La Famiglia Colmera 1997

The 1997 vintage marks the premiere release of Colmera, the flagship wine of the La Famiglia di Robert Mondavi Winery, created by Tim Mondavi and Winemaker Heather Pyle. The name Colmera is derived from the village of Colmeroni, the birthplace of Robert Mondavis mother, Rosa. This picturesque village is located on a hill overlooking the ancient city of Sassoferato in the Marche region of Italy. Colmera is a unique wine that reflects the super Tuscan philosophy of blending traditionally recognized Tuscan varieties with non-traditional grapes of the region, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, to produce a wine of great structure and elegance. ""This wine is our best,"" says Heather. ""It is definitely my favorite. The blend adds a level of complexity, making the finished wine more harmonious. It was very important to me to choose other grape varieties that respected - and kept the integrity of - the Sangiovese character, yet enhanced the wines expression."" She created the blend of six grape varieties, with Sangiovese taking center stage, to sculpt a wine with a kaleidoscope of flavors. Though still young, the wine unfolds with rich, aromatic layers of plum, raspberry and dried spices. Hints of violets, citrus zest, and sweet leather weave through the layers, ending with a silky, vanilla finish. The wines complexity and depth of flavor will continue to evolve with bottle aging.