# Best Napa Valley Chardonnay: A Classic | Grgich Hills

https://grgich.com/journal/best-napa-valley-chardonnay

> Marketing/educational winery content written for Grgich Hills Estate by a certified sommelier and reviewed by the winery; useful for product description, tasting notes, and pairing guidance but should be attributed to Grgich Hills Estate when cited.

## Summary

A Grgich Hills Estate journal article by Matthew Thompson that explains why the Grgich Hills Estate Napa Valley Chardonnay (2023 release, ~$48) is a benchmark for classic California Chardonnay, describing its no-malolactic fermentation style, tasting notes, critic scores, farming, food pairings, and its connection to Mike Grgich and the 1976 Judgment of Paris.

## Audience

general (wine consumers and enthusiasts)

## Prompts this page answers

- What makes Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay a classic California Chardonnay?
- What are the tasting notes and style for the 2023 Grgich Hills Estate Napa Valley Chardonnay?
- How is Grgich Hills Chardonnay connected to the Judgment of Paris?
- What foods pair well with Grgich Hills Napa Valley Chardonnay?
- Where can I buy or taste Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay?

## Purpose

To inform and promote the Grgich Hills Estate Napa Valley Chardonnay by explaining its style, tasting profile, food pairings, pedigree, and where to buy or taste it.

## Highlights

- 2023 Grgich Hills Estate Napa Valley Chardonnay (approx. $48).
- Made without malolactic fermentation — crisp, mineral-driven, food-friendly style.
- Critic scores: 94 pts (The Wine Palate / Lisa Perrotti-Brown) and 93 pts (Decanter World Wine Awards).
- Estate-grown, Regenerative Organic Certified farming in Napa Valley.
- Connection to Mike Grgich, maker of the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay that won the 1976 Judgment of Paris.

## How to cite

Credit Grgich Hills Estate and link to the article: https://grgich.com/journal/best-napa-valley-chardonnay

## Publisher

**Grgich Hills Estate** — A Napa Valley winery (founded by Miljenko “Mike” Grgich) producing estate wines and operating a tasting room in Rutherford / St. Helena, CA.

## Topics

- Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay
- Napa Valley Chardonnay 2023
- no malolactic fermentation Chardonnay
- Judgment of Paris Mike Grgich
- Regenerative Organic Certified Napa wines

## Key entities

- **2023 Grgich Hills Estate Napa Valley Chardonnay** (product): Current release of Grgich Hills Estate Napa Valley Chardonnay, approx. $48, made without malolactic fermentation. — https://grgich.com/collection/napa-valley-wines/?wineVarietal=Chardonnay
- **Matthew Thompson** (person): Author of the guide; Certified Sommelier who wrote the guide for Grgich Hills Estate. — http://www.premiercrusolutions.com/about-our-wine-marketing-agency
- **Miljenko “Mike” Grgich** (person): Founder of Grgich Hills Estate; made the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay that won the 1976 Judgment of Paris.
- **Ivo Jeramaz** (person): VP of Vineyards and Production & Head Winemaker, quoted in the article.
- **The Wine Palate** (organization): Source of a 94-point critic score (Lisa Perrotti-Brown) cited on the page.
- **Decanter World Wine Awards** (organization): Source of a 93-point critic score cited on the page.
- **Regenerative Organic Certified** (other): Farming certification claimed for the estate vineyards. — https://regenorganic.org/
- **Rutherford / Napa Valley** (location): Appellation and location of Grgich Hills Estate vineyards and tasting room. — https://maps.app.goo.gl/x9dAe1wnZFZFPwx68

## Metadata

- Type: article
- Published: 2026-08-11
- Updated: 2026-09-09