Introduction to the To Kalon Vineyard Reserve
This is the seventh vintage of the To Kalon Vineyard-designated Reserve and it is made only from the vineyard’s finest blocks.
Robert Mondavi's Vision for To Kalon Vineyard
When Robert Mondavi chose To Kalon Vineyard in west Oakville as the home for his new winery in 1966, he remarked that it was, “a vineyard with a distinguished history and a magical nature. Ideal soils, sunlight and rain - to my eye, the vineyard was a treasure.” Those sentiments were reconfirmed when To Kalon Vineyard was named Vineyard of the Year by the California State Farm Bureau in 2011.
Meticulous Grape Harvesting and Sorting Process
The grapes were hand-harvested with three stages of strict sorting; first, on the vine, then by individual clusters and then again by single berry following de-stemming. The selected grapes went directly into traditional French oak tanks for cold soak, fermentation, and extended maceration - a total of 31 days of wine-to-skin contact - maximizing the extraction of varietal character and complexity while keeping the tannins round and supple. The new wine was drained and gently pressed into 100% new French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation, assuring seamless integration of fruit and oak. The final blend was assembled through repeated tasting trials over 20 months of barrel ageing. The wine was bottled on 13th August 2019.
“This Reserve embodies Robert Mondavi’s philosophy of making wines that are powerful yet gentle. Each year the blend reflects the ‘First Growth’ quality of To Kalon Vineyard. It is a classic wine which represents the history of innovation and style at Robert Mondavi Winery.” Geneviève Janssens, Chief Winemaker
