Tracy IsemingerWith Mother’s Day fast approaching, I thought I would tell you a little bit about my love of wine! I am a Washington State girl and therefore, drink Washington State Wines. I am literally surrounded by hundreds of world-class wineries within 45 minutes of my home! But lately, I have taken the opportunity to expand my horizons and delve into the world of Californian Wines. One of the ones that immediately is recognized is Robert Mondavi. Mondavi is a well-known winemaker with wines to fit every budget. Perfect for a Mother’s Day Dinner…or lunch… maybe even breakfast, lol!
*Disclaimer: I recieved this wine free of charge to provide my honest opinion. All views expressed are my own.
Recently I tried “Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi” 2011 Merlot and 2011 Riesling. Both an excellent value priced wine without the value price taste.
The Merlot is actually a composition of 76% Merlot, 13% Petite Sirah, 5% Syrah and 6% Complimentary varieties. This explains why I thought this was a fantastic Merlot. I LOVE Syrahs and you can taste the influence it brings in this wine. Among the bold flavors of blackberries, cherries and plums, you get just a touch of the Syrah spice that I crave in my reds. It isn’t an overwhelming spice so it’s still smooth enough to sip on its own but tastes even better paired with rich Italian dishes!
The Riesling really surprised me. I don’t care for overly sweet wines so this wine did not disappoint me. It is 76% Riesling paired with 24% Dry White Varietals. This leaves the sugar content at only 2.9% and leaves a nice balanced sweetness.
It has a nice crisp citrusy lime flavor with a hint of jasmine. Very light and refreshing. This is one with a slightly lower alcohol content of 11.5% that I might find I have to be careful not to sip away the entire bottle while relaxing on the back porch! You do not need to pair it with anything, but it is so versatile it can easily be paired with a light dinner salad, chicken, fish or dessert. Really it’s the perfect hostess gift as it will surely fit into any dinner party one way or another!
How did they get such fabulous flavor? In 2011, the Lodi area where the majority of the grapes were grown saw above average rain which resulted in delayed development. The mild weather resulted in smaller more concentrated clusters producing a more intense flavor. Fast forward to incredible wine.
Both of these Woodbridge Wines retail for just $7.99 and are widely available. If you see it, pick it up and give it a try and let me know what you think!
