The wine in this week’s vineyard is one I have been eyeing for some time. It’s the Robert Mondavi Private Selection pinot noir. I first spotted it when I arrived home in Norway this past summer, but to be honest, I was a bit skeptical of how “authentic” it was compared to the other wines I have reviewed in the past, but more on that later. When I spotted this same wine at both Total Wine & More, and at Target, I knew it was the real deal and I had to give it a try.
The color of the wine is a rather deep red and has an immediate aroma of dark fruits, with a hint of sweetness that hits you. The aroma of the wine lingers at the top of the glass so it’s easy to catch.
This wine has a flavor of dark berries, hints of cherries, blackberries, vanilla bean, spices and raspberries. Robert Mondavi pinot noir is classified as a medium-bodied wine which makes it very smooth and easily enjoyable. The hint of sweetness makes it pair well with chocolate that isn’t so bitter in taste, but more rounded. Perhaps my favorite quality of this wine is that it works so well by itself. You don’t need to pair it with food to get the best qualities out of it. It also doesn’t require you to be prepared to enjoy it. You can just relax with your favorite show on Netflix or Hulu and the wine just works.
Pinot noir is one of the world’s most important blue grapes. Traditionally, it produces red wines that give aromas of red berries with earthy hints. They are often light red in color, however, this depends on where the wine is produced. The most famous pinot noirs come from Burgundy in France. If you want a softer pinot noir, you should go for one from California, but if you want one similar to the one from Burgundy but cheaper, you should look for a pinot noir from Germany.
Now back to what I mentioned in the introduction, about the authenticity of wine. Of course all wine is “authentic,” but while the wines are produced by the vineyards, some of the types of wine are produced for certain regions or markets. Meaning while you may find a California-produced wine at an airport in Norway, you won’t necessarily be able to find it in any store in California.
Robert Mondavi Private Selection wines can be found at both Target and Total Wine & More, but if you want the pinot noir, you would have to go to Target. For only $8.99 this wine brings a lot of both flavor and character.