WINEMAKER’S NOTES:
The grapes were hand-harvested into small bins and carefully sorted in our gravity-flow cellar. The clusters were gently destemmed directly into traditional French oak tanks for cold soak, fermentation and extended maceration – a total of 33 days of wine to skin contact – maximizing the extraction of varietal character and complexity while keeping the tannins fleshy and supple. The new wine was drained and gently pressed into 7% new French-oak barrels for malolactic fermentation, assuring seamless integration of fruit and oak. The final blend was assembled through repeated tasting trials over the 21 months of barrel aging.
Merlot leads the orchestra of aromas, flavors and textures in this deeply colored Bordeaux blend. Each varietal plays it part, yet all contribute to the harmonious crescendo of dark black fruit, dark plum, spicy cardamom, nutmeg, and dried herb flavors. The finished piece is mouth-filling with fine tannins and closes with luxuriously, long notes of rich dark berries and spice.
“Maestro is a serious wine with a humble soul. It celebrates both Robert Mondavi’s work, and his wisdom.”
Genevieve Janssens – Director of Winemaking
