This wine was a real surprise; it is a little more money than we usually write about, but what a terrific treasure. The nose is great, filled with aromas lemony citrus and traces of floral notes.  This was a perfect invite for the flavors that were to come. Light and fresh were the first sensations that entered my palate, followed by grassy, clean citrus sensations all followed with a hint of vanilla acidity. Overall, this is a winner for summer sipping or those wonderful grilled spring meals. I have to admit that when I received this bottle to review, a little reluctance came over me and I looked over last year’s notes on the 1999 vintage. This wine is a complete opposite, not over oaked and dull, but a real winner. I went out a picked up six bottles for the upcoming months.

As I mentioned earlier think of the grill with this wine. A perfect match for grilled chicken with a fresh herb marinade. Another perfect match would be a mixed green salad topped with lemon-grilled shrimp and crumbled goat cheese. Stay away from tangy vinaigrette, the acidity in the dressing will overpower the wine. With this in mind keep the dressing light and use the vinegar sparingly. Keep in mind this wine is really perfect for almost any of our favorite summer dishes, and just for sipping.

In March 2001 Mondavi Winery opened its new Kalon Project, its first renovation to the winery since 1966, which included a total revamp to its visitor program. I have spoken to a few people who toured the facility after the completion of this project and there response was “It was one of the best tours we attended on our trip to California”. If you are going to the wine country make it a point to attend a tour and tasting at this landmark winery. They are also offering culinary tours that show some of the wonderful food pairing to all off their world-class wine.