94pts Wine Enthusiast
Bold and berrylike, this fullbodied but not very tannic wine is saturated with jammy blackberries and raspberries that coat the palate and give a luscious ripeness that won’t quit. Hints of black pepper and grilled herbs add interesting complexity as you keep sipping.
Editors' Choice
90pts Wine Advocate
Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Zinfandel charges out of the gate with notes of stewed plums, Morello cherries and raspberry pie plus suggestions of Indian spices, wild thyme and hoisin. The medium-bodied palate is laden with red and black berry layers, supported by chewy tannins and invigorating freshness, finishing long and peppery.
Winemaker Notes
This classic Zinfandel exhibits lush, fruit-forward aromas of cherry, raspberry and candied orange with savory undertones of sandalwood and sweet licorice. On the palate, notes of juicy blood orange, plum, and ripe fig lead into vivacious tannins on the mid-palate with vibrant acidity. This Zinfandel’s balanced and elegant structure promises a long, graceful aging potential.
History
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.
