1/19/21, 5:25 AM - I've been a big CDV Cab (and Merlot!) fan up to the 2012 vintage when they shifted away from purchased fruit - and raised prices - the wines seem harder, less fruity, less nuanced, less elegant. For me, their Cabs have always needed at least 7 years in the cellar and at least 2 hours in the decanter, but the 2012 and 2013 reg bottling have not shown nearly as well as almost any of the early 20xx bottlings. Holding mine as well, hoping they come around. Same for me with the 2013 Reserve Cab.
1/19/21, 5:19 AM - Didn't know they made a 'reserve' bottling. Regular bottling gets play here in Orange, MA (where they filmed the TV series). Around $9.00 or so. Sonoma? as I recall, but a nice weekday wine. I'll keep an eye out for the 'reserve.'
10/30/20, 4:34 AM - I typically don't touch the Mondavi Napa CS for 7 years. Can drink sooner but they tend to begin to blossom (with some air) in 7-10 years.
10/30/20, 4:32 AM - Harsh or hard at 4 years not unexpected. These have always needed 7-10 years to soften to my taste. Even then, they have usually shown a strong tannic background. If you have more, let them sleep. I think they'll be fine in 2025 or so.
9/14/20, 3:28 AM - I agree 100% on aging Mondavi Napa cabs. For me, the window for these has always been 6-9 years, hitting stride at 7.
10/13/18, 4:07 AM - I'm a long-time CDV fan - almost all Napa bottlings. My initial tastings of their cabs almost always match your description. Hard, tannic, dry but with potentially good fruit behind. When I taste all of that, I buy with confidence. All have needed 7-10 years (and a couple of hours in the decanter after) to shed those hard edges. Now we come to the watershed vintage of 2013 where they went to all Estate fruit. I have 6 in my cellar as well. Will not crack the first until 2020. The only experience I've had with Estate fruit is a pair of '08 CDV cabs from Stag's Leap. Both were excellent at 9 and 10 years respectively. Hoping for much the same from the '13 and '14 vintages in my cellar. BTW, their Merlot, at 7 years and a couple of hours of air has been a 'go to' treat for many, many years. Not at all sure what's going to happen with that now ...
4/10/15, 4:27 PM - Needed a couple of hours to open up (drank 4/9/15) but near the end we got the "deep chocolate covered cherry..." Very good note. Thanks. Bought a couple more bottles today. Will decant for sediment (first bottle threw a serious bunch) and let breathe for a couple of hours.
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