Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Merlot

WINEMAKER NOTES :

The grapes were hand harvested in the cool of the morning, then gently de-stemmed and crushed. Nearly one third of the wine was fermented in French-oak tanks in our To Kalon Cellar for soft, supple tannins and textural interest. The balance went into stainless steel tanks for purity of fruit expression. Nineteen days of maceration maximized color and flavor extraction and polished the tannins for a lush, round mouthfeel. The new wine was transferred to 60-gallon French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and fifteen months aging to develop greater roundness and depth. Small amounts of complementary varieties were included in the blend, further enhancing the wine’s structure, balance and complex flavor profile.

Testing Nose

A powerhouse of a Merlot, our 2015 opens with dark plum and blackberry fruit which spreads across the palate in a flavorful journey, wrapping sweet tobacco, dusty cocoa and a hint of eucalyptus around a core of generous yet approachable tannins.