The 2017 Petite Sirah, Miljenko's Selection is an elegant wine with a big personality, offering a dynamic flavor profile and immense concentration on the nose of fresh fig, plum and mixed berries with hints of rose petal. Aged in French oak barrels, the wine developed gracefully, cultivating velvety, textured tannins and aromatic complexity on the mid-palate. Mixed berry flavors are elevated by balanced acidity followed by an elegant, dense and persistent finish with undertones of cocoa and sandalwood.
Vintage
About the Vintage
We had high rain fall at the beginning of the season, a mild winter, and then we finally transitioned into a beautiful spring. There was an early bud break and flowering, followed by sunny days and high temperatures through June and August.
Vineyard
About the Vineyard
The grapes for this wine were grown at Miljenko’s Vineyard, a 34-acre parcel of land north of Calistoga overlooked by Miljenko “Mike” Grgich’s home. This sunny and well-drained hillside is the perfect site to grow intensely flavored Petite Sirah. All our vineyards are certified regenerative organic, ensuring that all of our grapes are of the highest quality, and that we are responsible stewards of our environment.
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.
