Growing Region: PASO ROBLES
Paso Robles has an extremely dry climate, with less than half the yearly rainfall of California's Napa Valley. Unlike the Santa Lucia Highlands, Paso Robles receives very little marine influence during the day, and temperatures during the growing season are often near 100 F. In the early evenings, Templeton Gap allows cool air from the Pacific Ocean to flood the area, reducing temperatures as much as 50 F. This results in Cabernet Sauvignon of optimum ripeness, with generous fruit and balanced acidity.

VINTAGE
The 2005 harvest opened with a rainy spring that accelerated vine growth. Summer was mild, except for a short heat spike in July when temperatures rose to 100 F. Late summer and fall were mild too, delaying harvest for optimum hangtime and resulting in grapes of exceptional flavor and texture.

Winemaking
Solaire by Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were selected from top vineyards within Paso Robles and Monterey County, including Denner, Wild Rose, and Pine Creek. After the grapes were harvested at the peak of ripeness, the wine was fermented in stainless tanks with pulse air for softer extraction and mouthfeel. All of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation to enhance roundness and depth. The wine was aged in a mixture of new and used French and American oak barrels from various esteemed coopers such as Vicard, Demptos, Nadalie, and Boswell.

Taste Profile: Vibrant
Solaire by Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon shows all the hallmarks of great Paso Robles fruit. This full-bodied wine displays aromas of blackberry, cassis, and sweet dark fruits, with flavors of blackberries and plum supported by ripe tannins and integrated, sweet vanilla oak. This wine has beautiful elegance. It's soft and approachable now, and will further improve with careful cellaring for eight to ten years.