Winemaker Notes
The signature Griva bottling has tropical fruit aromas accented by grapefruit and white peach. The palate exhibits hints of minerality with rich, lush tropical fruit flavors. With notes of guava, citrus peel, and stone fruit, this intense Sauvignon Blanc finishes with refreshing acidity.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Generous aromas of ripe white figs and honeyed yellow grapefruit. The palate shows acidity and flavors of citrus, coriander, nectarines and a kick of minerality, all unspooling in a balanced, energetic, layered finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
Tightly wound aromas of dewy grass, damp sidewalk and green apple make for a classic nose from this established site atop the cobble-lined riverbeds of this Monterey appellation. The palate is lively with flavors of white and sansho pepper opening to a pear element
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Vinous
The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Griva Vineyard (98% Musqué clone plus a dollop of Sémillon for body) is a zippy little number. Pear, tart green apple, stone dust and lemon pith open, coasting across the palate with an agile build and a pleasant roundness on the creamy finish.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
Named after the dramatic, seasonal river of rain and snowmelt that cuts through the upper elevations of the Santa Lucia Mountains, the Arroyo Seco AVA extends east from the resultant mountain gorge, and into the rural and warm Salinas Valley. During the growing season, cool and damp Pacific Ocean air penetrates the gorge and flows into the valley, creating a cool evening respite for vineyards after a hot summer day. This natural water-release has also created a subterranean aquifer, which helps set the foundation of the AVA's boundaries and supplies the vineyards with water.
Arroyo Seco was actually home to the first commercial vineyard in California, called Mission Ranch, which was owned and propogated by the Mirassou family in the 1960s.
Chardonnay is most widely grown here. But as one of Monterey’s warmer regions, Arroyo Seco enjoys the highest praise for its reds, namely Bordeaux blends.
Arroyo Seco is one of the oldest AVAs in California, its status granted in the early 1980s, and also remains one of its smallest.