Michael Mondavi Family Estate, Napa Valley (California) 2018

 After having spent most of their lives living in the headlines, Robert Mondavi’s grown children have mostly shunned the spotlight since the iconic family brand was sold in 2004.  But Michael and Tim have not stopped making fine wine, and they have been joined by their children in keeping with the family’s traditional profession.  Although his Folio Fine Wine Partners (importers and distributors) serves as the backbone of his business, Michael and his family continue to make very impressive wines that have a loyal following.  The 2018 vintage of his “M” red blend begins with almost stunning fragrances of pure fruit and layered oak followed by textured, plumy and very ripe blackberry flavors and berry conserves with dark chocolate notes.  There are some underlying savory accents of dried stems to go along with the wood and integrated tannins.  It is lovely wine, and my own reservation is that it seems to lose a little of intensity in the middle palate.  Tasting it again the second day makes me guess that it will give pleasure for decades but probably peak in three to six years.