Robb Report: The 7 Best Napa Valley Sauvignon Blancs to Buy Now
"We were recently seated next to Violet Grgich, daughter of legendary winemaker Mike Grgich, at a dinner to raise awareness for children suffering from extremely rare diseases. While the purpose of the event was very serious, we were able to share a fun evening and a few glasses of wine learning more about her, her dad, and the fine wines made at Grgich Hills Estate. We were particularly impressed with the 2023 Essence Sauvignon Blanc. It offers ethereal aromas of lemon peel, lime, candied ginger, and finely ground white pepper and flavors of dried Mediterranean herbs, citrus blossom, and grapefruit pith." -Mike DeSimone & Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report
Our Legacy wines are single vineyard and old vine varietals of pinnacle quality, meticulously crafted in the pursuit of excellence.
Opening aromas of lime, white pepper, and fresh ginger lift from the glass. On the palate, citrus and herbal notes—verbena, sage, and thyme—unfold with a firm and well-defined structure. Green herbal undertones sit alongside lifted notes of passionfruit, giving the wine both tension and aromatic lift.
The clarity and precision of flavors and aromas reflect the best of our cherished site, which is why we call this wine Napa Valley “Essence.”
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
Only the best blocks that express the true nature — the essence — of our Sauvignon Blanc are used for this limited production wine. The grapes come from our chilly American Canyon vineyard (51%) and are supplemented from our Carneros vineyard (49%), where the cool climate and thin soils limit vigor, producing fewer grapes but more intense flavor. We hand-harvested the grapes at night into small bins, so they arrived at the winery cool and intact, preserving their wonderful flavors and bright acidity. We farm all our vineyards naturally, using the principles of regenerative agriculture, and they are certified organic.
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.
