Full Review

Grgich Hills

Grgich Hills
2017 Chardonnay, Napa Valley

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Fish Shellfish

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.1%
Organically Grown Grapes
87 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$43
Cellar Selection

Grgich Hills
2017 Chardonnay, Napa Valley

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Fish Shellfish

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.1%
Yellow straw color. Smoky aromas and flavors of struck match, charred pineapple and nuts, cornichons, and jasmine with a supple, bright, dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a smooth, odd, medium-length finish with nuances of grilled green apple and lemon, pickled pineapple and jalapeño, creme brulee crust, and smoked nuts and cedar with dusty tannins and moderate oak flavor. A bold smoky Chardonnay for grilled fare.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity, New World, Oaky, Savory & Rich & Full
Aroma Aroma: struck match, charred pineapple and nuts, cornichons, and jasmine
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with nuances of grilled green apple and lemon, pickled pineapple and jalapeño, creme brulee crust, and smoked nuts and cedar
Sweetness Sweetness: Dry-yet-Fruity
Enjoy Enjoy: Now-3 years with food
Recipes Pairing: Grilled Chicken with Mango-Papaya Relish, Grilled Swordfish With Mango Salsa, Boiled Lobster
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A bold smoky chardonnay for grilled fare.

The Producer

Grgich Hills Estate

The Producer
P.O Box 450
Rutherford, CA 94573
USA
1 707-963-2784

Their Portfolio

85 Grgich Hills 2019 Estate Rosé, Napa Valley 13.1% (USA) $25.00.
87 Grgich Hills 2017 Chardonnay, Napa Valley 14.1% (USA) $43.00.
91 Grgich Hills 2018 Violetta, Napa Valley 14.1% (USA) $85.00.
91 Grgich Hills 2016 Estate Grown, Zinfandel, Napa Valley 14.2% (USA) $36.00.
94 Grgich Hills 2016 Miljenko’s Selection, Petite Sirah, Napa Valley 14.5% (USA) $65.00.
89 Grgich Hills 2017 Estate Grown, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 14.4% (USA) $72.00.
88 Grgich Hills 2017 Estate Grown, Merlot, Napa Valley 14.8% (USA) $43.00.
93 Grgich Hills 2018 Estate Grown, Chardonnay, Napa Valley 14.1% (USA) $43.00.
BR Grgich Hills 2018 Estate Grown Fumé Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 13.5% (USA) $31.00. - Bronze Medal
90 Grgich Hills 2020 Estate Grown Rosé, Napa Valley 13.1% (USA) $25.00.
94 Grgich Hills 2018 Estate Grown, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 14.2% (USA) $72.00.
90 Grgich Hills 2018 Estate Grown, Merlot, Napa Valley 14.4% (USA) $43.00.
88 Grgich Hills 2019 Estate Grown, Chardonnay, Napa Valley 14.1% (USA) $44.00.
BR Grgich Hills 2019 Estate Grown Fume Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 13.5% (USA) $31.00. - Bronze Medal
89 Grgich Hills 2020 Miljenko’s Selection, Gewurztraminer, Napa Valley 13.8% (USA) $28.00.
94 Grgich Hills 2017 Estate Grown, Zinfandel, Napa Valley 14.7% (USA) $37.00.
87 Grgich Hills 2021 Estate Grown Rose, Napa Valley 13.1% (USA) $28.00.
89 Grgich Hills 2020 Miljenko’s Selection, Riesling, Napa Valley 13.5% (USA) $30.00.
91 Grgich Hills 2021 Mijenko’s Selection, Riesling, Napa Valley 12.8% (USA) $30.00.
89 Grgich Hills 2022 Estate Grown Rosé, Napa Valley 13.3% (USA) $28.00.

Chardonnay

Wine Glass White.jpg
Serve in a White Wine Glass
Chardonnay is arguably the world’s most famous white variety, thanks to its success in France’s Burgundy region as well as throughout much of California. Chardonnay on its own has rather straightforward, pleasant aromas of apple and pear, but when aged (and sometimes fermented) in small oak barrels, the wines take on extra richness as well as notes of toasted almond, vanilla and yeast.

The most renowned examples of Chardonnay are from small villages and vineyards in Burgundy, such as Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault. These wines are very powerful with ample spicy notes and very good acidity; they age very well, sometimes as long as 20-25 years. Another part of Burgundy, Chablis, is home to more restrained style of Chardonnay. Certain areas of California, especially Russian River Valley in Sonoma and Santa Barbara County are also home to many distinguished examples of Chardonnay, with those from the latter region often displaying tropical fruit flavors.

Given that most Chardonnnays are aged in small oak barrels, there has been a movement as of late to give consumers a mored delicate style of Chardonnay, without all the spicy and toasty flavors. Thus there are now many producers that produce non-oak aged Chardonnays; this has been seen from many producers from Australia as well as a few in California as well.

Chardonnay, especially oak-aged versions, are quite rich and need seafood of equal richness at the dinner table. Thus lobster, halibut and swordfish are ideal food pairings.