Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir 1996 Front Label
Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir 1996 Front Label

Winemaker Notes

Wild yeast and malo-lactic fermentations created rich layers of complexity in our 1996 Napa Valley Pinot Noir. The vintage's small crop resulted in wines with intense flavors and opulent texture. Delicious bramble berry and ripe, red plum flavors intermingle with spicy nuances of clove and cardamom. To weave spicy oak complexity with hints of vanilla and roasted coffee into the Pinot Noir fruit character, we aged the wine in small French oak barrels (23% new oak) for 9 1/2 months. Gentle handling during barrel aging was instrumental in achieving natural clarity; the wine was bottled unfiltered.

Professional Ratings

    Robert Mondavi

    Robert Mondavi

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    Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.

    Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.

    HEI3700457_1996 Item# 428