2017 Grgich Paris Tasting Commemorative Chardonnay
2017 Grgich Paris Tasting Commemorative Chardonnay; Napa Valley, California
93 pts Parker; The 2017 Chardonnay features compelling key lime pie, fresh grapefruit and toasted almonds notes with hints of sea spray, struck match and ginger. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegant and charged with energy, revealing a racy backbone that beautifully extends the zest and spice laced finish
The “Paris Tasting” of 1976 is a now-historic blind tasting wherein a panel of eminent French judges tasted white Burgundies of France alongside a small sampling of upstart chardonnays from the Napa Valley. To their great surprise, when the scores of the judges were tallied, the winner was the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay crafted by Mike Grgich. Mike gained great acclaim and went on to found Grgich Hills Estate.
Chardonnay is the world’s most famous white-wine grape and also one of the most widely planted. Although the most highly regarded expressions of the variety are those from Burgundy and California, many high-quality examples are made in Italy, Australia, New Zealand and parts of South America.
Napa Valley, an hour’s drive north of San Francisco, California, is the most famous and prestigious wine region anywhere in the New World. Although a number of grape varieties are grown in the valley’s vineyards, the area is particularly known for its Cabernet Sauvignon. The classic “Napa Cab”, the archetypal Napa Valley wine, is a rich, oak-aged red with aromas of blackcurrant, boysenberry, liquorice, vanilla and smoky, bittersweet chocolate.
Grgich Hills Estate is a historic fixture in Napa Valley, founded by Miljenko “Mike” Grgich in the Rutherford AVA in 1977. The winery produces an array of wines from five estate vineyards located throughout the famous valley, and has received international acclaim for its elegant and balanced wines. Mike Grgich became world famous for crafting the 1973 vintage of Chateau Montelena Chardonnay that ranked top at the famous Judgment of Paris tasting in 1976, beating out some of Burgundy’s most famous white wines.