Pictured left to right: Robert Mondavi, Rob Jensen, and Diana Jensen at a wine dinner in 1994.
After a long wait, our latest vintage of Rob’s Red is newly released. Read the inspiration behind this limited-lot program.
2017 Cuvée Los Gatos Rob’s Red
Central Coast AVA
“Deep red hue. Intense aromas of blackberry, currant, boysenberry, anise, and oak spice. Upon taste, these characters continue and exhibit creamy flavors. The texture of this Red Blend is expansive and lively on the palate. As it nears the end of the sensory experience, it offers a fresh, savory, and full adventure for immediate enjoyment. Enjoy now through 2027.” ~Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking
Composition:
33% Cabernet Sauvignon
29% Merlot
24% Cabernet Franc Save
6% Syrah
5% Malbec
3% Petit Verdot
Aged 42 months in 100% French Oak, 30% New
By Rob Jensen
Testarossa Co-Founder & Proprietor
In January of 1994, Diana and I were fortunate enough to meet Robert Mondavi at a dinner at the Plumed Horse Restaurant in Saratoga. This dinner was very inspirational to us and was a major factor in us deciding to give up successful high tech careers in Silicon Valley to pursue the dream of becoming winemakers.
Six years later, I was honored to be on a panel of winery owners at the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena with several other winery owners, including Robert “Bob” Mondavi. Back stage, before the panel convened, I told Bob about the dinner conversation in 1994 and thanked him for the inspiration that led us to pursue Testarossa.
I proudly told him that just the year before we were named by James Laube as one of Wine Spectator’s Eight Hottest New Wineries in California. He was thrilled with our success and very happy that anything he said back in 1994 contributed to our motivation to enter the wine business. He even gave me his business card (which I stupidly lost) and told me to call him anytime if I wanted any advice in marketing or stuck fermentations. Anything at all.
His sincerity, genuine character and lack of ego were beyond amazing for the godfather of the modern California Wine Industry who was running a 5 million case per year wine empire.
At the time he was best known for his famous Napa Valley Oakville wines and his partnership with Baron Philippe de Rothschild in Opus One. But behind the scenes there were two wines in the Mondavi portfolio that accounted for the vast majority of the revenue and the profits for the Robert Mondavi Winery, Woodbridge Cabernet and Woodbridge Chardonnay from Lodi. These wines were affectionally called “Bob Red” and “Bob White” within the company and with insiders in the industry.
