On December 11, 2009, I met with Michael Mondavi and his family at their beautiful winery in Carneros, at the southern tip of Napa Valley. Michael, his son Rob Mondavi, Jr., and his daughter Dina and I sat around a table and conducted our first blending session for Tyler Florence Wines. One of the things I love best about putting together my recipes Is experimenting with different ingredients in order to combine flavors in perfect balance. Turns out, it's one of my favorite things about wine making, too.
Rob, a fourth-generation Napa Valley winemaker, led us through measuring, tasting and testing a wide variety of barrel samples and blends in order to find perfectly balanced varietal flavor from the region's unique vineyards. Together we sourced three limited-production wines-Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon-from world-class California vineyards. These wines exhibit true varietal character and terroir expression. We also crafted an approachable, food-friendly pair to enjoy every day-Tyler Florence Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Each of these wines reflects our shared belief that wine and food should bring out the very best in each other.
I hope you enjoy these wines as much as we enjoyed making them.
Cheers,
Tyler Florence
The Winemaking Process:
Tyler & Rob Mondavi, Jr. Discuss
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