Woodbridge - Lodi

Woodbridge is a very old winery that became the consumer line of Robert Mondavi a number of years back. It seems like Mondavi has branched out into "coastal" and other vineyards, but for a while if you wanted Mondavi at a grocery store, this was your wine.

The people were very nice, but the wines are really not very good. They show the characteristics of being mass produced wines, made with little care for the final result. We tasted a number of the "select" wines, available only in the tasting room. None of them were worth a second taste.

All was not lost, however. In the early 80's Robert Mondavi had a batch of port made each year as part of his own private collection. This woodbridge port was served to the Mondavi family and guests. It was made from 1982 to 1986 as far as I know, and after a while the supply was completely forgotten. A couple of years ago these "lost" ports were discovered, and now they are for sale. We tasted the 1984 and the 1983, and the '83 had a little better body. It is a rare treat to buy a bottle of wine this old, and it has held up over time. Complex and intriguing, this wine is worth buying. Go now, because it won't be around forever.

Their PortoCinco is also quite good, and not to be found anywhere but at the Woodbridge winery.

Worth a stop, but don't expect much from the non-ports.

Joel