Mondavi and Franciscan- wine winners from Napa

By Darryl Beeson

In 1966, Robert G. Mondavi founded the Robert Mondavi Winery to create wines in California that belong side by side with the world's finest. For over four decades, the winery maintains the family's commitment to excellence, innovation and the consistant production of distinctive wines that still capture the best of Napa Valley. 

Robert Mondavi Winery is located in the heart of Napa Valley upon Highway 29 in Oakville. They were the first major winery built within Napa Valley during the post-Prohibition era. Robert Mondavi Winery promoted the entirety of Napa Valley from the beginning, and the valley grew in importance along side Mondavi's.

The classic mission-style architecture, with their distinctive archway and bell tower designed by Cliff May, has become an enduring Napa landmark that now evokes California's rich winemaking history.

Nearby, historic Franciscan Winery is now a sister winery. Franciscan's innovator, Agustin Huneeus, brought a similar vision to Napa Valley, consistantly offer world-class wines.

Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2005
Price    $28
Rating  94
The Robert Mondavi Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon traditionally offers "deep, dense layers of blackberry and black plum, cassis, and a hint of cedar. The expressive flavors come from the diverse soils and climates of vineyards located primarily in the Oakville and Stags Leap District American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) of Napa Valley," explains Genevieve Janssens, director of winemaking.

As always expected, there are well-integrated tannins, beautiful aromas, flavors and textures. This red is one of California's greatest wine values, better than wines priced twice as much.

Prior to joining the Robert Mondavi Winery in 1997, Janssens was Director of Production at Opus One Winery for nine years. She received a National Diploma of Enology from the University of Bordeaux, France in 1974. Her family owned vineyards in Corsica and France, which she managed from 1974 to 1977. Born in Morocco and raised in France, Janssens brings a different sensibility and culture to the Mondavi winemaking team.

At Robert Mondavi Winery, she helped implement the "To Kalon Project," described as the first major renovation of the historic and coveted, original winery in Oakville. Says Janssens, “I wanted to be there for the construction, creativity and challenge,” said Genevieve. “We...created a new winery for our "To Kalon" estate, one of the most extraordinary vineyards on earth.”

Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2004 
Price    $125
Rating  97
"Expect things like black cherry and cassis, dark chocolate, sweet anise seed and aromatic bay leaf." says winemaker Genevieve Janssens. There are intense layers of rich. dark fruit. As always, the wine combines power and elegance, with powerful tannins dovetailed within the well-chiseled Cabernet flavors. "We handcrafted the wine in our To Kalon Fermentation Cellar with hand-sorting of the clusters, gravity-flow movement of the must and wine, and fermentation in a traditional oak tank. Aging in new French oak château barrels (introduces) oak spices through the expansive, velvety flavors and lingering finish," explains Janssens. 

Robert Mondavi Winery Chardonnay Reserve, Carneros 2005
Price    $40
Rating  94
Expect flavors of rich, ripe pear, luscious fig, bright pineapple, exotic tropical fruit and complex floral notes. Intense vanilla spice nuances linger on the extremely long finish upon the palate. Carneros is one of California's finest regions for Chardonnay grapes. Robert Mondavi understood this early on.

Franciscan Magnificat, Napa 2004
Price    $50
Rating  96
The Franciscan Magnificat is traditionally a Bordeaux inspired blend. Incredibly dense, ripe fruit concentrations are augmented by nuances of exotic vanilla and spice. The sip is well-structured and balanced, perfect for long, graceful aging. The luscious oak blends evenly with the velvet hammer-like tannins throughout the long, complex length.

“When I came to Franciscan it was clear that we had great vineyards which could produce great wines," boasts Agustin Huneeus. "Our Oakville estate has always been recognized as one of the best red wine vineyards in Napa Valley. Years ago, Andre Tchelistcheff, one of Napa Valley’s most famous winemakers, tasted our wines and told us that this vineyard wanted to make a blend in the style of the great Bordeaux wines. We knew we had the makings of what was to become one of Napa Valley’s premier wines."

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Darryl Beeson travels the world looking for great food, wine, spirits and the unique destinations that provide such. He is American editor of www.wineontheweb.com and teaches for The International Sommelier Guild at www.internationalsommelier.com.