Raise your glass in memory...

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

Robert Mondavi has died at 94.

He did a lot to start that wine area of Napa, and had good wines in his day of production.

He was a good man who had a good life.

I am not making any comment about his family and how the winery is now, just a memory of one of the fathers of the wine area that is Napa.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I wonder if the prices will be going up now or if the family will continue making the wine.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

Robert Mondavi has died at 94.
...I am not making any comment about his family and how the winery is now, just a memory of one of the fathers of the wine area that is Napa.

I wonder if the prices will be going up now or if the family will continue making the wine.

Okay Frank, I'll comment on the family.

Winery was passed on to one of the two sons many years ago. Big squabbles in the family, which is why only one son has the lead now. The two sons, as I understand the story, wanted to go different directions with the winery. I think it was a board and family decision to go the way they have.

At one time, the name Mondavi was a good representation of a quality wine. Not true anymore. The do have some good wines yet, but much of the $10-$20 wines are over priced and not what they used to be.

Was watching Jim Cramer the other day. He had an importer or some level of wine handler. They were talking about how a liquor drinker is loyal to a brand. A wine drinker is not loyal. They look for ‘new things to try’ as the guest put it. I fit that. I have well over a dozen brands on my rack. They were purchased because of a quality or style I was looking for, or part of a wine tasting, or a sale on something that would not normally have bought because of it’s price. The guest said they specialized in $10-$20, which is where much of the Mondavi line would fit.

I wish Mondavi winery luck, but it may take a wine tasting to prove out their wines before they get me back as a customer.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Looks like you have some inside knowledge. Mondavi still makes some high end wines. They get credit for at least half of the Opus.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

Looks like you have some inside knowledge. Mondavi still makes some high end wines. They get credit for at least half of the Opus.

And if I had your money I could buy that wine.

You are correct Frank, there is still nice wines, but, their $15-20 wines are weak compared to others in the same price point.

I like a (forgive my spelling on these) Seghesio Sonoma Zin and Artesa Napa Cab. Wonderful wines. Priced at about $18-28 depending on sale and purchase location, these wines are much more than the Mondavi wines. I like the cheapie BV Coastals better that the Mondavi lower priced wines.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I like the cheapie BV Coastals better that the Mondavi lower priced wines.

I am have an 04 packed for tonights trip back to Montauck. Should be drinking that BV with in a day.