The Miljenko’s Selection designation on this bottling is apt – our co-founder, famed King of Chardonnay, Miljenko "Mike" Grgich, always favored Chardonnays unaltered by malolactic fermentation, a characteristic embodied flawlessly in this wine. Light and bright, our ebullient 2023 Miljenko’s Selection Chardonnay sets the stage with aromas of fresh lemon, lime, and passion fruit. Vibrant flavors of Kaffir lime, ginger, lemon verbena, and a hint of thyme are star players in the show that this wine is eager to display. In supporting roles, bracing acidity, abundant minerality, and juiciness lead to a long and satisfying denouement that lingers long after the standing ovation.
Vintage
About the Vintage
The winter months of the 2023 vintage brought the relief of heavy rains after three consecutive drought years, with precipitation up to 50% above Napa Valley averages. An unusually cool spring delayed budbreak, and was followed by a moderately warm summer with no dramatic heat spikes, allowing the grapes to ripen beautifully. Harvest began in earnest by mid-September and carried on through the first of November, making this one of the longest growing seasons in the Grgich Hills Estate record.
Vineyard
About the Vineyard
Chardonnay thrives in our Carneros vineyard in the southern tip of Napa Valley, near San Pablo Bay, which spills into the San Francisco Bay. The cool maritime breezes and fog allow the grapes to slowly ripen to develop complex flavors while maintaining a pleasing natural acidity that is impossible to achieve in warmer areas. We farm our vineyards naturally, using the principles of regenerative agriculture, and they are certified organic.
Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13% by volume
Fermentation 2-3 weeks in oak casks (900-gallon); indigenous yeast; no malolactic
Upon founding Grgich Hills, it was of utmost importance that both Mike Grgich and Austin Hills were equally represented on the winery’s label. Mike chose to represent his Croatian heritage by including the Croatian Coat of Arms, a red and white checkered shield, which also appears on Croatia’s national flag. The winery’s Croatian roots are celebrated with an annual festival, Croatian wines and menu items, and ties to Grgich Hill’s sister winery, Grgic Vina, located on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast.
Hills Family Crest
Upon founding Grgich Hills, it was of utmost importance that both Mike Grgich and Austin Hills were equally represented on the winery’s label. Austin Hills chose to represent the Hills family with an element of the family crest, a rearing horse holding a baton. For generations, the Hills family were known in San Francisco for their thriving coffee business, Hills Brothers Coffee Co., and the Hills horse appearing on the winery’s label marked a new venture in the Hills legacy.
