2008 Charles Krug (Peter Mondavi Family) Ltd. Release Dr. M Galante Pinot Noir

Charles Krug is one of Napa Valley’s most storied wineries. It was founded in 1861 by Charles Krug, a Prussian immigrant who amassed a 540-acre estate before his death. Prohibition and phylloxera brought difficult times to the winery in the early 20th century, and in 1943 it was bought by Cesare Mondavi, an Italian immigrant. Mondavi turned the winery into powerhouse, but after his death his sons Robert and Peter famously disagreed on what direction to take the winery. The result was that Peter and his mother stayed on at Charles Krug and Robert Mondavi started a winery that was to become one of the most influential in California, and to some extent, the world. Today Charles Krug is still run by Peter Mondavi’s sons and it produces nearly one million cases a year, ranging from Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Russian River Valley AVA is named for the river that meanders from Mendocino County in the north until it finally runs into the Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco. The AVA is cool thanks to its proximity to the northern California coast and the river, and grape growers must learn to deal with regular fog. Nevertheless in recent decades the AVA has become one of the best in the state, meaning that its wines often earn excellent reviews and have considerable cachet. The AVA status was awarded in 1983 and today the appellation has 15,000 vineyard acres. Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape though Pinot Noir has also been very successful in recent decades. Russian River Valley Pinot Noir are known for being rich, lush and filled with concentrated fruit and berry flavors. Russian River Pinot Noirs are today considered some of the best domestic Pinot Noirs.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.