Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/807384
6 / the tasting panel / april 2017 In a serendipitous moment while opening a wine bottle and sheepishly monitoring the television, a certain car commercial caught my attention. "There are conductors, and then there are maestros," a bari- tone voice intoned, informing me that a true maestro leads his orchestra with "confidence, exactness and inspiration." The message couldn't have been more appropriate and timely: The bottle I had just uncorked was the Robert Mondavi Winery 2014 Maestro Red Blend, the second rendition of the highly inspired and well-received 50th Anniversary 2013 Maestro, which debuted in 2016 to honor Robert Mondavi and commemorate the five decades since his winery's 1966 foundation in the Oakville district of Napa Valley. In many ways, Robert Mondavi, who passed away in 2008 at age 94, was a mythological maestro, a legendary leader and visionary who helped set the tempo, synchronize the many moving parts and draft the score that would ultimately usher Napa Valley onto the world stage of celebrated wine regions. Yet it was on a warm summer's eve 16 years ago that the man became the maestro in a literal sense—if only for a few minutes. The magical moment occurred at a gala to celebrate the grand opening of the winery's state-of-the-art To Kalon Cellar. Robert Mondavi had commissioned an orchestra to perform a special piece of music to mark the occasion, and when the orchestra began to play, Mondavi—in a spontaneous display of emotion and joy—grabbed the baton and began conduct- ing. That memory, says Mondavi Director of Winemaking Geneviève Janssens, was the inspiration for the Maestro Red Blend. "Robert Mondavi was the maestro of our lives. He will always be the maestro of this winery and our inspiration." For 2014, the Maestro retakes the stage, but with a slight modification to the label to ensure the exclusivity of the 50th Anniversary rendition. Also, the blend's components were reformulated to reflect the particular strengths of the vintage. "Maestro is more of an artistic blend. There is no formula," explained Winemaker Joe Harden. "We work with what the vintage gives us; it is an opportunity to make a true vintage-driven wine." While Merlot played the starring role in the 50th Anniversary blend, the 2014 vintage showcases by Cliff Rames / photos by Cal Cal Bingham Robert Mondavi 2014 Maestro stands among some of the most revered and high-end wines in market. by Cliff by Cliff by Rames Cliff Rames Cliff / photos / photos / by Cal by Cal by Cal Bingham Upfront with Robert Mondavi Maestro