purple color. This will be good in a few years. Better to wait a while before opening.

2011 vintage

Lovely nose of black cherries and plums, some more violets and pepper-spice elements. Tart and fresh on the palate but full of tangy currant and black cherry fruit. Loving the non-fruit complexities here, black pepper sauce, coffee, anise, toasted nuts. The wine really opens up and gets interesting herbal liqueur and crushed rock elements. I’d love to try this again in two years. A simply gorgeous Napa Zin.

2011 vintage

Medium to full body. Rich dark fruit without being viscous on the palate. A little brown spice comes in the finish along with solid acidity.

2011 vintage

Dark ruby color; lifted, tart raspberry, black cherry syrup, blackberry, cherry leather nose; black cherry syrup, cherry leather palate showing heat; medium-plus finish (14.5% alcohol)

2011 vintage

On the nose, I get a whole lot: black cherries, plums, roasted red peppers, bright red flowers and damp soil. On the palate, this wine is tart, bright and earthy. Currants and black cherries mixed in with rose hips, charcoal, black pepper, along with black licorice candy and cocoa powder. This wine evolves in the glass to a near absurd level, shifting an opening as air coaxes out all sorts of herbal, spice and crushed rock notes. It’s got something …

2011 vintage

Very good zin. Our bottle was a bit older, but that just seemed to make it smoother. I could probably add a couple more "o's" to smooth. Good fruit, Not jammy. Bit o pepper here and there. Bought this in 2008 while roaming Napa. Why in the heck didn't I buy more!?! Napa wine prices are kinda rising....

2005 vintage

The nose has notes of dark chocolate, coffee, sour cherry and soy sauce. Fruity palate with a long finish. Medium acidity and balanced tannins.

2011 vintage

Quite nice. Smooth, fruity, and well balanced acidity on the finish. Medium to full body and fresh dark fruits. Age has helped tremendously and drinking very well right now.

2005 vintage

Depressingly bad

2005 vintage

Needed 30 min decant. Wonderful, sorry it is gone.

2005 vintage

Nice, full nose of pepper & berries. Smooth mouth feel with slight sweetness. Tannins have mellowed out nicely. Probably slightly past its peak. Pleasant, but glad to enjoy it now.

2005 vintage

I found this surprisingly and shockingly good. Had a glass at a restaurant -- didn't taste hot or green at all. Wonderful punch of bright fruit, pepper and enough oak to sustain the finish. Maybe my glass came from a bottle that had been opened for awhile? Either way, I will be revisiting this one for sure.

2005 vintage

This bottle was a surprise. After reading the review from 2008, I was worried that it would be over the hill. I'm happy to say that it drank beautifully! Opened it with my in-laws and it went great with NY-Style Pizza.

2000 vintage

spicy, zinny, on last legs though. little bit of heat w/alchohol, not bad but not my style

2000 vintage

A little hot (alcohol) but good flavor. Like the merlot better. #kswine

2005 vintage

Acceptable with pizza, but just. Very acidic and green.

2005 vintage

Went great with my Steak before my game of Texas Hold'em

2005 vintage

Deep red/black. Oaky/ blackberry nose. Dark fruit on the palate and slightly more open than I would have expected. Big tannins and decent acidity. Heady alcoholic burn. While this will probably last, I'd rather enjoy it now.

2005 vintage

Decent.

2005 vintage

Nice bouquet, went very well with my sun-dried tomato chicken pasta!

2005 vintage

This had a lot of fruit left. Some mint along with earth and soy sauce on the nose. Can't believe it's 28 years old. 13.7% on the label. Seemed to get better with some air but fun to try and taste.

1980 vintage

Drank this with some great expectation, but totally missed the prime. Still some good aromas, but if you have this, I'd drink it now.

2000 vintage

I have no idea why I liked this wine at the winery. Tannic and green.

2005 vintage

Sediment on the cork, so decanted. Plums, smoke, soft tannins. V nice.

2000 vintage

Still very good. Lots of plum and a touch of smoke in the nose. Deep purple color. Vanilla, plum, black cherry, smoke and pepper in the mouth.

2000 vintage

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Grgich Hills Estate, Zinfandel, Napa Valley

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