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It's About Time MICHAEL MONDAVI INTRODUCES HIS FAMILY COLLECTION OF WINES Y ou can look at it as a coming out party. Michael Mondavi, his wife Isabel and son and daughter, Rob Jr. and Dina, have been below the radar for the past five years. After the Robert Mondavi Corporation Board of Directors sold to Constellation Wines U.S., Michael Mondavi began a marketing, sales and import company under the name Folio Fine Wine Partners, with such prestigious imports as Marchesi de' Frescobaldi, Tenuta dell'Ornellaia, Vall Llach and other estabblished and emerging wines from Italy, Spain, Austria and Germany. On the domestic front, the Michael Mondavi Family Estate "Family Collection" shows off a series of wines from the family's Carneros estate, as well as vineyards in prime Napa Valley locations. Michael's son Rob works in tandem with winemaker Tony Coltrin—one of the early Robert Michael Mondavi sips his high-end Mondavi winemakers, whom Michael has release, "M" by Michael Mondavi . worked with for 40 years. The wine represents the return of The line-up includes Isabel Mondavi, this legendary vintner, whose eponywines crafted by son Rob Mondavi, Jr. mously initialed signature Cabernet Sauvignon brings back the style of his to emulate his mother's own style. "My mom is an elegant woman," Rob tells THE Napa beginnings. The wine releases TASTING PANEL. "She is styled beautithis month. fully with a certain signature on how she carries herself, and therefore it is the most challenging wine for me to make." The wines include a deep Rosé of Cabernet Sauvignon, a Carneros Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir. The Emblem pair of Cabernet Sauvignons is made by the family to express their Napa heritage. The Oso Vineyard Cab comes from a high elevation between Sugarloaf and Howell Mountains ("my own 1374 feet," claims Rob Jr.), a small block on the crest of the noted hillside vineyard. And the return of the legend—Michael Mondavi himself—is epitomized by his first signature Cabernet Sauvignon: "M" by Michael Mondavi ($199), off his Animo Vineyard set high atop Atlas Peak sloping hillsides on volcanic soil. "It was back in the 1980s that I realized hillside fruit was our future," Mondavi points out. The wine is no shrinking violet, but its profile Isabel 2009 Carneros Estate begins with grace and power. It is structured, Pinot Noir ($50) goes deep. well-paced out from beginning to end, big pitchIts chocolate-espresso-crème black fruit concentrated in a luxurious graphite brûleé silkiness and mineral and violet stream, dipped in dark chocolate. subtleties bejewel its feminineIt really is about time. —Meridith May powered, red-fruited nature. It's for Real... ...Not a Fad! "... ONE OF THE U.S. MARKET'S HOTTEST AND FASTEST GROWING SPIRITS BRANDS! " IMPACT 12/15/12 Source: RUMCHATA®, CARIBBEAN RUM WITH REAL DAIRY CREAM, NATURAL & ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, 13.75% ALC./VOL. PRODUCED AND BOTTLED BY AGAVE LOCO BRANDS, PEWAUKEE, WI 53072 RUMCHATA AND CHATA are Registered Trademarks of Agave Loco, LLC. • PLEASE ENJOY OUR PRODUCTS IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER. WINE NEWS Feature RumChata It's for real! april 2013 / the tasting panel / 107