93 Points - Connoisseurs' Guide
90 Points, Gold Medal - American Fine Wine Competition
Opens with notes of green apple, lemon grass and snap peas, where undertones of flint and minerals begin to develop. It exhibits a mouth watering freshness and structure on the attack, a great complexity on the mid-palate with fresh and tangy fruit characteristics and a linear and unwavering acid structure building the frame. A wine of enormous precision and minerality with a finish that evokes the crystal-clear serenity of an Alpine mountain stream on a cool summer morning.
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 2018 vintage was a bountiful vintage marked by cool, consistent temperatures and a timely rainfall for bud break in March and April. Harvest began on September tenth, and the grapes were of the highest quality with lover alcohol and high acidity.
Vineyard
This Sauvignon Blanc grapes in our American Canyon and Carneros vineyards in the southern tip of Napa Valley, near San Francisco Bay. The clay soils retain water, allowing us 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 our Sauvignon Blanc is planted to the Musqué clone, which provides elegant floral aromatics. All farmed all our vineyards naturally, without artificial pesticides or herbicides, and they are certified organic
Alcohol: 13.5%
Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Appellation: Napa Valley Estate
Harvest date: Sept. 10-21, 2018
Sugar: 22.1 Brix (average)
Fermentation: indigenous yeast
Total acid: 8.1 g/L
pH: 3.3
Aging: 6 months on lees inneutral barrels
Type of oak: French oak; 20% neutral barrels, 80% 900-gallon casks
Bottling date: April 2019
Release date: March 2021
95 Points
Wild blueberry, raspberry and earth tones that move into notes of boysenberry, crushed black cherry, pomegranate seeds, fresh wood, and a hint of cola. The palate offers more flavors of juicy blue and black fruit merge with cedary herbs, ground clove, and savory umami tones.
94 Points
Lovely aromas of crushed blueberry, red and blue plum, dried violet flower. It's juicy and engaging, with mulled raspberry coursing through and offers balance and depth with perfect levels of acidity with silky tannins leading to a long engaging finish.
92 Points
Ruby-plum core with a light purple rim in the glass. The palate starts with boysenberry and black cherry tones, alongside notes of herb and black licorice. Maraschino cherry and plum notes pump through with a smooth medium-bodied texture. Crunchy sweet tannins and balanced acidity round it out.
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