Uncorked: Oberon Wines
Oberon Wines was started by the Michael Mondavi family in 2005, and the wines were named after the king of all fairies in William Shakespeare’s comedy, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
Having been a winemaker for more than 40 years, Tony Coltrin has been making Oberon Wines since the beginning of the company, with the help of Rob Mondavi Jr., a Napa Valley native and third-generation winemaker who understands Napa Valley’s growing regions. For Oberon Wines, they select classic Bordeaux varietal grapes from the selective appellations of Oakville, Rutherford and Stag’s Leap District.
Because the Napa Valley is a box canyon with Mount St. Helena at the northern end and the southern end open, this traps the cooling moisture and layers of fog lines from the San Francisco bay. The warm days and cool nights with the combination of different soil conditions yield grapes with the perfect balance of ripe fruit flavors and natural acidity. Because of this, Coltrin and Mondavi have created high-quality Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc wines.
Oberon Napa Valley 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon
In Wine Advocate’s October 2012 issue, this wine received 90 Points and is described as “Composed of 87 percent Cabernet Sauvignon blended with other Bordeaux varietals, it offers up notes of black currants, vanilla, tobacco leaf, cedar and spice box. Ripe, rich and medium-bodied, with loads of fruit and heady finish, it can be enjoyed over the next three to four years.” Serve this outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon with steaks, hearty stews, lamb and flavorful cheeses. It retails for $24.99.
Oberon Napa Valley 2012 Sauvignon Blanc
In Wine Advocate’s August 2013 issue, this wine received 89 Points and is “a very intense, laser-like 2012 Sauvignon Blanc with zesty notes of figs, citrus oil, melon and grapefruit. Fresh, ripe and in your face, not everyone will find this as attractive as I did, but it is a classic, authentic Sauvignon to drink over the next year.” Enjoy this excellent Sauvignon Blanc with crab, white fish or poultry. It retails for $17.99.
You can order or find these outstanding Oberon Wines at Acme Fresh Markets, Heinen’s, Papa Joe’s, West Point Market, 750 ml, Giant Eagle, Fisher’s, Mustard Seed Market, Regency or your favorite wine retailer in the Greater Akron area.
Wine Wisdom Cabernet Sauvignon is remarkable for its wide ranges of structure from relatively “light bodied” to the most “full bodied” crafted and age worthiness. The most coveted renditions come from France’s Bordeaux region and California’s Napa Valley.
/ Rick Rodger is a manager at Heidelberg Distributing Company.