I had a recent opportunity to discuss a Sonoma Coast Royal St. Robert Pinot Noir with the winemakers. These are not your ordinary winemakers and they can easily drop the names of the world’s most famous wine families – Antinori, Gaia. In telling their story to a small group of passionate wine buyers in the Nashville area, Tim and Dante Mondavi graced us with a personal Zoom tasting and discussion of the Royal St. Robert (Named after Robert Mondavi) and their Pritchard Hill brand- Continuum. I was struck by their absolute passion for producing world class wines, their interest in sharing their winemaking philosophy, the quest for quality, and the specific challenges of mountain fruit vs coastline vineyards. First, I want to express a deep thank you to my good friends at Cool Springs Wine and Spirits. They sponsored the event and shared the opportunity with only about 12 people. This included Pete Bothwell, a Master Sommelier, who also graced us with his valuable time and insights. Immagine discussing wine on a Thursday night with a Master Somm and the Mondavi family. WOW At one point, Tim Mondavi told a story of a shared meeting with the Antinori and Gaia Families. He stopped himself as he wanted to get back to answering questions from the group. I interrupted and offered, “Well, if your last name wasn’t Mondavi, I might accuse you of name dropping!!!!”. The comment received a laugh from the group but it was greated more enthusiastically by the father and son. This is just one example of their down-to-earth nature and inclusive approach. Despite the reputation and the impact that Mondavi family has had on American wine (one could argue international), every comment and insight was accompanied with humility, passion and appreciation for those that love their wines. The Mondavi family has been in the winemaking business for 100 years and Tim and Dante stressed the importance of carrying on the family tradition while breaking out into new areas, new wine styles and innovative viticulture. I could not have been more impressed with their passion and interest in pushing the world of wine forward with a complete dedication to expressing terroir and making the best wines that any one location can offer. Tim, Dante, and Pete discussed their wines, decanting, aging, proper storage, glassware and as many topics as the group could mention. It was a comprehensive view of enjoying wine to the fullest and capturing the moment in each glass. With regard to the Pinot Noir, the wine is of outstanding quality and very unique from the normal American Pinot of today. Grown on the cool, ocean-moderated coast of Sonoma County on less than 5 acres, this wine has only 12% alc0hol, high acid, medium body and beautiful red fruit, floral, subtle spice, vanilla and toast. The tannins are extremely well integrated, soft and complimentary to the fruity character of the wine. The wine has a very long finish, wonderful fruit concentration and is a beautiful expression of Pinot Noir. The structure is seamlessly integrated with the intense fruit character. Aromas jump from the glass of this medium ruby wine and the intensity elevates even more on the palate. This is a high acid, low alcohol, superbly balanced Pinot Noir that is more than just an excursion into the deep pool of Mondavi family brands. This wine is outstanding on every level and worth the time and effort to find it. I am honored to have participated and this wine goes on the list of go-to wines for special events. I chose to store the Continuum for the future and will write about it sometime. Ciao
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Dennis SmithHome Chef and Wine Snob Archives
October 2021
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