A toast to Robert Mondavi

Robert Mondavi “put American wine on the world map,” said Rob Kasper in the Baltimore Sun. The Napa Valley winemaker, who died earlier this year at age 94, created wines ranging from the affordable to the expensive. But they all had one quality in common—they were “consistently drinkable ones that Americans could be proud of.” As a toast to his memory, here are four affordable wines that testify to his legacy:

Best Sip

2005 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon

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Napa Valley, Oakville, Calif. ($24.99, 750 ml)

A “lush,” slightly spicy red wine. Mondavi was especially esteemed for his Cabernets, and this one is “mighty fine.”

Best Bargain

2006 Woodbridge Zinfandel

Robert Mondavi, Woodbridge, Calif. ($9.99, 1.5 liter)

A pleasant and peppery red. “Much easier to drink” than the new crop of Zinfandel “alcohol bombs.”

Also Tasted

2006 Robert Mondavi Winery Fumé Blanc

Napa Valley, Oakville, Calif. ($15.99, 750 ml)

A crisp, barrel-aged white.

2006 Woodbridge Sauvignon Blanc

Robert Mondavi, Woodbridge, Calif. ($9.99, 1.5 liter)

An uncomplicated white that’s perfect for “a big party.”