Grgich Hills Estate
Great Chicago Showdown
2014 Chardonnay
Napa Valley
Auction 19 | Lot No. 5
Vintage: 2014
Grgich Hills Estate
Great Chicago Showdown
Chardonnay
Napa Valley
10 cases produced
Highlights
- 2015 marks the 35th anniversary of the Great Chicago Showdown, a blind tasting of 221 Chardonnays
- Mike Grgich’s 1977 Grgich Hills Chardonnay was proclaimed the champion of that tasting
- Crafted in the same winning style, this wine showcases the best lots of our Old Wente Clone Chardonnay
- Wild yeasts were used for fermentation, preserving the wine’s pleasing acidity and fresh flavors
Description
This year marks the 35 anniversary of the Great Chicago Shootout, where in a blind tasting of 221 Chardonnays, the 1977 Grgich Hills Chardonnay was proclaimed the champion. Winning this never-before contest solidified Miljenko “Mike” Grgich’s reputation as “The King of Chardonnay.” To celebrate this historic event, we created a blend showcasing the best lots of Chardonnay from our certified organic vineyards, crafted in the same elegant, winning style. The Shootout was one of Mike’s many accomplishments and a clear reason why he was inducted into the Vintners Hall of Fame!
Wine Facts
- Wine was dry farmed
- Sustainably produced
- Organically produced (also commonly called "organically grown")
- Wine is 100% estate grown and bottled
Miljenko Grgich
Winemaker, Grgich Hills Estate
I have worked for some of the legends of Napa Valley: Lee Stewart, of the original Souverain Cellars; Brother Timothy at Christian Brothers; for almost nine years for Andre Tchelistcheff at Beaulieu Vineyards; for Robert Mondavi; and then Chateau Montelena, where the Chardonnay that I crafted won the famed 1976 Paris Tasting. I then partnered with Austin Hills to start Grgich Hills Cellars on Independence Day 1977.
Country born: Croatia
Education: University of Zagreb, viticultural and enology.
Years in the wine industry: 30+ years
Honors / Awards:
Inducted into the Vintners Hall of Fame in 2008.
Winemaking Philosophy:
Our goal remains the same as when I started the winery more than 35 years ago: to craft a wine that is harmonized. To me, that means not too much oak, not too much alcohol, not too much of any one attribute. In other words, we craft a whole wine that is a pleasure to drink.
Beckendorf Liquors, Inc
5005 West Avenue
San Antonio TX 78213
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