Johannisberg Botrytis Riesling
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 10 to 30 years from the vintage release, as the high residual sugar and vibrant acidity act as natural preservatives, allowing the wine to develop profound complexity over decades.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Classic blue cheeses such as Roquefort or Stilton, rich savory starters like artisanal duck liver pate, and fruit-based desserts such as pear tart or apricot galette.
✨ Technical Specifications
Robert Mondavi was a visionary who sought to prove that California could compete with the finest wines of Europe, and his Johannisberg Botrytis Riesling remains a legendary testament to this quest. Sourced from select blocks in Napa Valley where autumn morning mists from the Napa River allowed the elusive Botrytis cinerea (noble rot) to develop, this rare sweet nectar was crafted only in exceptional years. The wine showcases the incredible concentration of flavors that occurs when botrytis shrivels the Riesling grapes, concentrating their natural sugars and acids. Historically, Mondavi's late-harvest Rieslings challenged the great Auslese and Beerenauslese wines of Germany, offering a rich tapestry of dried apricot, honeyed ginger, orange marmalade, and petrol notes, balanced by a vibrant, life-giving acidity.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1966 by visionary vintner Robert Mondavi, Robert Mondavi Winery was established in Oakville with the singular mission of creating Napa Valley wines that could rival the finest estates in the world. Operating from its iconic California Mission-style winery designed by Cliff May, the estate played a pivotal role in pioneering the modern American wine industry, particularly through its stewardship of the historic To Kalon Vineyard. Mondavi championed cutting-edge viticultural techniques, temperature-controlled stainless steel fermentation, French oak barrel aging, and popularized dry-fermented Sauvignon Blanc under the moniker Fumé Blanc. Today, the winery remains globally celebrated for its benchmark Reserve and Oakville Cabernet Sauvignons, as well as its structured, elegant Chardonnays and expressive Bordeaux-style blends.