Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Chardonnay 2022

Robert Mondavi Winery is the Napa Valley estate of Robert Mondavi, the godfather of American wine.

Robert Mondavi has received many honours throughout his life as an outstanding contributor to American wine and the world of wine:

In 1990, he received the ‘Award of Merit’ from the American Society of Enology and Viticulture, and in the same year, the James Beard Foundation's ‘Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year Award’.

In 1991, he was elected ‘Ambassador’ of the Culinary Institute of America and was awarded the ‘Master of Aesthetics of Gastronomy’.

In 2002, he was recognised by the California State Assembly for his lifelong contribution to the California wine industry.

In 2005, France awarded Robert Mondavi the Legion of Honour, the country's highest presidential honour. The award was given in recognition of the strong partnership he has built between the French and American wine industries.

Born in 1914 at the age of 94, Robert Mondavi's parents were immigrants from Italy. Robert's parents were immigrants from Italy who initially settled in Minnesota in the northern part of the United States. Because of the Italian tradition of winemaking and drinking, wine was often served at the family table.

The cold climate of Minnesota was not conducive to wine growing, so the family moved to California when Robert was 10 years old. His father saw the potential of the California grape industry and quickly became a successful businessman, sending Robert to Stanford University to study business and economic management.

Robert got a job in a California winery right out of college, and a few years later convinced his father to buy Charles Krug Winery, where the family began working together as a winery - Robert in charge of marketing and sales, and his brother in charge of winemaking.

After the death of his father, the two went their separate ways due to disagreements. His mother sided with his brother and Robert was swept off his feet. He then took legal action to regain the main vineyards and an irreparable rift developed between the brothers.

He left Charles Krug in 1966, by which time he had gained a great deal of experience and had a number of competent assistants. He soon established his own Robert Mondavi Winery.

Robert chose to locate the winery at To Kalon in the heart of the Napa Valley. This vineyard is known for producing some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon wines in the world. To Kalon is ranked as the #1 vineyard in North America and the #5 vineyard in the world, which means ‘the most noble and beautiful’ in ancient Greek.

Robert and Baron Philippe de Rothschild, owner of Chateau Mouton Rothschild, later co-founded the ‘King of Wines’ in the United States, Opus One, and one of the reasons for its success was the excellent Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Caron Vineyards.

In the 1950's and 60's, California wine was almost a symbol of cheapness. When he founded his winery, Robert's vision was to create Napa Valley wines that would stand out among the best wineries in the world.

He brought stainless steel fermentation tanks, French oak aging, low-temperature fermentation, and natural growing methods to the U.S. He also promoted the idea of ‘Napa Valley Wine’. At the same time, he promoted the idea that the Napa Valley was the world's top wine region, and organised blind tasting competitions to compare California wines with wines from France and Italy. In the winter of 2005, due to the financial crisis, Robert had to sell his winery to the American Wine Group. In the winter of 2005, due to a financial crisis, Robert sold his winery to Constellation Wines.

Today, Robert Mondavi Winery is the largest producer of fine wines in California, with an annual production of 1,500,000 cases of wine and 440 hectares of vineyards. Each vineyard is planted with different grapes according to its terroir, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc being the predominant grapes.

The Chardonnay grapes were sourced primarily from the cooler southern section of Napa, ripening slowly to maintain acidity and develop more flavour profile, with a portion from the renowned Stag's Leap region adding excellent texture and richness to the wine.

Harvested in the cool of the morning, the wine is quickly whole bunch pressed to preserve the vibrant fruit flavours, then fermented in small 16% new French oak barrels, where it is aged for up to 9 months with full contact with the mash, which is stirred on a regular basis to add rich, creamy, biscuit-like flavours. With a velvety structure, rich flavours of juicy peaches, roasted pears, pineapple, with hints of lemon zest, almonds, and rich creamy notes, all balanced by a rich, structured mouthfeel!