Rising 1,650 feet above the Napa Valley floor on the southwest side of Howell Mountain, the Mondavi family estate vineyard producing the grapes for this wine sits above the fog line during the growing season. The distinctive climate, along with volcanic and iron-rich red soils, produces fruit with great balance and intensity. At release this wine shows vanilla, blackberry, roasted Anaheim chili, mineral and cured black olive on the nose. The wine is full-bodied with flavors of plum and horehound, with a touch of flint and firm tannins on a long, viscous finish.