Grgich Hills Estate : Chardonnay 2018
Description
A Californian Chardonnay with Fresh, Food-Friendly Acidity
The estate
Situated in the heart of California’s Napa Valley wine region, the Grgich Hills Estate was founded in 1977 by Croatian-born winemaker Milijenko Grgich. Grgich first arrived in the United States in 1958 and brought great fame to the Napa wine region during the 1976 Paris Tasting where a wine bearing his signature, the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, was ranked the best white wine. In the next few years, Grgich turned his focus on producing his own wines from five different vineyards in California. Today, the estate vineyards are all certified organic and biodynamic.
The vineyard
The Chardonnay vines of Grgich Hills Estate are planted in the American Canyon and Carneros vineyards in the southern tip of the Napa Valley wine appellation, close to the San Pablo Bay. Here, cool maritime breezes and morning fog regulate the temperature, allowing for a slow ripening of the fruit, resulting in a complex flavor profile and bright acidity. The vineyards are certified organic and are farmed without the use of artificial herbicides or pesticides.
The vintage
The 2018 vintage at Grgich Hills Estate was very bountiful, characterized by consistently cool temperatures and plenty of rain near bud break from March to April. The harvest began on the 10th of September, producing high quality grapes with lower alcohol and higher acidity than usual.
Vinification and aging
No malolactic fermentation to produce natural acidity. Fermented and matured in French oak barrels for 10 months.
The blend
100% Chardonnay.
The tasting
Color
This wine displays a beautiful deep yellow color.
Nose
On the nose, this wine bursts forth intense aromas of white peaches, fresh grapefruit, honeysuckle and lemon curd, with light oak nuances.
Palate
Medium-bodied and crisp on the palate, this Napa Valley Chardonnay balances fresh citrus fruit and minerality on the mid-palate. The finish is long and vivacious with a flinty mineral finish.
