M by Michael Mondavi

Napa Valley, California

2018
2016

The Mondavi family name and spirit have been intertwined with Napa Valley for four generations. M by Michael Mondavi Family expresses the family’s deep experience with Napa's vineyards and varieties through a proprietary red blend that showcases the best fruit from top vineyard blocks each vintage.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.