Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc Botrytis
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5 to 20 years from the vintage release, though exceptional vintages can cellar even longer, developing deeper amber hues and complex notes of caramel and dried fruits.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Classic blue cheeses, artisanal fruit tarts (such as apricot or pear), and rich savory starters like duck liver pâté.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Robert Mondavi, a towering figure in California wine history, was a relentless innovator who sought to prove that Napa Valley could rival the greatest wine regions of Europe. While he famously popularized dry Sauvignon Blanc under the 'Fumé Blanc' moniker, his exploration of sweet, botrytized wines remains a testament to his visionary spirit. Produced only in select vintages when the rare, beneficial 'noble rot' (Botrytis cinerea) develops in the vineyards, this Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc is a luscious, golden nectar. The botrytis dehydrates the grapes, concentrating their natural sugars, acids, and flavors. Fermented and aged in French oak barrels, the resulting wine marries intense honeyed apricot, candied citrus, and ginger notes with a vibrant, balancing acidity and a subtle touch of sweet oak spice, echoing the legendary sweet wines of Sauternes.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1966 by wine pioneer Robert Mondavi, the Robert Mondavi Winery is located in the heart of Oakville within California's Napa Valley. Driven by Mondavi's vision to create Napa Valley wines that could stand among the world's finest, the estate is renowned for its historic To Kalon Vineyard, which yields some of the region's most acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. The winery's production philosophy combines traditional European winemaking techniques with innovative American technology, utilizing French oak barrel aging to craft elegant, structured, and age-worthy wines. Today, it remains a global symbol of Napa Valley excellence, celebrated for its iconic Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and expressive Fumé Blanc.