2015 CK Mondavi – Cabernet Sauvignon
Dunnigan Hills AVA primarily and other California vineyards
Retail: $6.99
Head Winemaker: Charles Gilmore (2016)
CK winery, established in 1943, has created wines for four generations in the Mondavi Family. They harvest grapes at their peak of ripeness from their 1850 acres of land in Dunnigan Hills AVA and prime California vineyards like Joe A. Cotta Vineyards, Molles Vineyard, Moore Vineyards, and Triple H Farming. The CK Mondavi wine brand was improved in 2016 and the new CK Mondavi and Family wines hit shelves nationally recently last June.
The Head Winemaker is Charlie Gilmore, who in 2016, joined the winery after working as winemaker at Fetzer Vineyards for the past 12 years. Charles replaced John Moynier who retired after more than 30 years. Gilmore and Moynier worked together through the 2016 harvest. Prior to Fetzer, Gilmore worked a winery in the Barossa Valley of Australia, as well as working with a consulting winemaker in southern France. In his early career, Charles served as a laboratory intern and assistant at several wineries including Gundlach Bundschu, Rosenblum Cellars, Cakebread Cellars, and Artesa Vineyards and Winery. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Viticulture and Enology from the University of California, Davis. He certainly has a nice background of working at great wineries.
The 2015 vintage is comprised of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petite Sirah, 5% Merlot, 4% Petite Verdot, 2% Syrah, and 1% other. Its color is vibrant red which I find appropriate for cabernets. The purity is good and no signs of aging. The wine is filtered. People ask occasionally about the rim variation change and in my tasting, I found it to be a young cherry color.
The nose of the wine brought me rose petals and roasted coffee beans. I find it to be acceptable. For wine intensity, this cabernet is delicate (nose level) and ready to drink now. For the fermentation aroma it has a clean sense and I discovered a hint of oak tannins.
CK Mondavi Cabernet is semi-transparent as I hold my glass 45 degrees in front of a white sheet of paper. When swirled, the legs are thick and slow. There is 13.3% alcohol by volume in this wine which is medium low.
The winery reports sweetness as 0.55g/100ml which is quite dry but with soft tannins and luke warm alcohol feel the wine is slightly refreshing still. The amount of acidity is medium which combined with the tannins they seem to be in good proportion as an acceptable balanced cocktail wine. The finish is lingering for what I counted to be 17 seconds. Overall, this wine is a very drinkable every day wine.
www.ckmondavi.com
Food pairing: Roasted vegetables, cured meats, red meat, rich seafood, soft cheeses and bread
100% “Made in USA Certifed®” (Grapes, label, twist cap and bottle)
Yeast: Not disclosed
Alcohol: 13.3%
Residual Sugar - 55 g/100ml
pH: 3.82
TA: 0.60g/100ml
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