The Robert Mondavi Heritage Red Bland 2013 is a blend of 64% Syrah, 31% Merlot, 3% Zinfandel, 1% Thompson Seedless, and 1% Petite Sirah sourced from 82% Monterey County, 13% Paso Robles, 3% Valley South, and 2% Santa Barbara County, all of these inside the larger Central Coast AVA in California. Most table grapes (the ones you find in the produce dept. of your local grocery store) are a different species from the grapes used for making wine, but Thompson Seedless is the same species as grapes like Merlot or Chardonnay. The Heritage Blend is part of Robert Mondavi’s Private Selection series which showcase affordable wines grown in the Central Coast AVA. This blend was aged in American and French oak barrels for 10 months. The alcohol content is 13.5% and there is enough residual sugar in the wine to move it from dry to off-dry.
The color is inky black cherry red. The nose is jammy raspberry, Snickers chocolate, spice, cherry, brown sugar, and spearmint. This is a medium-bodied, richly flavored Red blend. It tastes of chocolate covered strawberries, raspberry, and mild Altoids’ spice. The mid-palate adds tart cherry, a little black pepper, and sweet blueberry. The tannins are soft and don’t bite and the acidity is well covered by the body of the wine. The finish is full, fades quickly, but remnants linger on and on.
The  Robert Mondavi Heritage Red Bland 2013 is a terrific “sitting around the fire pit on a cool summer evening” kind of wine. Easy to drink, with loads of flavor, but still nicely balanced. As for food pairings, I think pot roast or a pork loin roast would do well, along with the usual burgers and pizza. The Robert Mondavi Heritage Red Bland 2013 is a solid wine for enjoying with friends, it is delicious with just a touch of sweetness.
