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. |
