The Honest Pour with John Lenart

For a long time wine from South Africa suffered a reputation of low quality, mass produced jug wine. But a group of young wine makers are out to change all that. People like Donovan Rall are searching the growing regions of South Africa for old, high quality vineyards, that produce high quality fruit that was once blended into bulk wine. Today, Rall is making some of South Africa’s most dynamic wines.

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Donovan Rall, Winemaker, Rall Wines

2016 Grenache Blanc, Rall Wines

This wine shows a very complex nose of apricot, pear and apple along with hints of minerality. Flavors of apple and pear are balanced with a lush mouth-feel and bright lemony acidity.   The finish is long and complex. Perfect for grilled fish!

SRP: $27

2015 Rall White, Rall Wines

A slightly funky nose blends with tree fruit and notes of minerality. The balanced flavors show fresh citrus, hints of oak and cream fraiche all combining in a complex and long finish highlighting lemony acidity with good weight.

SRP: $26

2016 Old Vine Cinsault, Rall Wines

A spicy nose gives way to fruity and floral aromas. Flavors of raspberry and cherry are given structure by bright acidity and grippy tannin.   Great summertime red that will pair wonderfully with barbecue!

SRP: $27

2014 Rall Red, Rall Wines

A wonderfully integrated nose of earth, fruit and spice. Flavors of dark cherry and plum lead to some savory notes. The wine is balanced with silky tannin, bright acidity, integrated with hints of spicy wood and a long finish showing off black pepper flavors.

SRP: $25

Without the name Mondavi Napa Valley would still be a world class wine producing region, but it certainly wouldn’t be the same as it is today. In 1966, after the much publicized split with his brother, Robert Mondavi and his son Michael started the Robert Mondavi Winery.  The rest, as they say, is history. And what a history it is. After the family took the company public in 1994, then selling the winery to Constellation Brands in 2004, Michael Mondavi left the boardroom and returned to the vineyard when he purchased property on Atlas Peak. Today, Michael, along with his wife and children, continue the family tradition of making wine in Napa Valley. I sat down with Michael to talk about his family’s colorful history and what that legacy brings to the wines he makes today.

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                      Michael Mondavi and John Lenart (Photo Credit Ann Cooper)

2015 Animo, Heritage Sauvignon Blanc

Made from vines grown from cuttings from the historic I-Block of the Robert Mondavi To Kalon Vineyard.

The rich nose shows restrained notes of tropical fruit, flowers and honey with a hot rock minerality. The mouth feel shows good weight and elegant structure with mouthwatering citrus acidity, flavors of lime, herbs, and complex minerality make for a long intriguing finish.

SRP: $65

2015 Emblem Chardonnay, Carneros

Lush and expressive aromas of melon and  toast, but not in an over the top way. Flavors of baked apple, pear, honeysuckle intermingle with good minerality and a balanced oak backbone. Great acidity and limestone like minerality.

SRP:  $35

2013 Animo, Cabernet Sauvignon

A pronounced nose of dark blue and black fruit yet with nicely balanced earthiness, graphite and a touch of anise.  A silky mouth feel leads the way to flavors of blackberry and cassis, cola, green olives, backing spice, and cedar. Bright acidity and grippy tannin make this young wine age-able for 10 to 15 years.

SRP: $85