Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir

2007
California

No pictures as my camera is, once again, broken. It got dropped and it's not worth the cost of fixing. :(


Christmas was a bit of a bust as The Bro had to leave rather than stay the weekend. Unfortunately, his pipes froze and burst back home in upstate NY and, as a result, the entire place where he lives was knocked out of water on Christmas Eve. So we had all this wine we shopped for and thought we could take our time enjoying, and he had to leave. :( He left me with much of the wine and I intend to comment on a few soon.

In addition, I will be posting my top five wines for 2008 in the next few days.

Tonight I went to a cozy little tavern for a church meeting with two other church members. Only they both didn't show, and when I called I got answering machines. At this point, the waitress had already poured (3) glasses of water and brought out olives and olive oil and bread. So, I felt I needed to order and stay anyway. Luckily, I had paper and pen and kept myself occupied.

I had difficulty deciding on scallops with portabella mushroom, fried breaded tomato and spinach, and a rich Chardonnay, or Ahi pan-seared sesame-encrusted tuna over a bed of seaweed salad, and Mr. Mondavi's Private Selection Pinot Noir. I chose the latter based on my diet lately (no meat, dairy, fried foods, sugar, white flour, etc.).

I am not a fan of Mondavi wines. I don't even give them a second glance. However, I thought the Private Selection might not be so ordinary, and I thought a Pinot would accompany my tuna better than a heavier Merlot or Cab. I chose wisely. The tuna tasted like a steak following a swallow of wine. It was a nice pairing. On it's own, the wine probably would have been passable. But it worked up to the dimension of "good" with the tuna.

Big cherry scent and flavor, with a hint of vanilla. A bit weak in taste on its own, but I didn't expect a big flavor from a Pinot Noir. Good match with tuna.

For another take on this wine, visit:

mikethewineguy.blogspot.com/2007/01/tn-robert-mondavi-private-selection.html


7.75 out of 10
$10 / 750 ml. bottle
Alcohol content unknown

Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir

Private Selection

2006

California

Might drink again as an "everyday" wine.

The Guy and I have been on The South Beach Diet for about a week. Only important translation: No wine for two weeks. I haven't been doing too well on it. I did great the first (4) days then gave in to peanut M&M's and (of all things) BEER Potato Chips (they were so good - beer, sugar and salt - everyone else who tried them HATED them - why did I have to be the one that had to continue to consume half a bag???????) However, I managed to stay away from wine. Until this weekend. But I didn't really do too bad. The Guy opened this wine on Friday night, making a decision to just have a glass or two and then go back on the diet. I had 1/2 glass so I could get the taste and at least write a more recent post.

I've mentioned before, I'm not a Mondavi fan. This wasn't too bad. The color was a bright ruby. It's better with food. And it's slightly better the second day. On it's own it was reminiscent of grape juice with a kick. But it had more cherry flavor with a bit of oak following chicken in a yogurt sauce. It would probably be a good luncheon accompaniment to lighter foods like chicken, pork, ham and maybe a few mild, creamy or vegetable pasta dishes.

We could in the United States make as great a variety of wines as are made in Europe, not exactly of the same kinds, but doubtless as good.

--- Thomas Jefferson

7.75 out of 10

$10 / 750 ml bottle

13.5% lc. by vol.

http://www.rmprivateselection.com/

Robert Mondavi Vinetta

2005

Private Selection

California

Will drink again - yet another good pick for the money.

This blend of 68% cabernet sauvignon, 14% merlot, 11% petit verdot, 5% malbec and 2% cabernet franc was thoroughly drinkable. I am not a fan of Robert Mondavi anything (no offense, I just haven't liked any of his wines). One of the guys I work with kept telling me I had to try Mondavi's "Vinetta". I couldn't find it anywhere. I found it waiting for me at my desk on Monday morning.

The color was almot a flourescent purple. The scent was fruit, licorice and alcohol. Although Mondavi describes this as a "Bordeaux-inspired" blend, I found it more fruity than earthy. For the first time, I smelled and tasted licorice mixed with dark cherry, followed by oak. There wasn't much of a finish, but there was a nice quick burst of oak at the end that I did enjoy.

I think it would serve well as an everyday wine to have on hand for relaxed company (not any connoisseurs).

Glasses are raised,

toasts are spoken.

Reservations are made,

engagements are broken.

An old man sighs,

and one life comes to an end.

A baby cries,

and a new life just begins.

Witness the energy flow in and around each building,

as life takes form beyond each light.

Yet, still, loneliness abounds,

reflecting across the Harbor at night.

8.0 out of 10

$9.99 / 750 ml. bottle

13.5% alc. by vol.

http://www.rmprivateselection.com/