Robert Mondavi Tribute Show

Robert Mondavi Tribute Show – Episode #472

May 27, 2008

Robert Mondavi was a pioneer in the wine industry and most likely is the most important person in the history of the US Wine industry. I was away when he passed so I am using this 1st show back to pay tribute!

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Comments on this episode(170) Leave a comment ›

“Great tribute to such a great person.

Robert Mondavi will always be…” by Thomas Moore
“Good wine is as sweet as love….” by Black Canyon Coffee Estate
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2005 Robert Mondavi Napa Cabernet SauvignonNapa Cabernet

170 Responses

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May 27, 2008

Donna Marie
Nice show, Gary. Robert Mondavi–a trailblazer in the wine industry. Thanks for showing your respectful way on today’s show. Glad your back and had a great vacation.
May 27, 2008

pete c
Cheers, Mr. Mondavi, to a life well lived.
May 27, 2008

senator
Thanks Gary, great show.

The very first California winery I ever visted was Robert Mondavi’s back in 1985. I had only been into wine for a couple of years and it was for me at the time, like traveling to Mecca. My wife and I were successful in getting the tour guide to open a bottle of the ‘82 Private Reserve Cabernet. Good wine, and good memories. Here’s to you Robert! I don’t know that I’ve done much to change the wine world, but he certainly had a little part in changing my life.

- Jim Bucholz
May 27, 2008

Pastafari Pirate
Nice touch, Gare.
May 27, 2008

BobbyTiger
Nice tribute Gary………….tan and all.
May 27, 2008

David M Roberts
A fitting tribute to Mondavi. Well done.
May 27, 2008

Jaybird
Some people are lucky and find exactly what they were meant to do, he could have not done it any better.
Salute to RM
May 27, 2008

sam
Cheers to Mondavi!
Welcome back Gary!
Out of curiosity, what do you do with all the wine that is left over after the show?
May 27, 2008

xtrmtrk
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Mondavi several times – once while eating lunch at his winery, another time while walking around the town of Napa and a third time randomly at the Pike Place Market in Seattle. Despite my gushing, wine-geeky, privacy intruding “hello and thank yous” he was always gracious and kind, a true gentleman. At the winery he even asked if he could hold my 8 month old niece and treated her just like you’d imagine the patriarch of a great Italian family would. He was a special person.
May 27, 2008

Marc
Very nice tribute GV..thanks!
May 27, 2008

Social Project Brian
Testing. 2 of my posts today have failed to post to the comment board.
May 27, 2008

Adam J
Nice tribute, thanks Gary.
May 27, 2008

Kurt
A wonderfully touching tribute.
May 27, 2008

Nick Perusse
Cheers, Robert Mondavi! Great show, garyvee.
May 27, 2008

Craig Rost
The first bottle of Mondavi Napa Cab was at Christmas with famoly. I instataniously became infatuated with the wine. It is the first label that I have started to collect. He will be missed greatly.

It is only fitting that Continuum hits the market this year.

Peace.
May 27, 2008

Jared Pondelik
Nice show Gary. It is really amazing what he did. I like that this was a no bull episode to really show the respect he deserves. Cheers!
May 27, 2008

Andy & Edie
Let’s all raise a glass to Robert Mondavi!
May 27, 2008

Arthur
Nicely done, Gary.

From Eric Asimov’s blog (http://thepour.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/23/krug-on-mondavi):

â€œ…I believe we can say that, in only few years, we have been able to make great quality wines. [â€¦] But they still lack subtlety, and this will take generations to achieve.â€™â€™ Robert Mondavi in 1983.

There is nothing necessarily *wrong* with a $17 Cab just over 2.5 years out of the vineyard. After all, one of the things Mondavi strove for was making wine accessible to all socioeconomic strata.

But, my philosophical bend prevails and (although it may not resonate with most) I wonder out loud: Does subtlety in wine come about when the there is restraint on the part of the wine lover? More precisely, is the wine loverâ€™s restraint (and patience in letting a wine evolve and age) a prerequisite for a wine of subtlety?

Is subtlety a key ingredient in Napaâ€™s Brand Eqity?
May 27, 2008

Wine Bloke
Robert Mondavi certainly had an influence world wide. While studying at Roseworthy Collegy of Winemaking in Australia, the Mondavi name popped up in our studies time after time. His legacy is helping educate winemakers and vignerons around the world. Well done Gary.
May 27, 2008

yowens
Cheers!
May 27, 2008

kaybee
We give our respect for the Mondavi legacy and for the impact he had in the wine world.
May 27, 2008

Oakmon's BF
Very nice show Gary. I havenâ€™t read the other comments. Iâ€™m probably not saying anything new. I remember when California wines got no respect. I imagine his impact goes beyond California. He set the precedent that allowed the rest of the New World to dare to challenge too.
May 27, 2008

Trish-da'-Dish
Gary, you’re the sweetest man alive, and the greatest! I’ve never had a “real” Mondavi, but now I hope to try one (if prices haven’t appreciated too badly on the pre-2004’s—now that R. Mondavi has passed on, some of these bottles that he was steward over may have become collector’s items, and therefore are $$$). Can anyone here recommend a particular vintage/varietal that’s available for under $40?

-Trish
May 27, 2008

Dan S.
Nice tribute to a great man!
May 27, 2008

Sharon
I will be sure to pick up a bottle of Mondavi (maybe fume blanc) soon in remembrance of the great man!