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2022 Grgich Hills Estate Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc
2022 Grgich Hills Estate Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc

Grgich Hills
2022 Sauvignon Blanc
, Napa Valley
Fumé Blanc, Estate Grown

93 Points - Wine Enthusiast
91 Points - The Wine Independent
91 Points - JamesSuckling.com

Aromas of glazed lemon, pear drops, ripe gooseberries, acacia and wet stones on the nose.  The palate is juicy and vibrant on the palate with attractive notes of tarragon and citrus peel.  Medium to full bodied with vivid acidity and mineral under-tones.  Crisp and flavorful to the end.  Harvested from their organically grown grapes.  This wine is irresistibly delicious now, and will evolve into greatness.

The Wine
In 1968, Miljenko “Mike” Grgich went to work for Robert Mondavi as chief enologist, making the inaugural release of Fume Blanc. This elegant, dry style of oak-aged Sauvignon Blanc was named “Fume Blanc” by Robert Mondavi, playing on the French word meaning smoke.  Relying on naturally-occurring yeasts, they fermented a portion of the grapes in 900-gallon French oak casks, called foudres, with the remainder in oak barrels. Then aged the wine for six months on its lees (the spent yeast) in neutral barrels.  At Grgich Hills Estate, Mike continued to make this elevated style of Sauvignon Blanc, paying homage to his former employer and friend.

Vintage
The 2022 growing season was yet another in a string of drought years.  Though our yearly rainfall was only slightly lower than average, the bulk of that rain came in October and December of 2021, while the spring of 2022 was uncharacteristically dry and gave way to a seasonably dry summer.  This was followed by an intense heat wave during the first week of September, with temperatures soaring as high as 118 degrees Fahrenheit, causing a dramatic increase in our grape’s sugar levels.  A patient harvest allowed cooler temperatures and normal sugar levels to return before picking.

Vineyard
The Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown in American Canyon and Carneros vineyards in the southern tip of Napa Valley, near San Francisco Bay. The clay soils retain water, allowing them to dry farm, and the coolness slows ripening and retains acidity. The grapes develop a crisp liveliness that is impossible to achieve in warmer areas. About 80% of their Sauvignon Blanc is planted to the Musqué clone, which provides elegant floral aromatics. All farmed naturally, without artificial pesticides or herbicides, and certified organic.

Alcohol:  13.5%
Varietal:  100% Sauvignon Blanc
Appellation:  Napa Valley Estate
Harvest date:  Aug. 26 - Sept. 6, 2022
Sugar:  22.0 Brix (average)
Fermentation:  indigenous yeast
Total acid:  7.23 g/L
pH:  3.22
Aging:  6 months on lees inneutral barrels
Type of oak:  100% French oak; 13% neutral barrels 87% 900-gallon casks
Bottling date:  March 2023
Release date:  October 2024

Tasting Notes PDF PDF


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