I drank a bottle of this in 2017 and another this past week, now 2021. It is very good and I've raised my score. I wouldn't hold it too much longer - if you have any left I encourage you to enjoy it and savor the deep dark fruit balanced with slight tannins and alcohol. This was a good value wine - I wish Napa cab was still as affordable.
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Enjoyed this wine after an hour in decanter. Nose of dark fruit. Palate fruit forward, dark fruit and chocolate Tannins, acid and alcohol nicely integrated. Nice wine.
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Aromas of chocolate, cassis, charred embers and dark fruit. Flavors of red plum and dark fruit along with a bit of chocolate. A but hollow through the midpalate.
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Bought on closeout at packy next to BYOB restaurant. Opened and poured with bread/salad and then steak. Overall, much like the nice CA cab you'd expect for this price point. Ready to drink, maybe even a bit past due, even though that doesn't make sense. I am getting a bit of Brett or other funk. I generally don't mind that, especially in French wine, but this seems too much for the CA clean profile. There is also a bit of French flavor notes vs CA. Overall I wonder if it wasn't quite stored right, but I don't have a good basis to think that.
I would definitely recommend drinking up; I don't see how this will get better.
Overall, if you like a bit of French flavor tones and are ok with mild Brett, you'll probably like this, but if you are looking for the clean California taste profile, this is not it.
Update: After vacuvin and 24h, had another glass. Now, the Brett notes are totally not present, and I'd say it could use either decanting for an hour or more time in the bottle. I'm not sure what to make of this, but at this point I'd have to recommend vigorous pour into a decanter and let it sit an hour.
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Dark red and clear. Full fruit on the nose. Black cherry, licorice, tobacco with subtle vanilla notes. Long finish. Having laid down for a few years, this wine is ready to drink. Likely to continue improving.
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Michael Mondavi's wine is not bad at all, but it is rather unidimensional and not particularly complex or subtle. It is full-bodied and fruit forward with tannins that suggest it will last several more years. Lots of fruit. At $21 it is good value for Napa Cab. At it's usual price of closer to $30, it is still good but not exceptional and I would pay out another $10 or $20 for the next step up. Drink 2018 to 2019, but enjoyable now.
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Popped and poured. Nice inky color almost black, berry and plum fruit on the palate, soft tannins that are well integrated into the wine and the oak doesn't overpower the finish. This wine is smooth and very approachable now. This wine won't disappoint at any level.
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Very enjoyable Cab with or without food. Allow about 60-90 minutes for it to open up. It was a little tight the first hour. Very nice dark fruit and mocha. Medium tannins. Would buy again
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Big bold aroma with intense dark fruit. Inky dark color on rim of glass. Decantered for over an hour and could have used another hour to get even more flavors out of the bottle. This was a good Cab with a small percentage of other grapes blended in making a great wine. Highly recommend.
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2015 New York Wine Experience Trip; 10/19/2015-10/27/2015 (New York City, NY): Deep ruby and packed with fruit, this blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 4% Zinfandel and 4% Petit Verdot served as a worthy accompaniment to a late-night snack plate in a New York hotel. Medium-bodied, ripe, round and seamlessly alcoholic (14.4%), it delivers a payload of dark bramble fruits, vanilla and pickling spice on both the nose and palate. The tannins are medium in weight but carry some astringent grip. The oak component is likewise not shy in the middle. Medium in length and a bit dry on the finish, this is a wine which will benefit from short-term cellaring. It may merit a higher score in the future. Drink 2017-2022.
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As Double D wrote, it does need time. But I found it was infinitely better on the second day, so I would open one day, pour a glass and pump it off-- or wait a couple of years. Very good QPR. Delicious when it comes around.
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Black core with purple rim; floral, cassis, blackberry liqueur, very ripe, slight vanilla, dark cherry; soft tannin, sweet dark fruit, slight brulee, red apple skin; good.
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11/3/2023 - Alaskawino Likes this wine: 88 Points
Balance of dark to dried fruit and moderate acid with fine tannins. Hints of tar and tobacco. Needs a few breathing hours.
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9/8/2021 - Yaozi Likes this wine: 91 Points
I drank a bottle of this in 2017 and another this past week, now 2021. It is very good and I've raised my score. I wouldn't hold it too much longer - if you have any left I encourage you to enjoy it and savor the deep dark fruit balanced with slight tannins and alcohol. This was a good value wine - I wish Napa cab was still as affordable.
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4/9/2020 - Cha2811 Likes this wine: 88 Points
I enjoyed this bottle more than I thought I would. Drinking really - tannin structure is intact and fruit is prominent.
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8/31/2019 - Adamtooter wrote:
Decanted! Way better
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3/8/2019 - whinemeister Likes this wine: 90 Points
Enjoyed this wine after an hour in decanter. Nose of dark fruit. Palate fruit forward, dark fruit and chocolate Tannins, acid and alcohol nicely integrated. Nice wine.
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10/16/2018 - Ralphie1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice. Well balanced.
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9/22/2018 - AllRed wrote: 86 Points
Aromas of chocolate, cassis, charred embers and dark fruit. Flavors of red plum and dark fruit along with a bit of chocolate. A but hollow through the midpalate.
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1/12/2018 - appleforest wrote: 87 Points
Bought on closeout at packy next to BYOB restaurant. Opened and poured with bread/salad and then steak. Overall, much like the nice CA cab you'd expect for this price point. Ready to drink, maybe even a bit past due, even though that doesn't make sense. I am getting a bit of Brett or other funk. I generally don't mind that, especially in French wine, but this seems too much for the CA clean profile. There is also a bit of French flavor notes vs CA. Overall I wonder if it wasn't quite stored right, but I don't have a good basis to think that.
I would definitely recommend drinking up; I don't see how this will get better.
Overall, if you like a bit of French flavor tones and are ok with mild Brett, you'll probably like this, but if you are looking for the clean California taste profile, this is not it.
Update: After vacuvin and 24h, had another glass. Now, the Brett notes are totally not present, and I'd say it could use either decanting for an hour or more time in the bottle. I'm not sure what to make of this, but at this point I'd have to recommend vigorous pour into a decanter and let it sit an hour.
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5/25/2017 - espesq Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark red and clear. Full fruit on the nose. Black cherry, licorice, tobacco with subtle vanilla notes. Long finish. Having laid down for a few years, this wine is ready to drink. Likely to continue improving.
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3/4/2017 - Yaozi Likes this wine: 88 Points
Michael Mondavi's wine is not bad at all, but it is rather unidimensional and not particularly complex or subtle. It is full-bodied and fruit forward with tannins that suggest it will last several more years. Lots of fruit. At $21 it is good value for Napa Cab. At it's usual price of closer to $30, it is still good but not exceptional and I would pay out another $10 or $20 for the next step up. Drink 2018 to 2019, but enjoyable now.
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1/1/2017 - Jayarr wrote: 90 Points
Pretty good stuff. Nice dark fruit, great nose, long finish. Young but certainly drinkable.
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12/10/2016 - Boom Baby! wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Nice inky color almost black, berry and plum fruit on the palate, soft tannins that are well integrated into the wine and the oak doesn't overpower the finish. This wine is smooth and very approachable now. This wine won't disappoint at any level.
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12/10/2016 - ThistleB Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very enjoyable Cab with or without food. Allow about 60-90 minutes for it to open up. It was a little tight the first hour. Very nice dark fruit and mocha. Medium tannins. Would buy again
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7/3/2016 - Oberhau wrote: 90 Points
Very solid Napa Cabernet at this price point.
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6/19/2016 - Echodog Likes this wine: 90 Points
Big bold aroma with intense dark fruit. Inky dark color on rim of glass. Decantered for over an hour and could have used another hour to get even more flavors out of the bottle. This was a good Cab with a small percentage of other grapes blended in making a great wine. Highly recommend.
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10/20/2015 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 88 Points
2015 New York Wine Experience Trip; 10/19/2015-10/27/2015 (New York City, NY): Deep ruby and packed with fruit, this blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 4% Zinfandel and 4% Petit Verdot served as a worthy accompaniment to a late-night snack plate in a New York hotel. Medium-bodied, ripe, round and seamlessly alcoholic (14.4%), it delivers a payload of dark bramble fruits, vanilla and pickling spice on both the nose and palate. The tannins are medium in weight but carry some astringent grip. The oak component is likewise not shy in the middle. Medium in length and a bit dry on the finish, this is a wine which will benefit from short-term cellaring. It may merit a higher score in the future. Drink 2017-2022.
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9/28/2015 - espesq Likes this wine: 90 Points
This needs to breathe 10-15 minutes so it fully opens up, and it will continue to improve.
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6/12/2015 - Boskoop2 wrote: 90 Points
Save till 2018
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5/22/2015 - rojoloco Likes this wine: 91 Points
As Double D wrote, it does need time. But I found it was infinitely better on the second day, so I would open one day, pour a glass and pump it off-- or wait a couple of years. Very good QPR. Delicious when it comes around.
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1/31/2015 - DaButtah Likes this wine: 91 Points
Terrific QPR.
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12/26/2014 - Double D wrote: 90 Points
needs some time
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12/9/2014 - Rezy13 wrote: 87 Points
Black core with purple rim; floral, cassis, blackberry liqueur, very ripe, slight vanilla, dark cherry; soft tannin, sweet dark fruit, slight brulee, red apple skin; good.
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