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 2009 Pinot Noir, PNX at $45. It was a lighter style PN with soft tannins, a bit of cherry and a nice finish. We thought it was okay. The best of the red wines 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 if this is offered. 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 2009 Pinot Noir, PNX at $45. It was a lighter style PN with soft tannins, a bit of cherry and a nice finish. We thought it was okay. The best of the red wines 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 if this is offered. 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.
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