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The Saratoga Wine Exchange |
is pleased to offer selections of |
Grgich Hills Winery |
California
Wine, Napa Valley |
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| About
Grgich Hills
Vineyard Wines |
Grgich
Hills
Winery,
located
in Rutherford
in the
middle
of beautiful
Napa
Valley,
was
founded
on July
4, 1977
through
the
efforts
of Miljenko
"Mike"
Grgich
and
Austin
E. Hills
of the
Hills
Brothers
coffee
family.
Grgich
had
first
drawn
worldwide
attention
in 1976
as a
result
of the
famous
"Paris
Tasting"
in which
an all
French
panel
of judges
chose
his
1973
Chateau
Montelena
Chardonnay
over
the
best
of the
white
Burgundies
in a
blind
tasting.
Grgich
had
the
skill
and
expertise
to make
great
wines
and
Hills,
owner
of established
vineyards,
had
a background
in business
and
finance.
As we
enter
our
26th
year,
the
winery
continues
the
tradition
of making
world
class
wines
which
earn
countless
special
awards
and
recognition
. Grgich
Hills
Winery
wines
have
been
enjoyed
not
only
on special
occasions
by world
leaders
such
as Presidents
Reagan
and
Clinton,
Queen
Elizabeth
II and
President
Francois
Mitterand,
but
also
by discriminating
wine
drinkers
who
make
every
day
a special
occasion
with
fine
wine.
Still
active
in daily
operations,
Grgich
looks
forward
to retirement
someday
and
will
rely
on daughter
Violet
Grgich
, VP
Sales
&
Marketing,
and
nephew
Ivo
Jeramaz
, VP
Production
&
Vineyard
Development,
to continue
a tradition
of fine
winemaking
based
on his
lifelong
values
of perseverence
and
dedication
to quality.
Excellence
will
always
be an
uncompromising
philosophy
at Grgich
Hills.
Each
of our
six
different
wines
is treated
as a
special
child,
receiving
devoted
attention
to every
stage
of its
development
to achieve
its
own
unique
character.
Never
satisfied
with
yesterday's
best,
each
vintage
arrives
as a
new
challenge
to create
the
best
wines
of the
future.
The
stellar
attraction
of Grgich
Hills
is our
Chardonnay
, an
elegant
example
of the
varietal
displaying
rich
flavors
and
exquisite
balance.
As a
complement
to the
Chardonnay
we also
produce
a clean,
crisp
Fume
Blanc
, a
spicy
Zinfandel
, a
Cabernet
Sauvignon
with
tremendous
depth
and
complexity,
a luscious
dessert
wine
named
after
Mike
Grgich's
daughter
called
"Violetta",
and
last
but
not
least,
a newly
introduced
Merlot!
Grgich
Hills
Winery
is located
in the
middle
of Napa
Valley
on Highway
29 just
north
of Rutherford
in Napa
Valley.
Grgich
Hills
Winery
2001
Chardonnay
The
2001
vintage
was
an excellent
one
for
Chardonnay,
as a
cool
summer
enabled
the
acidity
in the
grapes
to remain
high
and
created
wines
with
elegance
and
balance.
the
aromas
of citrus,
apple,
honey
and
pear
along
with
a touch
of mineral,
toasty
vanilla
oak,
and
carmel
will
intrigue
you.
The
flavors
which
follow
are
crisp
and
complex,
exhibiting
a vibrant
melange
of grapefruit
and
lemon,
pineapple
and
pear
with
a hint
of nuttinesss.
Its
long,
creamy
finish
will
have
you
asking
for
more!
As always,
malolactic
fermentation
was
avoided
to retain
the
natrual
acids,
aromas,
and
flavors
and
to increase
its
longevity.
Fermenting
the
wine
in the
barrel
and
allowing
some
"sur
lies
aging"
adds
a further
dimension
of texture
and
flavor.
Try
this
Chardonnay
with
poultry,
seafood,
cream
sauces,
pasta,
or a
variety
of cheeses.
Grgich
Hills
Winery
2001
Fumé
Blanc
This
vintage
is very
special
to us
in that
all
the
grapes
for
this
Fumé
Blanc
were
derived
from
our
own
American
Canyon
vineyard.
The
season
started
early
with
a warm
May
and
June
followed
by a
cooler
August
enabling
us to
pick
grapes
with
good
acid
and
a lovely
freshness.
By avoiding
malolactic
fermentation,
we conserved
in the
wine
all
of its
natural
acids
and
crispness.
Finally,
we aged
the
wine
for
five
months
in two-year-old
French
barrels,
using
the
oak
to bring
out
the
sensuous
aromas
of honey,
jasmine
and
tropical
fruit.
The
result
is a
connoisseur's
treat.
The
wine
has
an attractive
pale
yellow
straw
color
and
is brilliantly
clear.
Beneath
the
aromas
of honey
and
jasmine
you
will
discover
a mix
of lime-citrus
and
tropical
fragrances,
with
light,
grassy-herbaceous
undertones,
leaning
toward
riper
fruit
on the
palate.
In the
mouth
it is
crisp
and
clean,
with
a mellow,
long-lasting
and
satisfying
finish.
Light
to medium
in body,
with
a pleasant
weight
on the
tongue,
this
Sauvignon
Blanc
makes
a delightful
dancing
partner
for
salads,
shellfish,
or seafood
pasta.
Grgich
Hills
Winery
2000
Cabernet
Sauvignon
With
a cool
growing
season,
the
2000
grape
harvest
was
a bit
later
than
usual,
enabling
us to
pick
our
Cabernet
grapes
in mid-October.
This
additional
time
on the
vine
allowed
the
grapes
to develop
intense
varietal
character
and
exceptional
quality.
In the
nose,
you
will
notice
a generously
scented
Cabernet
fragrance
of ripe
black
fruit,
cassis
and
cedar.
As you
indulge
in your
first
sip,
a fullness
of texture
prepares
you
for
a big,
ripe
and
opulent
wine.
Your
palate
will
not
be disappointed!
This
young,
robust
tannins
suggest
that
this
Cabernet
will
be a
welcome
addition
to our
cellar,
where
it will
continue
to develop
even
more
complexity
and
elegance
over
the
years.
Grgich
Hills
Winery
2000
Zinfandel
The
Zinfandel
grapes
for
this
vintage
were
harvested
in mid-September
at perfect
physiological
maturity.
Both
the
growing
and
bloom
seasons
were
long,
as was
the
harvest.
So,
the
result
was
another
signature
Grgich
Hills
Zinfandel
- a
beautifully
balanced
wine
with
medium
body,
plenty
of soft
tannins,
good
acidity,
and
rich,
complex
flavors
and
loads
of berries.
Tasting
our
2000
Zinfandel
is a
feast
for
the
senses.
It has
a beautiful,
deep
purple
color
and
delightful
aromas
of ripe
blackberries,
plums,
currants,
and
a touch
of raspberries.
Rich
and
well-balanced
with
a deep
and
lasting
finish,
it fills
your
mouth
and
palate
with
a lively
medley
of bursting
berry
flavors
with
delicate
hints
of toasty
oak
and
cedar
aromas
from
the
barrels.
We're
passionate
about
Zinfandel
and
recommend
serving
it with
barbecued
dishes,
white
meats,
game
and
pastas.
Since
the
roots
of Zinfandel
trace
all
the
way
back
to our
native
Croatia,
you
might
do what
we do.
Open
a bottle
or two
to enjoy
with
family
and
friends,
and
then
raise
your
glasses
in a
traditional
Croatian
toast,
"Zivili!"
- Long
Live!"
Grgich
Hills
Winery
2000
Merlot
This
is the
second
release
of our
highly
acclaimed
Merlot.
This
medium
to full-bodied
wine
is a
brilliant,
dark
ruby
color.
A warm
spicy
aroma
of cedar,
red
berries
and
nutmeg
invites
you
to take
a sip.
Your
mouth
will
be tantalized
by the
smooth,
ripe
fruit
flavors
of cherries
and
plums
with
underlying
nuances
of herbs
and
chocolate.
A touch
of sweet
vanilla
oak,
moderate
tannis
and
good
acidity
give
this
Merlot
a velvety
texture
and
lingering
aftertaste.
Although
this
Merlot
drinks
beautifully
now,
it will
improve
with
age
if you
can
hold
on to
it!
Try
serving
it with
a grilled
steak,
roast
loin
of pork
with
a red
berry
wine
reduction
sauce,
lamb,
eggplant
parmesan,
duck
confit,
or even
wild
mushroom
risotto.
Grgich
Hills
Winery
2000
Violetta
This
will
be the
third
release
of our
ever-popular
late
harvest
dessert
wine.
To add
further
complexity,
we blended
in a
small
percentage
of Sauvignon
Blanc
(15%)
in addition
to Chardonnay
(45%)
and
Riesling
(40%)...Mother
Nature
having
kissed
each
varietal
with
botrytis.
This
vintage
is full-bodied
and
viscous
with
12%
residual
sugar.
With
the
naturally
high
acidity,
this
wine
is harmonious
without
being
cloying.
The
flavors
are
rich,
satisfying
and
resemble
the
sweet,
tantalizing
flavors
of juicy
peaches
with
a hint
of piquant
orange
peel
in the
nose.
Even
people
who
aren't
familiar
with
sweet
wine
become
instant
converts
when
they
sample
our
Violetta!
The
complete
meal
needs
Violetta.
Grgich
Hills
Winery
1999
Plavac
Mali,
Croatia
Plavac
Mali
is one
of Croatia's
premium
grape
varieties
and
has
recently
been
proven
to be
in the
same
family
as Zinfandel.
While
it definitely
bears
a family
resemblance
to its
California
cousin,
it has
unique
characteristics
all
its
own.
Produced
from
low
yielding
vineyards
on the
country's
mainland
in a
grape
growing
region
known
as Dingac
(Ding-gatch),
the
aroma
speaks
first
of the
warm
Mediterranean
sun.
Then,
beneath
the
deep,
dark,
ruby
red
color
you
will
discover
a very
full
bodied
and
full
flavored
wine
with
excellent
structure
offering
a wealth
of mouthfilling
flavors.
Ripe
berries,
black
fruit
and
plums
along
with
an exotic
spiciness
will
likely
come
to mind.
The
French
oak
barrels
used
for
aging
this
wine
have
also
added
a sophisticated
note
to the
aroma
and
finish.
If your
curiosity
gets
the
better
of you,
try
this
wine
tonight
with
a savory
lamb
or pork
dish,
but
if you
can
manage
to wait
awhile
and
place
this
wine
in your
cellar
instead,
it will
continue
improve
with
additional
bottle
age.
Now
available
for
purchase
at the
winery!
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