![]() This deep purple-hued effort leans to lively, fresher side of the vintage but has a brilliant, utterly classic style in its crme de cassis and blue-tinged fruit as well as notes of lead pencil, candied violets, damp earth, and chocolate-like nuances. Over all, if you've never visited a vineyard and want to learn about the basics of winemaking, this tour is interesting and fun. The 2018 Opus One is a blend of 84 Cabernet Sauvignon, 6 Petit Verdot, and the rest Merlot and Cabernet Franc. ![]() Nice wines, but I couldn't help thinking about the Opus One earlier, which (for obvious reasons), was way better. We tried asking him all sorts of questions and he seemed to know everything! We tried a 2008 Napa Valley Fume Blanc ($20/bottle), a 2008 Napa Valley Pinot Noir Reserve ($60/bottle), and a 2006 Oakville District Cabernet Sauvignon ($45/bottle). He's worked at the vineyard for decades, and really knows his stuff. We enjoyed a lovely tasting of 3 different wines. They paint all the barrels with wine so that if there's any dripping, it won't cause any stains. They also only use French oak barrels (remember my thoughts when I pitted French oak against American oak?). Tim Mondavi, winegrower and managing director at the vineyard, found that "ak fermentation imparts complexity, richness of texture, intensity, and depth of color, which is ideal for our reserve and district red wines, and particularly enhances the fruit from our To Kalon Vineyard.”* To Kalon produces some of the most sought after cabs in Napa Valley.Īlthough modern technology uses stainless steel fermentors, Robert Mondavi Winery uses small amounts of oak fermentors for some reserve wines. The harsh conditions put the grape vines in stress, causing them to produce more concentrated clusters of fruit with very intense flavors. The soil here is mostly clay loam, which drains well and does not retain lots of nutrients. These are the To Kalon vineyards, which, according to some, produce some of the best cabernet grapes in all of Napa Valley, if not the entire world. The best time to come is August, when the grapes are about to be harvested! ( right now the vines are empty - sad!) The tour guides are really good, and it's a fun peek into the winemaking process. We signed up for the Signature Tour for only $25, which I think is well worth the money. Lovely vineyard, definitely worth visiting, even if it's just for the views, which don't cost a cent!ĭo you recognize this arch? It's on the front of all Robert Mondavi bottles. We slowly sipped and savored it at the gorgeous second floor balcony. The immense structure of the Opus One wines. We shared one glass of the 2004 Opus One. A truly special release which recently, was only available from the cellar door. ![]() You can do a "tasting" which means you can buy individual glasses of wine for (gasp) $30 or $35 each!!! I guess since their bottles go for $195 and up, I can sort of understand why the tasting has to be so expensive. The views are top notch from the vineyard - almost unrealistically picturesque. There, we tasted through a couple different vintages of creamy, delicate chardonnay, a couple more of rich, bold cabernet sauvignon, and finally, dolce, each paired with exquisite cheeses that truly helped to bring about the best in every wine.When you see the Opus One Vineyard from afar, you immediately think "wow." It's grandiose, beautiful, and imposing all at the same time. It clearly was designed and built to impress, and impressed I was. In a quaint, elegantly decorated side room, our tasting was conducted. In describing the tasting experience, American Winery Guide wrote, "Tastings are intimate at Far Niente, a winery that sees so few people on a daily basis that our names and those of other guests appeared upon a chalkboard sentry that greets visitors inside the front doors. They produce more energy than they consume and organic farming is practiced across the vineyards. The winery began using solar power back in 2008 and is proud to be a net-zero user of electricity. During prohibition, the grounds were closed, but the winery was revived 60 years later (via Far Niente) ![]() The roots of the vineyard date back to 1885, when it was founded by John Benson, who came to California to strike it rich during the gold rush.
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