Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve: vertical tasting 1966 to 2001
Institute of Directors, London
Tasted Thursday, June 18, 2009 by Rupert with 935 views
Introduction
The oldsters stole the show here - every single one of the quartet from 1966 to 1970 were beautifully harmonious wines, still bursting with life. Not at all like bordeaux, but brighter, and the fruit closer to cherries than blackcurrants. The '74 was a bit bigger and grander, but choosing a top wine out of these five was all but impossible.
As to the younger wines, I was not at all impressed to start with, the wines seeming anonymous and a bit sour, but whether it was time in the glass or an infectious euphoria spreading after the older bottles, they seemed much better when we returned to them later in the evening, the '94 being the clear pick of the 90s.
2001 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 89 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Dense, a graphite edge. At first, the fruit was hiding, it was not very distinctive and I found it sour and ungenerous. I certainly couldn't see how Linden could describe it as opuluent. But over the evening it fattened up in the glass to become a full oaky cab albeit one that was still a bit anonymous
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2001 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 89 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Big, sweeter and thicker than the straight reserve, but in a very similar style, understated and sour. This too filled out in the glass and got smoother and glossier.
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1997 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Flawed
USA, California, Napa Valley
The most comprehensively TCA'd wine I've ever come across
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1996 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Stalky nose, lean blackcurrant fragrance, quite compact on the palate, drying finish - like all the younger wines, this tasted much better when I returned to it after the oldsters - the tannins had softened to leave a stylish cabernet
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1994 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Fresher than the '96, much more expansive on the nose, minty, the oak much better integrated - it ended the evening very classy indeed
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1992 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Flawed
USA, California, Napa Valley
Badly corked
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1991 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 89 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Not much on the nose, some cedar, the first wine here to be bordeaux-like, milky oak, tannic and a bit pinched
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1990 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Savoury and funky, mouthfillingly farmyardy, lots of dense fruit, grippy, a real animal this one, a big engaging wine
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1987 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 93 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Sweet chocolate and blackcurrant nose, really enticing, lovely blackcurrant core, harmonious, complete
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1976 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 93 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
A milky nose, on the palate smooth sweet concentrated fruit, good acidity, not complex, but seamless - a real beauty
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1974 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 95 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Mint/menthol nose, fabulous concentration, lots of cassis, but in a savoury wrapping - bright, animated - fantastic
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1973 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Flawed
USA, California, Napa Valley
Clearly corked I thought, but the taint did seem to diminish so it probably wasn't TCA, but it was dirty
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1970 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Direct cabernet nose, a tangy fruit core, nice acidity, smooth texture - harmonious, another real beauty
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1969 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Bright, lifted, intense cherry nose, on the palate cherries as well as blackcurrants, completely alive, ultra bright in a way that old world wines never are
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1968 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Softer than the '69, some smoke, but once again it had that mouthwatering high-toned cherry nose, still showing some sweetness from the oak, high acid - yet another beauty
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1966 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Smoke, mint and cherries again, lifted by some V/A, softer than the preceding wines, and with some bordeaux style cedariness - yet another lovely lovely wine
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