Robert Mondavi Winery needs no introduction, being one of the best-known wineries in California, if not the world. And, of course, almost everybody has heard of Robert Mondavi whose name is almost synonymous with Napa Valley wine. The winery is large and very popular, but in the many years we have visited it they has always been very people friendly. I’ve been there dozens of times. It is one winery we always visit when we have company from out of the area. If you have not been to Robert Mondavi Winery before and you care about wine or the history of Napa Valley, you need to visit them. Be sure to take their guided tour which is one of the best in the Valley. Mondavi should be applauded for also having some, really good, very reasonably priced wines. On their regular tasting menu, their wines started as low as $20 ($16 if you are a wine club member) and went only to $45. Of course they also have reserve wines and many library wines that compete with the finest in the world.
Our tasting began with the famous Robert Mondavi 2009 Napa Valley Fume Blanc,
which, of course, is Modavi’s version of a Sauvignon Blanc and has an old story to accompany it. The 2009 is $20. This wine is always a consistent winner in
its price range. (It goes on
sale for $12.98 at Safeway.) It has a very
nice aroma of melon, is quite dry and beautifully balanced with some
herbaceousness, good fruit and acid and a good finish. We also tried the Robert Mondavi 2010 Stag’s Leap District
Sauvignon Blanc at $32. This is a more
complex wine with some minerality and makes an interesting comparison with the
Fume Blanc. We highly recommend both of them.
Our red wines started with the Robert Mondavi 2009 Pinot Noir, PNX at $45. It was a lighter style Pinot Noir with soft tannins, red cherry and a nice finish. We found it pleasant but not memorable. Our favorite of the red wines we tasted was the Robert Mondavi 2008 Momentum, a Cab blend, at $40. (39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, 5% Syrah and 3% Petite Verdot.) This is a wine with plenty of fruit and nicely integrated tannins. It has good grip and mouth feel with some complexity. Both of us liked it very much. It is quite drinkable now but should cellar well.
I'd love to return and do a reserve or library tasting. Much thanks to our wine educator, Dave, who really is a wine educator and not simply a wine host. We loved talking with him about wines.
Addendum: I bought a bottle of the Robert Mondavi 2009 Napa Valley Fume Blanc and had some with my wife. My wife likes mostly white wines and is about an average Californian wine drinker; she likes wine but does not dream about it. With her first sip of the Fume Blanc she exclaimed, "Hmm, nice wine." I think the Mondavi Fume Blanc is a very affordable and good wine that almost anybody would like. It is one of the white wine bargains of Napa Valley and is the least expensive Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley that I can recommend. Mondavi has an affordable winner with this wine.
Our red wines started with the Robert Mondavi 2009 Pinot Noir, PNX at $45. It was a lighter style Pinot Noir with soft tannins, red cherry and a nice finish. We found it pleasant but not memorable. Our favorite of the red wines we tasted was the Robert Mondavi 2008 Momentum, a Cab blend, at $40. (39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, 5% Syrah and 3% Petite Verdot.) This is a wine with plenty of fruit and nicely integrated tannins. It has good grip and mouth feel with some complexity. Both of us liked it very much. It is quite drinkable now but should cellar well.
I'd love to return and do a reserve or library tasting. Much thanks to our wine educator, Dave, who really is a wine educator and not simply a wine host. We loved talking with him about wines.
Addendum: I bought a bottle of the Robert Mondavi 2009 Napa Valley Fume Blanc and had some with my wife. My wife likes mostly white wines and is about an average Californian wine drinker; she likes wine but does not dream about it. With her first sip of the Fume Blanc she exclaimed, "Hmm, nice wine." I think the Mondavi Fume Blanc is a very affordable and good wine that almost anybody would like. It is one of the white wine bargains of Napa Valley and is the least expensive Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley that I can recommend. Mondavi has an affordable winner with this wine.
Robert Mondavi Winery
7801 St Helena Hwy
Oakville, CA 94562
(888) 766-6328
Date of visit: February 22, 2012
7801 St Helena Hwy
Oakville, CA 94562
(888) 766-6328
Date of visit: February 22, 2012
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