The 2017 Hill Family Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine that will make Napa Cab lovers jump with joy! Full-bodied, plump, silky, and layered, this is a wine that could easily go toe-to-toe with many that cost 2 to 3 times the price.
What I love about the 2017 Hill Family Cabernet Sauvignon can be summed up with one word: BALANCE. The ripe and rich valley floor fruit is balanced by the more sturdy and structured, high elevation fruit. The French oak is beautifully integrated and fruit/tannin/acid balance is impeccable. Oh yeah, our price isn’t shabby either!
2017 Hill Family Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
BEAUTIFULLY BALANCED NAPA CAB — IF YOU LIKE VENGE, GIVE THIS A TRY!
To order, stop by the store or click here to order from our online store.
Let’s start by pointing out how good TW’s price is on this one. If you bought directly from the winery, you’d pay $55. If you bought from wine.com, you’d get charged $59. And the lowest price on wine-searcher is $53.88. Trust me, this super stylish Napa Cab is worth every penny of $50+, but I seriously love it when “little old Table Wine” can offer up great wines like this one at the best price in the country.
For three decades, Doug and Darci Hill grew grapes for a who’s who of “Blue Chip” Napa Valley producers. After receiving numerous rave reviews for the quality of fruit he was providing to the likes of Pahlmeyer, Silver Oak, and others, Doug decided it was time for he and his family to enter the wine business. This decision was born out of Doug’s desire for his family to work together. And today, Doug continues to manage the family’s vineyards while his son Ryan runs sales. Daughter Carly manages the Southern California market for the family and mom/wife Darci can most often be found in the family’s tasting room in Yountville. Sounds like a great life to me!
What makes Hill Family Estate unique and special is the fact that they are one of the largest vineyard owners in all of Napa. They still sell fruit to a number of highly rated estates, but they save the best grapes for their wines. And with access to estate-grown fruit from vineyards scattered throughout the Napa Valley, they have a lot of flexibility to make great and consistent wines every year. Trust me, they knocked it outta’ the park with their 2017 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
Just over 1,000 cases were produced in the “fire vintage” that was 2017. But don’t worry, all of the grapes were harvested for this one well before the fires hit. And the hot and dry conditions of the vintage yielded a rich and decadent wine. If I had to compare it to another vintage, I’d say it’s a lot like 2015. Soaring notes of ripe cassis, blueberry, and black cherry are immediately detected on the nose. With a few minutes of air, more complex aromas of cigar tobacco, black tea, mocha, and oak spice emerge. And as good as the wine smells, it tastes even better! There’s a wonderful sense of harmony and “connected-ness” on the palate. Translated, the wine is smooth and plush, yet rich and full bodied all at the same time.
I know it’s the middle of July and this summer isn’t cooling off any time soon. But many have been asking for a great Cab deal and I listened! And I tasted about 20 different Napa and Sonoma Cabs before picking this one. So grab a few bottles and head home and enjoy with just about anything off the grill.
To order, stop by the store or click here to order from our online store.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville