Grgich Hills Estate

Vintners tasting dinners begin at 7:00 p.m., sharp. Doors open for registration and hors d'oeuvres reception at 6:30 p.m.

     Thursday January 17, 2019

Reservations Closed

Course	Pairing / Description	Wine
Hors D’oeuvres	Poppy Seed & Basil Chicken Salad Filled Phyllo Tart (Roasted Pepper-Tarragon and Wild Flower Honey Jam) Fig, Goat Cheese & Melted Onion Gateau (Rustic Dough with Star Anise) An early bud break and cold May resulted in poor fruit set, followed by a hot summer. This triggered an early harvest with the lowest yields they’ve ever seen for Sauvignon Blanc. The result was a beautiful wine with lower alcohol and acid. The growing season started out with unseasonably warm temperatures in the late winter and early spring, triggering early bud break. Colder temperatures in May slowed grape development, which coupled with the fourth year of drought, resulted in fewer grapes in 2015. The harvest was one of the earliest in memory with the berries smaller than usual, but packed with flavor and color. Grgich Hills grows Sauvignon Blanc grapes in their American Canyon and Carneros vineyards in the southern tip of Napa Valley, near San Francisco Bay. The clay soils retain water, allowing them to dry farm and the coolness slows ripening and retains acidity, so the grapes develop a crisp liveliness that is impossible to achieve in warmer areas. About 80% of their Sauvignon Blanc is planted to the Musqué clone, which provides elegant floral aromatics. They farm all of their vineyards naturally, without artificial pesticides or herbicides, and they are certified organic. Relying on naturally-occurring yeasts, Grgich Hills fermented 80% of the grapes in 900-gallon French oak casks, called foudres, with the remainder in previously-used small French oak barrels. They then aged the wine six months on its lees (the spent yeast) in neutral barrels. The combination of the right clones and cool growing region produced juicy tropical fruit and lemongrass flavors with a touch of minerality at the end of a long finish that are perfect with a wide range of food, including grilled seafood, chicken, oysters, creamy pasta dishes and summer salads.	Grgich Hills Estates Fumé Blanc Napa Valley 2015
Soup Course	Classic Sherry Scented Lobster Bisque En Croute (Almond, Black Pepper And Herb Topped Puff Pastry Crust) This vintage was marked by a continuation of drought, producing extremely small berries with concentrated flavors. The result is a complex Chardonnay with wonderful precision, tension and finesse. For the third year in a row, Napa Valley experienced an exceptional vintage, aided by the drought conditions. Budbreak came slightly early and the modest temperatures through the growing season helped preserve moisture. July’s relatively low temperatures coupled with high relative humidity slowed down sugar accumulation to achieve perfect ripeness with lower alcohol. Harvest started and ended about two weeks earlier than normal, producing superb quality. The Grgich Hills Chardonnay thrives in their American Canyon and Carneros vineyards in the southern tip of Napa Valley, near San Pablo Bay, which spills into the San Francisco Bay. The cool maritime breezes and morning fog allow the grapes to slowly ripen to develop complex flavors while maintaining a pleasing natural acidity that is impossible to achieve in warmer areas. They farm all of their vineyards naturally, without artificial pesticides or herbicides and they are certified organic. Miljenko “Mike” Grgich has been called “The King of Chardonnay” since the winery began in 1977 and you can taste why in this classically-styled wine. They did not allow the Chardonnay to undergo malolactic fermentation, preserving its natural acidity. The wine displays ripe peach, mango and tropical flavors, with a note of minerality. Enjoy with fresh seafood, roasted chicken, grilled pork, and creamy cheeses.	Grgich Hills Estates Chardonnay Napa Valley 2014
Pork Course	Black Pepper & Thyme Grilled Pork Tenderloin Medallions (Sweet Potato Latke, Cherry-Wine Reduction and Caramelized Carrots) The severe drought of this vintage produced small berries and clusters, enhancing the color and concentrating the flavors. The result was a wine with the rare blend of both power and elegance. The 2013 vintage was nearly perfect, with consistent sunshine and moderate temperatures. After a wet start to winter in 2012, spring was warmer than usual, triggering an early budbreak and flowering and fruit set under sunny skies. With only one heat spike in late June/early July, Napa’s typical warm days and cool nights created wonderfully flavorful grapes. They started harvesting about two weeks earlier than usual and never seemed to stop with grapes coming in at a steady pace. Their 34-acre vineyard above Calistoga is the warmest of their five vineyards and the sole source of their Zinfandel. Its northeast exposure catches abundant morning sun but is shaded from the hot, late afternoon sun and combined with the vineyard’s gravelly loam soils, creates the perfect spot to grow this varietal. They farm all of our vineyards naturally, without artificial pesticides or herbicides, and they are certified organic. Grgich Hills co-fermented the Zinfandel with a touch of Petite Sirah to add complexity and structure and then aged the wine in large oak casks so the flavors are well integrated but not overwhelmed by oak. This food-friendly Zinfandel’s fresh flavors of ripe blackberries, black cherries and a hint of pepper on the long finish is the perfect match for grilled meats with barbecue sauce, sausage pizza and hearty pastas.	Grgich Hills Estates Zinfandel Napa Valley 2013
Beef Course	Merlot & Rosemary Braised Beef Short Rib (Fire Roasted Pepper and Spicy Arugula Risotto and Merlot-Shallot Reduction) For the third year in a row, Napa Valley experienced an exceptional vintage, aided by near drought conditions. Budbreak came slightly early and the modest temperatures through the growing season helped preserve moisture. July’s relatively low temperatures, coupled with high relative humidity, slowed down sugar accumulation to achieve perfect ripeness with lower alcohol. Harvest started and ended about two weeks earlier than normal, producing superb quality. This cool climate 100% Merlot is grown in their vineyards in southern Napa Valley, within sight of the San Francisco Bay. Grgich Hills blended in a small amount of Merlot from their warmer upper Napa Valley vineyards to craft a complex, balanced wine. Committed to natural winegrowing and sustainability, they farm their five estate vineyards without artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides and they are certified organic. This is a Cabernet lover’s Merlot! Its bright flavors of strawberries, cherries, licorice and a hint of coffee are wrapped in a velvety texture that keep your taste buds asking for more! The wine’s firm tannins and vibrant acidity create the perfect partner with beef tenderloin, rack of lamb, duck and barbecued pork.	Grgich Hills Estates Merlot Napa Valley 2014
Dessert Course	Blackberry & Black Strap Molasses Cobbler (Cabernet Salted Caramel and Roasted Hazelnut Rolled Vanilla Bean Ice Cream) This wine’s personality was formed through the warm and dry growing season. The grape seeds naturally turned ultra-ripe early, creating an ethereal wine with fine-grain tannins. Acids were higher than in 2013, preserving the wine’s freshness. While the Grgich Hills 2014 Cabernet is not as structured as the 2013, the vintage is very lush and approachable. For the third year in a row, Napa Valley experienced an exceptional vintage, aided by near drought conditions. Budbreak came slightly early and the modest temperatures through the growing season helped preserve moisture. July’s relatively low temperatures, coupled with high relative humidity, slowed down sugar accumulation to achieve perfect ripeness with lower alcohol. Harvest started and ended about two weeks earlier than normal, producing superb quality. The Grgich Hills Yountville vineyard forms the heart of their Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, with grapes from their Rutherford and Calistoga vineyards rounding out the blend. They farm all of their vineyards naturally, without artificial pesticides or herbicides, and they are certified organic. The result is a full-bodied, elegant Cabernet Sauvignon with pure flavors and a pronounced sense of place. Complex aromas of black fruits, rich leather and nuances of violets burst out of the glass. Its full-bodied, rich mouthfeel carries these flavors for a long, lingering finish that loves a good grilled steak, rack of lamb or roasted duck.	Grgich Hills Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2014