Grgich Fume Blanc: Better wine & nice price

Napa Valley vintners continue to compete on a worldwide scale buoyed in no small part from the contributions of numerous dedicated wineries. As a result of steady production and a string of good vintages, this year’s huge inventory of Sauvignon Blancs continues from 2011. This means good buys are still to be had.

One interesting result of all the inventory build-up comes in the form of price reductions from quality producers who normally sell their wine just above the mid-range price for any given varietal. When this happens, it makes it easier on the wallet to enjoy wines with better character and elevated food pairing potential. These are a step up in quality and make for great for tasting comparisons against lower priced competitors.

One Napa producer who has a long history of white wine excellence wines is Grgich Hills Estate. Starting with Mike Grgich’s crafting of the Chardonnay that won the famous wine tasting competition of 1976 (see the movie Bottle Shock) against the best French wines; their family tradition of wine perfection continues to this day. In fact, Mike still comes into work at the winery to help guide the business in the traditions of fine winemaking.

One of their best white wines is labeled Fume Blanc. It is made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape grown on two properties at the very southern end of the Napa Valley. It has a bouquet that is mostly citrus, but a swirl of floral and mineral puts it into the “more complex” category. It has a racy body of crisp acid that is not overpowering and is balanced by a light fruitiness that follows into a longer than usual finish.

These marks of a more expensive wine allow it to pair superbly with an entire entree selection that has many flavors. For example, its balanced acid goes with Panko-Fried Fish, tartar sauce, and lemon. The mineral component pairs with boiled spinach. A wonderful zesty/floral component harmonizes with Quiche Lorraine.  No wonder their Fume Blanc is on so many wine lists.

Right now, Girgich’s 2009 Fume Blanc is available at Total Wine for $22. Considering the suggested list price of $30, it’s such a deal. This wine is seldom marked down, so give it a try.

As with many Sauvignon Blanc based wines, it should really be consumed with a meal, they’re not good solo acts. Serve chilled from the fridge after about an hour (50-55 degrees).

Article by Tom Peiffer, Phoenix Wine Shopping Examiner at Examiner.com

View more of Tom’s articles on Examiner.com by visiting his writer’s page.