1999 White Riesling Special Select Late Harvest Hoot Owl Creek Vineyards Alexander Valley

Robert Mondavi bought out Arrowood business last year, but Richard Arrowood still owns the winery and surrounding vineyards and the Arrowood label. (Mondavi has options to purchase the real estate and the label after five and ten years, respectively.) Arrowood remains in charge of the operation. "Basically, the Mondavis have had little impact on winemaking, except to ask �Can we help you do anything better?�" Arrowood told me at the end of February. Arrowood considers the 1999 vintage "as good as '95-a cool, long growing season that featured a lot of hang time and an extended harvest." With more thorough flavor development, he added, there's more fruit to balance the alcohol than in the typical year in California.