Robert Mondavi Fumé Blanc 2014 Napa Valley, California, USA 75cl

Robert Mondavi spent his career convincing the world that Napa Valley could stand alongside the great wine regions of Europe, and Fumé Blanc was one of the wines that made his case. He created the name in 1968 for a drier, oak-aged style of Sauvignon Blanc, and it went on to become a signature of the winery he founded in 1966.

This 2014 bottling is a blend of 94% Sauvignon Blanc with 6% Semillon, the small dose of Semillon adding a waxy roundness that softens the grape’s natural bite. A light hand with oak lends texture and a faint smoky lift without masking the fruit, keeping the wine fresh and food-friendly.

The 2014 season in Napa was warm and early, producing ripe, generous fruit while retaining enough acidity to keep the wine lively, so the balance between richness and freshness holds.

In the glass expect lemon and green apple over riper notes of melon and a little orchard fruit, with the flinty, smoky character that gives Fumé Blanc its name. The palate is dry and gently textured, the Semillon lending a soft, waxy weight, and it closes clean at 13.5% alcohol.

More than fifty years on, this remains a benchmark for barrel-influenced Sauvignon Blanc, and a wine that shows how much depth the grape can carry. It is a natural partner for grilled prawns, seared white fish, roast chicken or a crisp summer salad, and an easy choice when you want a white with a little more presence than the norm.