This is a barrel-fermented white that fully embraces its richness in the form of a baked pear, caramel and crème brûlée. It's full bodied and ample in fruit, with an underlying crispness that brightens the finish. Producer Information Michael Mondavi Family is situated in the Napa Valley, California. Grandson to Cesare Mondavi and son to Robert Mondavi, Michael comes from a long line of legendary Californian winemakers. In 2006, he founded the Michael Mondavi Family estate and today it produces wines under four labels: Isabel Mondavi Wines, Emblem, Animo and M by Michael Mondavi. The Mondavi family had purchased Animo Vineyard in 1999, a vineyard perched high above the Napa Valley on the slopes of Atlas Peak. Amino Vineyard is planted to 15 acres (6 hectares) of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot vines that sit atop rocky, iron-rich volcanic soils at elevations spanning from 1200 to 1300 feet (366 to 396 meters). The Heritage Block vineyard is 1.25 acres (0.5 ha) of Sauvignon Blanc that joined the company holdings in 2006. Located within the Atlas Peak AVA, it is planted with vine cuttings from the infamous To Kalon vineyard in Oakville. Oso Vineyard is the Michael Mondavi Family estate vineyard, which is situated in Napa Valley between the Sugarloaf and Howell mountains. Here, Cabernet Sauvignon vines are planted at an elevation of 1250ft (381m) on stone terraced-slopes made up of rocky, well-drained soils. Californian black bears enjoy feeding on the ripening Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and were the inspiration behind the vineyard's name – oso is the Spanish word for bear. M by Michael Mondavi is the estate's flagship wine and is a single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon wine made from grapes hand-harvested in the Animo Vineyard. After fermentation, the wine ages in French oak barrels for approximately 22 months depending on the vintage with only the very best barrels are selected for the final wine blend. Three wines make up the Isabel Mondavi collection: Deep Rosé Cabernet Sauvignon, Carneros Chardonnay and Carneros Pinot Noir. The estate also produces eight wines under the Emblem brand, including multi- and single-vineyard expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon from Oso Vineyard and the Napa Valley. The Mondavi family also established the Folio Fine Wine Partners wine importing company in 2004.
