Winery
of the Week: Grgich Hills Estate - Napa Valley
Grgich
Hills Estate is a winery with quite a pedigree.
It's co-founder Miljenko "Mike" Grgich first gained
international recognition, some forty years ago, at the famous
"Paris Tasting" of 1976 with the Chardonnay he crafted
for Chateau Montelena. And since 1977, when Mike, his sister
Mary Lee Strebl , and Austin Hills brought Grigch Hills into
existence, they've crafted first-class wines, with a particular
focus on their signature variety, Chardonnay. Here's what our
tasting panel thought about a selection of their current offerings:
Click
on labels to enlarge |
Grgich
Hills 2012 "Miljeno's Section"Chardonnay
Winery:
Grgich Hills Estate
Grape(s): 100% Chardonnay
Region: Napa Valley, Ca
Year:
2012
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 55-60
Review:
A bouquet of apples, citrus fruits, and spring flowers
greets the senses. The palate reveals flavors of apple,
lemon, and crisp pear with accents of orange blossoms
and minerals. A bright white with a fresh acidity and
welcoming flavors, it's a fine example of California Chardonnay
without all the heavy oak flavors. 650 cases produced.
Rating: 91 |
 |
Grgich
Hills 2012 "Paris Tasting Commemorative" Chardonnay
Winery:
Grgich Hills Estate
Grape(s): 100% Chardonnay
Region: Napa Valley, Ca
Year:
2012
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 90-95
Review:
Aromas of lemon and tangerine meld with suggestions of
fresh bread, floral perfume, and pistachios on the nose.
Flavors of Meyer lemon, Asian pear, and lime combine with
toasted nuts and white blossoms on the palate. A vibrant
Chardonnay with a fresh acidity, it would make a lovely
pairing with sole in a creamy sauce. 632 cases were made.
Rating: 90 |
 |
Grgich
Hills 2012 Chardonnay
Winery:
Grgich Hills Estate
Grape(s): 100% Chardonnay
Region: Napa Valley, Ca
Year:
2013
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 40-45
Review:
Fragrances of apple, pear, melon and roasted nuts rise
up from a glass. On the palate, flavors of green apple
and pear emerge alongside hints of honey, minerals, and
pistachios. A lively white, offering a brisk acidity,
fans of crisp Chardonnay ought to try this wine. 30, 832
cases produced.
Rating: 88 |
 |
Grgich
Hills 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery:
Grgich Hills Estate
Grape(s): 86% Cabernet, 7.5% Merlot,
& 6.5% Petit Verdot
Region: Napa Valley, Ca
Year:
2011
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 55-60
Review:
Aromatics of blackberries and cherry mingle with notes
of spice, bell pepper, and violets on the nose. A sip
reveals flavors of bramble fruit and black cherry with
accents of white pepper, fresh herbs, and floral earth.
Supple tannins and hearty flavors make this wine an excellent
candidate to pair with your favorite lamb dish. 16,601
cases were made.
Rating: 89 |
Note:
Wines rated with a "+" have not yet reached their
peak quality but will do so over the next few years
By
Jason Barlow
| 96
— 100 |
Spectacular |
| 92
— 95 |
Outstanding |
89
— 91 |
Great |
| 85
— 88 |
Good |
81
— 84 |
Solid |
|
|
