

M by Michael Mondavi
Napa Valley, California
Tasting Notes
Aromas of fresh French plum with notes of roasted hazelnut are at the core of the bouquet. On the palate, a medium body and soft textures mingle with delicate and refined flavors of dark red fruits and orchard blossoms to offer a seamless finish to this elegant and opulent wine.
Vintage Notes
2018 a mild growing season that led to overall high quality and quantity. Harvest took place October 17 25.
Vineyard Notes
Sustainably farmed, volcanic hillside vineyard located on the slope of Atlas Peak, overlooking Napa Valley. The select vine blocks produce smaller clusters and grapes that naturally provide ample intensity of color, tannins, and texture.
Technical Info
Varietals: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 16% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot
Aging: French oak, 60% new, for 20 months
Alcohol: 14.9 %
TA: 5.9 g/L
pH: 3.75
Barrels Produced: 17
Tasting Notes
Linear and precise, the 2016 M by Michael Mondavi opens with expressive aromas of quince, plum, juniper, cassis, blackberry & dark roasted coffee beans. With time and swirls of air, notes of dried rose petals, coriander, cinnamon and clove develop. This wine enters the palate with subtle tannins at first, and soon broadens into a silky expanse of vanilla bean, cocoa, roasted dates, black cherry, and orange blossom tea. The evolution of flavors continues with candied figs,bramble-berry, and cocoa-coveredstrawberries. Enticing and enjoyable now, additional cellaring will surely allow further detail and refinement to develop.
Vintage Notes
The near-perfect 2016 growing season started early, saw ideal weather conditions throughout, and wrapped up right as the valley's first significant fall rainstorm arrived on October 14. Thanks to a steadily mild July and August and then a series of warm days at the end of the growing season, vineyards were able to progress to perfect ripeness, resulting in a fifth consecutive vintage of stellar quality Napa Valley wines.
Winemaking Notes
The grapes came into the winery early in the morning and were gently transferred into our gentle and precise Pellencde-stemmer. The berries were then moved into small tanks and allowed to settle for one day prior to commencing fermentation. Press began and we opted for a short maceration time since the small, mountain berries naturally provide ample intensity of color, tannins, and texture. And, finally, into barrels the wine went to capture the delicate influence of oak while preserving the nuances of the fruit and vineyard.
Vineyard Notes
The grapes harvested for M by Michael Mondavi grow at the crest of our hillside vineyard on Atlas Peak overlooking the expanse of Napa Valley. In this special section, the vines produce smaller clusters and berries resulting in a richer, plush wine. In the years working this vineyard, we have come to intimately know the volcanic terroir of this piece of land, and are proud to present each year its very best expression of the Bordeaux grape varieties that we planted here.
Technical Info
BLEND: 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec AGING: 65% new French oak for 21 months, 35% neutral French oak ALCOHOL: 14.9 %; TA 5.9 g/L; pH 3.73 CASES PRODUCED: 396