Inspired by the European travels of Robert Mondavi, this Meritage blend is rich and potent, yet elegant and complex. It is a collage of the five classic Bordeaux red varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc. In the glass, it offers dark plum, black cherry, andblackberry aromas along with a plush, velvety texture and succulent midpalate flavors. Its finish is impressively long and enhanced by well-integrated tannins. Blended primarily from Syrah and Merlot, the fruit for this wine hails from California's coveted Central Coast vineyards. The coastal climate is ideal for slow ripening, which yields optimal flavor development and complexity. This wine opens with decadent aromas of chocolate-covered cherry, strawberry shortcake and vanilla bean. On the palate, flavors of strawberry preserves, raspberry tart, cherry cola and milk chocolate give way to a sweet, lingering finish. Ripe and fruit-forward with soft tannins, this wine undergoes malolactic fermentation to enhance roundness and depth.
