Michael Mondavi to Release Signature Wine

Napa, CA (PRWEB) August 27, 2008 -- Folio Fine Wine Partners (www.foliowine.com) announced today that Michael Mondavi will release his first signature Cabernet Sauvignon, M by Michael Mondavi, this fall.

"My winemaking philosophy evolved from a deceptively simple statement my grandmother used to say to me: 'Make good wine,'" said Michael Mondavi, founder, Folio Fine Wine Partners. "By that, she meant make wine that invites a second glass and so my goal was to create powerful, yet elegant, wines from the highest quality Napa Valley grapes that could be enjoyed on their own or with a meal."

The 2005 M by Michael Mondavi is made from 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from Michael's Animo vineyard in the Foss Valley of Atlas Peak. The cool, long growing season in 2005 combined with the sloped hillsides and rocky volcanic soil of the Animo vineyard, delivered delicate grapes with exceptional depth and balance. The wine is aged for 22 months in French oak barrels, followed by another year of bottle aging to create supple, sculpted tannins and integrated flavors. The 2005 M by Michael Mondavi is characterized by bright, floral notes with hints of currant, spice, dried berries and a touch of oak to smooth, bind and elevate the flavors.

Michael planted the 15-acre Animo vineyard, which means "soul" or "spirit" in Italian, in 1998.

"When I saw the land that would later become my Amino vineyard, I knew I'd found the place that would mark my return to winemaking," said Mondavi. "The first vintages from Amino didn't reflect the level of maturity that was needed for the style of wine I was after, so I decided to wait until I felt the grapes reached their full potential. The 2005 vintage produced fruit of exceptional quality and I felt the resulting wine was finally ready for debut."

Michael's wine career began in 1966 when he co-founded the Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa Valley with his father, Robert Mondavi. He was responsible for winemaking through 1974, when he left his position as head winemaker to take on a marketing and senior management role. Following the winery's public offering in 1993, Michael was appointed president and CEO, and later served as chairman from 2001 to 2004.

Prior to the sale of Robert Mondavi in 2004, Michael established Folio Fine Wine Partners with his wife, Isabel, and their children, Rob and Dina. M by Michael Mondavi is also a family endeavor, with Michael and Rob working together on production and Dina on the label and package design.

The 2005 vintage of M by Michael Mondavi (SRP $199) will be exclusively available at fine wine shops and restaurants in select U.S. cities beginning in October 2008.

About Folio Fine Wine Partners

Founded in 2004 by the Michael Mondavi family, Folio Fine Wine Partners (www.foliowine.com) is an importer, agency and producer of quality wines from the world's premiere and emerging wine regions. Folio provides sales, marketing and public relations services to wine brands from California, Italy, Austria, Spain and New Zealand.

CONTACT:

Susanne Bergstrom

Folio Fine Wine Partners

707-256-2731

sbergstrom @ foliowine.com

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