By Duane Pemberton
Winery website: www.robertmondaviwinery.com
While Mondavi is known around the world for its high-end cabs, it also produces much more affordable “daily wines” like this 2010 Chardonnay. It’s a “California-style” Chardonnay that isn’t over-oaked and one I’m sure many people will enjoy. Here’s the rub:
Technical Data:
- Appellation: Napa Valley
- Grape Sourcing: 41% Napa Valley, 39%S Carneros Valley, 12% Sonoma County Vineyards
- Varietal Composition: 97% Chardonnay 3% Sauvignon Blanc
- Total Acid: 6.7 g/L
- Final pH: 3.4
- Residual Sugar: 0.57 g/L
- Alcohol: 13.5%
- Price: $20
Nose: Classic “California Chardonnay” on the nose here with hints of vanilla, oak, honeydew, honeysuckle, pear and hazelnut.
Taste: Good flavors of créme brulee, fig, vanilla, melon, mango, grapefruit and vanilla. This is quite the tasty Chardonnay that does cater to the oak lovers without “oak overkill” – the ML helps the overall mouthfeel and makes a good “California-style” Chardonnay for most new-world lovers of this grape.
