Grgich Hills Estate Fumé Blanc
WHY WE LOVE IT
- From cool American Canyon and Carneros vineyards in the southern tip of Napa Valley.
- About 80% of their estate Sauvignon Blanc is planted to the Musqué clone, which provides elegant floral aromatics.
- The clay soils retain water, allowing us to dry farm and the coolness slows ripening and retains acidity, so the grapes develop a crisp liveliness that is impossible to achieve in warmer areas.
- Their vineyards are farmed naturally, without artificial pesticides or herbicides, and they are certified organic.
Varietal Composition: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Elaboration: Relying on naturally-occurring yeasts, this wine is fermented with 80% of the grapes in 900-gallon French oak casks, called foudres, with the remainder in previously- used small French oak barrels. The wine is then aged six months on its lees (the spent yeast) in neutral barrels.
Tasting Notes: Juicy tropical fruit and lemongrass flavors with a touch of minerality at the end of a long finish that are perfect with a wide range of food.
PRESS
2016 – 91 Wine Enthusiast
2017 – 91 James Suckling | 91 Connoisseur’s Guide to California Wine
2019 – 91 James Suckling | 93 Wine Advocate
2020 – 91 James Suckling
2021 – 91 James Suckling
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Vintners Hall of Fame inductee Miljenko “Mike” Grgich first earned world-wide recognition when the Chardonnay he crafted won the 1976 Paris Tasting, beating the best of France. This tasting helped shatter the myth that only French soil could produce the world’s greatest wines and drawing international attention to Napa Valley wines. Mike then partnered with Austin Hills to open their family-owned-and-operated winery in 1977.
Since 2003, Grgich Hill’s has produced wines that are 100% estate-grown and bottled. Grgich Hills is committed to natural winegrowing and sustainability, they farm their five estate vineyards without artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. They are all certified organic.
Grgich Hills Estate is deeply rooted in family. The winery was founded by two families, Grgich and Hills, joined together in the pursuit of creating the best wines in the world. Today, Mike’s daughter, Violet Grgich, is President and Ivo Jeramaz, Mike’s nephew, is Winemaker/VP of Vineyards & Production. Grgich Hills now welcomes a third generation to the winery – Maja Jeramaz, Mike’s grand-niece, and Justin Hills, Austin’s son.