Robert Mondavi 2014 BDX Red, Oakville District, Napa Valley

A special wine not produced every vintage, BDX presents an expression of Oakville in a Bordeaux blend and specifically, with this 2014 vintage, the legendary To Kalon Vineyard. The To Kalon Vineyard that surrounds the Robert Mondavi Winery, is located in the heart of the prime benchland on the western side of the Oakville AVA, known for its well-draining soils, optimal sun exposure and relatively low fertility.

For this wine each grape variety was hand-harvested into small bins and carefully sorted in the 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 wines were drained and gently pressed into 87% new French-oak barrels. The final blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Cabernet Franc was assembled through repeated tasting trials over the 27 months of barrel aging. The wine was bottled in February of 2017.

Black plum and blackberry fruits weave seamlessly with sweet baking spices, a touch of tobacco and a thread of unsweetened cocoa in this richly textured, supple-tannin wine expressing the depth and complexity of To Kalon fruit.