Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/661678
T he recent loss of the incredible Peter Mondavi Sr. calls for a weighted list of his great accomplishments: One of the first Californian winemakers to use French oak barrels; an early pioneer of vineyard development in the Carneros region; founder in part of the Napa Valley Technical Group (an organization that shares technological and research advances in Napa, bringing the community together); and, of course, being the CEO of Charles Krug Winery. But what a lot of us don't think to include on this list is how he served our country in WWII. The Purple Heart 2013 Red Wine out of Napa Valley reminds us of this sacrifice, as the new ultra-premium wine that pays tribute to the brave men and women in the military. The annual donation made to the Purple Heart Foundation—an organization that supports numerous programs and services dedicated to helping all veterans and their families—is a meaningful contribution from the Peter Mondavi Sr. family, now more than ever, honoring our heroes. Quite appropriately, Ray Coursen, a veteran of the Vietnam War, leads the Purple Heart winemaking team. Coursen was chosen not only because of his close family ties, but because of his long-term experience and his wines' accolades—more than 50 wines with scores over 90 points. Says Coursen, "Living in the Napa Valley is a blessing. It's something for which I am constantly thankful. It's a privilege made possible, in large part, by the bravery and sac- rifices made by people who risked everything to provide the United States with the freedom we all enjoy. Purple Heart wines is a small tribute that we will make to say thank you to military veterans. As a winemaker and Vietnam vet, it just seemed like the right thing to do." What does this right thing to do taste like? Plush. Very plush. Coursen elaborates, "I work with the folks at C. Mondavi & Family to make a blend that will be soft, fruit- forward and approachable, yet have the structure needed to evolve in bottle for four to five years or more. We start with a core of Merlot from the family's Yountville and St. Helena vineyards and seek out complementary lots of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from across the Napa Valley. We also experiment with various oak trials to impart just the right amount of fruit-oak balance. It's a lot of trial and error to ensure the wine achieves the style we are looking for." The 2013 is the inaugural vintage for Purple Heart. "I'd be hard-pressed (no pun intended) to think of a harvest better than 2013 to launch Purple Heart," continues Coursen. "The spring was warm and the continued drought conditions kept the vineyards dry, resulting in steady, even ripening. Yields were above normal and of exceptional quality. It enabled us to produce a complex Bordeaux blend with ripe fruit, balanced tannins and complexity." Although this collaboration between C. Mondavi & Family and the Purple Heart Foundation has only just commenced, I suspect the wine is going to do very well; and not one drop will be left behind. TASTING NOTES Purple Heart 2013 Red Wine, Napa Valley ($19.99) Ripe blackberry, Blackamber plum and black cherry folded into an extensively plush texture that finishes with hazelnut. The wine is called Purple Heart to honor the men and women serving in the military, and in fact, this producer makes an annual donation to the Purple Heart Foundation. Grab a bottle to support the veterans, and you'll find yourself returning for more because it's so darn drinkable. 92 C. MONDAVI & FAMILY PHOTO COURTESY OF C. MONDAVI & FAMILY april 2016 / the tasting panel / 87 Quite appropriately, Ray Coursen, a veteran of the Vietnam War, leads the Purple Heart winemaking team. Coursen was chosen not only because of his close family ties, but because of his long-term experience and his wines' accolades—more than 50 wines with scores over 90 points. Says Coursen, "Living in the Napa Valley is a blessing. It's something for which I am constantly thankful. It's a privilege made possible, in large part, by the bravery and sac rifices made by people who risked everything to provide the United States with the freedom we Ray Coursen, leader of the Purple Heart winemaking team and a Vietnam veteran.