Mick and Amy were hosting this past Saturday night’s dinner. Mick decided to start with an old favourite – spicy shrimp with mint sauce paired with a 2004 Robert Mondavi Fume Blanc.
"Spicy Shrimp with Mint Sauce"
The problem with this combo is the 2004 Fume Blanc is 14.5% alcohol, and spicy shrimp aren’t that filling, so they don’t soak up much of the alcohol. The shrimp are also very spicy (hence the name “spicy shrimp”) so you tend to drink quicker than you normally would which causes the wine to hit you very hard. Amy was writing up the notes on the wines and by the third course of the evening the writing turns more to chicken scratch, though I can just make out the line “I can’t feel my legs…”.
This was actually kind of a sad moment as this was our last bottle of the 2004 Robert Mondavi Fume Blanc and 2004 was the last year they bottled it in a distinct frosted glass bottle. The years after 2004, Fume Blanc is bottle in a standard brown wine bottle which is a shame as that frosted bottle was very distinct and made it stand out from other wines on the shelf.
"Last of the frosted bottles"
The nose on the 2004 Fume Blanc was moderate with vanilla and over ripe mango. Tasting the wine you get a big mouth feel and a ton of acidic bite. The wine starts with a crisp green apple flavour and then finishes more to a tart white grapefruit flavour that lingers. It is a great pairing with the spicy shrimp for two reasons; it coats your mouth and really cools the ‘burn’ of the cayenne and the big acid contrasts nicely against the flavours of the shrimp.
Here is the group rating for the wine -Mick – 86, Mark – 86, Kathy – 87, Amy – 87, Overall – 86.5.
Here is the LCBO Information -
ROBERT MONDAVI FUME BLANC 2008
VINTAGES 221887
750 mL bottle
Price: $ 23.95
Wine, White Wine
13.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D
Made in: California/Californie, United States
By: Constellation Wines U S
Release Date: Jul 10, 2010
Tasting Note - Concentrated and robust peach, citrus, golden raisin and apple flavors have a firm structure and refreshing juicy acidity. Smooth and sophisticated, with a long, spicy finish. Drink now through 2012. Score - 88. (Mary Ann Worobiec, www.winespectator.com, Web Only, 2010)
* note the LCBO listing is for the 2008 and not the 2004 reviewed here
This wine was a big favourite of ours in earlier years but as we have tried more and more Sauvignon Blancs it is losing it shine. The Mondavi Fume Blanc tends to be one dimensional compared to New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs and not as refined as the French ones. It still is great with spicy shrimp but I would hesitate to pair it with other foods.
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