Robert Mondavi Merlot

The grapes were hand harvested in the cool of the morning, then gently de-stemmed and crushed.Nearly one third of the wine was fermented in French-oak tanks in our To Kalon Cellar for soft, supple tannins and textural interest. The balance went into stainless steel tanks for purity of fruit expression. Twenty-two days of maceration maximized color and flavor extraction and polished the tannins for a lush, round mouthfeel. The new wine was transferred to 60-gallon French oak barrels (3% new) for malolactic fermentation and 17 months aging to develop greater roundness and depth. Cabernet Sauvignon was included in the blend to enhance the wine’s structure, balance and complex flavor profile.