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Grgich Hills Estate Fumé Blanc 2013 Wine Review

Grgich Hills Estate Fumé Blanc 2013

Grgich Hills Estate Fumé Blanc 2013

Napa Valley, California, United States

Community Score:92/100

Community Reviews: 3

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Price: $42.95

Drink: 2013-2020

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 14.3%

Sweetness: Dry

Wine Type: White Wine


Winery: Grgich Hills Estate

Agent: Rogers & Company

More Vintages: 2017  2015  2014  2010  2009 

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Pricing & Stock Information

  • BCLDB
  • 647602
  • $45.93 
  • Check Stock

Reviews and Ratings

Greg Hughes rated this wine as 94/100 with the following review:

Grgich winemaking talent is what was tasted at the famed "Judgement in Paris." Mike Grgich was working for Chateau Montelena, at the time. His Chardonnay turned wuite a few heads. The winery which bears his name continues to be outstanding.
Fume, as a style should be more widely understood. Essentially, it is Sauvignon Blanc aged or fermented in barrels instead of steel tanks. Steel preserves freshness, but elevage in barrels can introduce amazing dimension through controlled oxidation and aging on yeast lees.
Golden hay colour. Aromas of toasted almond, nectarine, lemon, honeysuckle, and orange zest. Enigmatically, the less fruitaromas are already quite apparent. In other years, this wine has still been quite fresh and zippy from the get-go.
The flavours unfold in fascinating layers. Lovely stone fruit excite the palate at first - lots of acidity still. Very tropical. Yellow mango and golden apple. There is a satisfying almond and wheatgrass herbaceous quality that comes after the initial blast of fruit.
I've heard many say aging Cali fume ruins the wine because it loses its flamboyant flavours but has anyone tried in seriousness, or do they guzzle wines such as this because they are too tempting in the current?
-Best buy-
Melanie Aubert rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

This was one of my favourite wines at the California Wine Show. Fume blanc is 100% sauvignon blanc grapes, but unlike regular sauvignon blanc wines whose grapes are generally fermented in stainless steel tanks, these were fermented in French oak barrels called foudres. The grapes are grown naturally, without articifical pesticides or herbicides, in the cooler regions of Napa. Despite being oaked, this wine is incredibly refreshing with high acidity. Lots of juicy tropical fruits and minerality, as well as a hint of pink grapfruit. I'll definitely be looking out for this one at the LCBO.
Jennifer Havers - WSET Level 3 rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

A wonderful example of a California style Fumé blanc, with lots of tropical fruit, lemongrass, and a touch of minerality on the nose. Light bodied but with nice crisp acidity to balance tropical flavours, with that mineral note coming through on a longer finish. A beautiful match for seafood dishes or creamy cheeses. (April 2016)

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