2005 Grgich Hills Estate Napa Valley Merlot
Mission Codename: The Power of the Black Beret
Operative: Agent White
Objective: Revisit our friends at Grgich Hills Estate to acquire their delicious Napa Valley Merlot.
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Grgich Hills Estate
Wine Subject: 2005 Napa Valley Merlot
Winemaker: Miljenko “Mike” Grgich
Backgrounder: In 1976, Mike Grgich rocked the wine world by creating a California that beat out French Chardonnays in the now famous Judgment of Paris. The French were outraged, and Mike Grgich earned the respect of wine drinkers and critics, worldwide. Today, Mike continues to oversee production of what have been heralded as “the finest wines in the world”. We are very proud to be able to bring you today’s fantastic Grgich Hills Estate Napa Valley Merlot.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Dark and almost inky purple with a deep core that shows glistening garnet highlights. Along the edges the color lightens to a brighter ruby color. When swirled, slow thick randomly space legs slide down the glass showing hints of this wine’s color.
Smell – Medium in intensity with plush aromas of earthy spiced red and black fruit including red cherry, plum and wild blackberry are well integrated with black licorice, savory dried herbs, hints of soft oak and cedar box. A touch of mild cayenne pepper spice and floral notes round out the lovely complex nose of this wine.
Feel – Smooth and dry, this full-bodied wine immediately coats the entire palate with round ripe tannins. Balanced acidity with a slight spice kick balances the great weight and structure of this wine.
Taste – Ripe and dense red cherry, plum, blackberry, and other red and black fruits balanced with pungent spice, earthy notes, hints of unsweetened dark chocolate and toasted oak blend together and reveal themselves gracefully.
Finish – Lingering and silky, its ripe plums and dark cherry with earth, spice and cocoa notes are supported long into the finish by a great texture that clings to the palate.
Conclusion – The 2005 Grgich Hills Estate Napa Valley Merlot is a very approachable, lush and rich Merlot with the nose, texture and flavors that not only represents the fine 2005 Napa Valley vintage but is a wine that shows tremendous character and depth without being overly powerful that will please even the biggest Merlot skeptics. Enjoy this wine now or cellar for the next 5-10 years.
Mission Report:
WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER
SUBJECT: Miljenko “Mike” Grgich
DATE OF BIRTH: April 1st, 1923
PLACE OF BIRTH: Desne, in Croatia’s coastal Dalmatian region
WINE EDUCATION: Attended University of Zagreb. Field of study, viticulture and enology
CALIFORNIA WINERIES EXPERIENCE: Christian Brothers Cellars, Souverain Winery, Robert Mondavi and Beaulieu Vineyard (with André Tchelistcheff)
FOUNDED NAMESAKE WINERY: Grgich Hills Cellar, founded 1977, renamed to Grgich Hills Estate in 2006
WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: To, ”… year after year, is to improve the quality of [the] vineyards and [the] wines” and to, ”… remain committed to making distinctive wines with quality, consistency and longevity”.
SIGNATURE VARIETAL: Chardonnay
CAREER HIGHLIGHT: In 1976, Mike Grgich’s Chateau Montelena Chardonnay won the infamous Judgement of Paris tasting, to become the best Chardonnay in the world. The fact that a California wine won the tasting shocked the wine world – and spurned Mr. Grgich on to great success with his own winery
CAREER HIGHLIGHT: On March 7, 2008, in recognition of his impact and contribution to the wine industry, Mr. Grgich was inducted into the Vintner Hall of Fame. The honor coincided with his 50th vintage of winemaking in the Napa Valley
GRGICH QUOTE: ”For years, everybody in the world believed that only French soils could produce great wines. We shattered that myth. That was probably the most significant result of the Paris tasting. Our victory pumped new energy into the California wine industry, particularly in the Napa Valley.”
BLACK BERET: Mr. Grgich wears an ever present black beret. It is rumored that the beret is imbued with magical energies that power his winemaking talents. Further investigation is required…
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of the Grgich Hills Estate can be seen in this satellite photo.
