Robert Mondavi Oakville District Cabernet Sauvignon 1.5L 2001
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| Retail: | $49.99 |
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0% |
| Price: |
$49.99 |
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The Wine
The Oakville District of Napa Valley has produced Napa Valley's most sought after Cabernet Sauvignons for 130 years. Perhaps the most famous of all the district's producers, Robert Mondavi has been producing Oakville District Cabernet Sauvignons for 50 years. Designated an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 1993, the Oakville District region is noted for well-drained soils that allow deep rooting and the development of complex flavors in the grapes.After grapes were gently destemmed and crushed, we fermented the must with a combination of native (wild) and cultured yeast for layers of complexity. To naturally soften the grape tannins and develop varietal complexity, we gave the wine 37 days of skin contact. A long malolactic fermentation conducted entirely in barrels enhanced the wine's depth and body. During 17 months in small French oak barrels (45% new oak), the wine was racked barrel-to-barrel several times and lightly fined with fresh egg whites. Between rackings, the wine was left undisturbed for optimal clarity. These gentle winemaking techniques allowed us to bottle this Cabernet Sauvignon without filtration to fully retain its complex flavors and long aging potential. This is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot and 1% Malbec.Great with Rack of Lamb, Beef Tenderloin, and Grilled Flank Steak.
The Growing Region - Napa Valley
It's hard not to think of Napa Valley when thinking of California wines. The region is, after all, the one that brought world recognition to California wine making. The area was settled by a few choice wine families in the 1960's who bet that the wines of the area would grow and flourish. They were right. The Napa wine industry really took off in the 1980's, when vineyard lands were scooped up and vines were planted throughout the area. A number of wineries emerged, from large conglomerates to small boutique to cult classics. Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely the grape of choice here, with many winemakers also focusing on Bordeaux Blends. Whites are usually Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
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Notable Facts:
Within the Napa Valley lie small sub-AVAs that lend even more character specifics to the wines. Furthest south is Carneros, followed by Yountville, then Oakville & Rutherford. Above those two is St.-Helena and finally, while not yet an AVA, Calistoga. These areas are situated on the valley floor and are known for creating rich, smooth Cabernet Sauvignons, Merlots and Chardonnays. There are a few mountain regions as well, nestled on the sides of the above valley AVAs. Those include Howell Mountain, Stags Leap and Mount Veeder. Wines from the mountain regions are often more structured and firm, yet also with a pronounced elegance.
About California:
It's not rare to see a wine's country of origin listed as "California." A country into itself in the wine world, California makes enough varieties and styles to match many European wine countries. While it must settle for being only a state, that does not affect the high quality and diversity of its wines.
The most famous of the California wine regions is Napa Valley, and these wines are certainly outstanding – but watch out, because Sonoma County is catching up to its overshadowing neighbor. Down south, the Santa Barbara's Santa Maria Valley is finding that some Rhne style grapes and even Pinot and Chardonnay are able to do well. The Central Coast, the largest California AVA, has many different microclimates that lead to a wide range of wines with many sub-AVAs.
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