Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc Botrytis
⏳ 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.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Classic blue cheeses, artisanal fruit tarts (such as apricot or pear), and rich savory starters like duck liver pâté.
✨ Technical Specifications
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.
🍾 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.