Decanted for one hour. Nose of blackberry, currant, cedar, spice, mocha and anise. Ripe black fruit, mocha, cedar, spice, anise and crushed rock on the palate. Very long, pure finish. Nice balance. Medium to full bodied. This easily has to 2-3 years of runway. No rush. Served with grilled filet mignon and Diane sauce.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Spectacular. Deep, dark red with plenty of life left in it, but drinking beautifully now. Tons of dark fruit with a long finish. Kept opening up after an hour and paired with smoked NY steaks, but also great sipping on its own. Will be interesting to see how this continues to evolve over the next 10+ years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
On the palate it has some oddly green hexanal-like notes. Aggressive fuzzy tannin, big big alcohol. So it’s a bit weird on the palate. I almost wonder if more time will help it out. It’s still a bit burly right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark fruit, pencil shavings, unsmoked tobacco and spring flowers mingle so nicely together. This wine could have used a slight decant, but it was delicious none the less. Great depth and texture. At age fifteen, the wine showed great structure with the ability to age gracefully for another ten to fifteen years easily. Great juice.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby, almost inky in color, with a short brick rim.
Fruity nose of blackberries, black currants, cooked plums, cherry pie, spices, cedar, vanilla, leather, light earth, pencil lead, peppercorn, coffee, mocha and tobacco leaf.
Full bodied, bold and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, cooked cherries, cedar, licorice, vanilla, leather, black currants, sweet chocolates, coffee, cola, peppercorn and spices.
Long spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley (To Kalon Vineyard). Showing great complexity with a great mouthfeel.
Rich, extracted and opulent. Fruit-forward and elegant. A delicious wine. Spicy with a teeth staining color.
This 15 year old from the great 2007 vintage is just beautiful now. Has a lot of years in it still, and will continue to age nicely in the 15 years.
Delicious right out of the bottle, and even better after 3 hours of airtime.
Good by itself as a sipping wine. I just loved it.
16% (!) alcohol by volume.
98 points.
$130.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank @ Connor’s Steakhouse celebrating our 31st anniversary. Opened and decanted for an hour, with a beautifully expressive nose of flowers and black fruit. Initially, tastes were very much tobacco and leather but after some additional time of opening, definite black cherry and bitter chocolate notes were abundant. A wonderful bottle which complimented our choice of grilled filets. Ready now but probably still has lots of life left.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
3 hour decant. Smokey, oakey nose with hints of forest floor. Full bodied and smooth. Intense, deep layers of dark berry fruit. Long berry finish. Just delicious. Truly wow. Tasted double blind with a 2010 Beringer cab sauv reserve which it blew away.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Un clásico. Sencillamente sobresaliente. Después de una largo decante (2 horas) disfrutamos de un vino hermoso, integrado, de taninos amables y muy fragante. De un profundo, casi negro escarlata se encuentra en un gran momento para disfrutarlo. Muy recomendado.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine, along with 7 others, was enjoyed while visiting my daughter recently.
While a part of me wanted to take copious notes on each wine and do reviews on them all, I think once you see the wines and their quality, you’ll understand why that was just not necessary, it would also be time that would be taken away from enjoying the wine and the moments spent with family. Let me assure you all, that every one of the wines was spectacular, even the 19-year-old Champagne, whose bubbles had little left, but nonetheless showed brilliance and age-worthiness.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still deep purple Ripe rich balanced huge oakville Absolutely lovely and still quite young. Its recent dumb phase has passed, leaving a rich huge Napa. Very enjoyable now, though I’d choose to hold. Or at least a very long decant
1,5 hora de decanter, vinho de respeito! Boa acidez, taninos em perfeito equilíbrio deixando uma sedosidade única, creme de cassis, frutas negras, pimenta…Um final agradável sem ser muito longo e persistente.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
FOUDUVIN-Club de dégustation de l`Estrie- Dégustation DÉCONFINEMENT Juin 2021; 6/16/2021-6/21/2021 (Retaurant AVV La Suite de Sherbrooke): Après un 2010 bouchonné, je me rabât sur le 2007. Debout depuis 3 jours, il a été soigneusement décanté et mis en carafe un bon 2 heures. Un dépôt fin mais substantiel est filtré. Remis en bouteille non-bouchée pour un bon 8 heures et rebouchée avant le départ pour le resto. C`est ample et dense mais le tout reste bien équilibré et super gouteux. Du graphite, des épices, du cassis et du cèdre. Il y a aussi du chocolat et un élevage bien dosé et assez Intégré. Les tannins sont charnus et soyeux. La finale hyper longue est tout aussi soyeuse. Excellent et pour encore bien des années. PS : Accord DIVIN avec le filet mignon sauce au fromage bleu!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A very nice To Kalon wine. This is a full bodied wine with leather and dark fruit and some aromatics on the nose. Taste was a little jammy with flavors of black cherry and and dark plum with a lingering spicy finish. Opened up after 1/2 hour - great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
It starts big, and delicious, ready to drink right off the bottle. But as the meal progressed, its oakyness and high alcohol got to me. Maybe not to my taste, but its quality is undeniable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pretty fierce for a sipping wine. Worth the 10+ year wait. Even on first open, a wave of eucalyptus and olive tapenade. With 2-3 hours of air, tongue tickling tobacco, currants and smokiness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pretty major disappointment as I had high expectations for this. But never really got to a place over a couple nights that it was the wine I hoped for. Fruit pretty muted the whole time. Not sure what to expect going forward.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A monster of a wine....Big, Big and bigger. It is hard to disguise the 16% alcohol, but this wine does a good job. Decanted for over an hour in the duck. Lots of dark fruit. Thick and concentrated with reasonably integrated tannins. Ready to drink now with proper air
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent bottle in the Mondavi style. Considerably leaner than most Napa cabs, with some delicious acidity. Good fruit, ball currents and some plums. Long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark red color with no signs of aging. Tannins are still present but approachable. Long finish. The relatively low score is for the fact that it lacks balance, accidity is higher than it should be.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep garnet and color. Nose of blackberries, dark cherries and hint of leather. Tastes of crushed blackberries, leather, And hints of espresso and vanilla. In a nice place and drinking well. Good structure and medium to long finish. Should drink well for another 7+ years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow! This is an amazing Cabernet. Fruit forward, full bodied with dark, blackberry rich fruit that has a finish that goes on and on. Perfectly balanced with silky smooth tannins along with notes of cassis, plum, chocolate and mocha. Drinking perfectly right now with minimal decanting.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Classic Napa valley Cabernet. Dark fruit, pencil lead and a touch of earthiness keeps everything in balance. Wonderful nose and palate. It is nicely layered! Hitting on all cylinders now. Spectacular juice!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Brought with us to the Black Diamond Clubhouse to share during the Valentine's Day dinner dance. Young-looking in the glass, showing attractive, complex aromas of crushed dark fruits, spice and cedar. Full-bodied and rich, displaying the velvety texture and elegant mouth-feel that are its trademark. There's plenty of ripe, delicious plum and dark currant fruit here, backed by a pleasant, moderate acidity. Shows very good depth and intensity on the mid-palate, then falls a bit flat into the long, but noticeably hot finish, where tannic grip seems to be completely missing. Very juicy, delicious and enjoyable, but seemed rather "Caymus-like" overall - which is not what you'd expect from this wine. The 16.0% ABV looks to have been somewhat problematic here. 50+5+12+16+8=91
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
It’s a opaque violet color with very appealing dark fruit, truffle, leather, cedar wood,spice and a kiss of mint aromas. On the palate rich and opulent with medium acidity and vivid Kirsch, blackberry, cassis, vanilla flavors with plush, ripe tannins. A bit angular for my palate, but damned if it ain’t delicious!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
One of the better Napa wines I’ve had recently. It’s very young and rich, but enough going on to keep it interesting. Supple ripe fruit, black licorice, with good structure and smooth balance. Certainly a good steak wine now, but having tried this a few times in the past as well I would be curious to let this sit for another 5 or more years. 92+ points
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Jammy with big bodied flavors of chocolate and dark berries mixed with nice acidity. Theres some oak that one would expect but there also an umami quality to this wine that one would look for in a much older wine. The finish lasts and has a nice touch of spice and acidity. Honestly, I didn’t expect a lot from this wine given it’s the current Mondavi company, I purchased it at an auction because I like small batch wines and this is of Kalon vineyard Overall I’m pleasantly surprised. This is well within its drinking window, but may still improve. I have two more
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful year, terroir, and Wine making. Really nice right now, first one of 10. Insert happy face.
The pour says a lot. This is rich, layered, dusty almost dark purplish liquid. No sign of age yet in the rim.
Nose is dense dark ripe can sav. That heavy valley floor, signature Napa floor. Delicious.
Such a velvety texture, big gobs lovely fruit fill the palate, some alch, more fruit, some charry oak, earth, then an herby fine and med and few rough tannins scrape away, then acid and more fruit. So balanced. This has loads time to go and I think it has past stage 1, past awkward stage and in a stage II 10 YR window. Perfect.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent bottle. 10+ years on, you really see how good 2007 was in Napa. The flavors are deep and dense, with layers of dark fruit and subtle spice. This is so clearly a To Kalon Cab (even though the label didn’t say it back then) and is just gorgeous. I bought a ton of ‘07 Napa wine and drank it way too early...
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank side next to the 05 Reserve. The 07 had more guts and flavor. Nose of blackberry and leather. Nice tannic structure. This wine will go another 5 to 10 years. Better than the 05, which was silky smooth but on its way downhill.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for two hours. Nose of violets, blackberry, currant, mocha and spice. Black and red fruit, mocha, licorice, graphite and spice on the palate. Leads to a long finish. Full bodied. Served with pork bruschetta.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dricker denna något år för tidigt. Men den är fantastisk god med en bra syra och härlig, balanserad frukt. Möjligen en aning för mycket restsötma (typisk för 2007?) - annars hade betyget blivit ännu högre. Ett snyggt och elegant vin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine shows a very deep, concentrated deep red rim, still hints of ruby, very clear with an opaque center. The nose on first impression (cellar temperature) is classic, in a Bordeaux style interpreted by Napa. Cabernet essence, leather, black fruits, some sweetness and perfume, a bit of black licorice. No off notes - clean and complex with bottle-aged complexity. On the palate, ripe fruit, grilled notes, black cherry essence, and a good grip are the first impressions, along with some plum notes. After an hour of air, there is more black currant, licorice and tar in the nose. The palate is atilll driven by dark fruit, and is ripe and complex. The tannins are evident, but are more round and supple than tight. Very fine cab, approaching maturity, but with plenty of life left - which in our experience has not always been true of Mondavi Reserve at 10 years. Lovely wine.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had this with a rib-eye cooked on the grill. This wine is so rich, deep and beefy, I didn't need the steak! Amazing that 10 years go by and this wine is better than ever. It is not a Bordeaux wine, but California at its best. Thank you!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a big Cali wine. Loads of depth, richness, toasted oak, charcoal, smokey fire, vanilla, and berries. Needs a 4-6 hour decant. Really great wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really liked this. Shows lots of restraint, and lots of depth to the flavors and aromas as well. Thank goodness it was served and consumed before the 2009 Deep Time or else this would have been completely lost, and that would have been a great shame. For a list of descriptors, see Life At Your Leisure's fine note. Would love to see this in 8-10 years. recommended
Served non-blind. Audozed 11 hours, then double-decanted one hour before serving at cellar temp.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bu avec Bulle, Meursault et Mike LM lors de notre traditionnel souper Super Bowl LI…avec une orgie de bouffe pour l’accompagner. Fromages (Truffo, Hatley, Alfred le Fermier, Bleu Élizabeth, Migneron), terrines, Saucissons, Dinde fumée, Prosciutto, Pancetta, Oignons confits, mousses de homard…etc). En carafe pour seulement 2 heures, aurait bénéficié du double au minimum. Nez parfumé et intense sur le cassis, les cerises, la framboise, l’élevage et le chocolat, très beau. En bouche, c’est ample et assez boisé encore mais assez bien équilibré. Le cassis et les mures sont bien présents avec de l’anis et un peu de menthol. Les tannins sont amples mais souples avec une finale bien longue mais aussi très satinée. Encore jeune mais très bon tout de même.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This needs a 4-6 hour decant at the least. 16% alcohol. Great nose. Massive perfume nose. Cedar wood, anise, cherry, burnt wood, loganberry, blackberry, and licorice. Lots of power still in this. This was no light weight.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I have been drinking one of these every two years. This one was fantastic. Has improved a lot. Black fruit, thick in the mouth, long deep finish. I have one left - not sure I will wait another 2 years though since it is drinking so well now.
beautiful, perfumy, berry nose. concentrated palate of dark fruit, smooth tannins, spice and anise. an absolute delight and great representation of a high quality Napa cab. fantastic with a grilled porterhouse.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I had one of these five months ago and did not particularly care for it. This is a better report. Nose of dark berry fruit. Sure enough, typical Cabernet Sauvignon cassis on the tongue. Some hint of tobacco or coffee on the rear palate. Super tannic and plenty of acid suggest that this is a candidate for many more years of aging—maybe decades. It's reasonable to conclude that my previous experience was a bad bottle.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 1.5 hours. Aromas of blackberry, currant, mocha, licorice, cedar and dried herbs. Red and black fruit, mocha, licorice and crushed rock on the palate. Fruit forward style. Finishes long and smooth. Full bodied. Served grilled ribeye steaks with béarnaise.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good but typical obvious one dimensional mid level Napa cab. Woody chocolatey plummy black currant juice. Works sideways with food, doesn't integrate with even a steak. So why 91 points? Because it's perfectly enjoyable juice.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I may have had a bad bottle, but I found this one to be an alcoholic mess. I agree with the dark color, and I almost might agree with the soft entry, but after that It seemed hot and totally unbalanced. I do have another bottle in storage. So, we'll give that one a try some day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep purple color. A huge mouth coating wine with a big tannic backbone. This needs another 10 years to come into its own. Dark berry fruit and licorice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine was still quite young, even though it had already entered its adulthood. The nose was quickly greeted by a perfume of jammy notes. Blackcurrant, blackberry and heart-cherry, paired with notes of leather, graphite and some mint. On the palate a rather straightforward attack of juicy and sweetly fruit, again reminiscent of blackcurrant, blackberry and heart-cherry. Full-bodied, but elegant style with polished tannins. At 16 abv. the alcohol is well-integrated, but is still noticeable with a slightly hot, but also sensationally long finish. A little more acidity would add to the wine’s freshness.
16 Vol-%.In der Nase Cassis, Brombeerkonfit, Leder, etwas Graphit und Minze. Sehr saftige, süßliche und dunkle Frucht nach Cassis, Brombeere und Schwarzkirsche. Sehr fein und kraftvoll zugleich. Körperreich. Noch sehr jung, selbst wenn er bereits Spaß bereitet. Sensationell langer Abgang. Die 16 Vol-% merkt man nur bedingt und zwar vornehmlich im Abgang. Etwas mehr Säure würde dem Trinkfluss gut tun.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The wine was softer than I expected. Delicious, well balanced, but I paired it with bbq NY steaks, and the wine was a bit overwhelmed. It would go better with a lighter fare. This is my only bottle, so I don't have anything to compare it against. Probably drank like a nice Bordeaux. If I had additional bottles I'd flag them to be drunk this year.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fully open after a 1/2 hour decant it is a rich full bodied wine with flavor of hoisin, fig and black cherry a long finish and elegant tannins woven seamlessly into the rich full body. IMO this wine is at its peak right now, but it still drinks with plenty of vibrancy, so if you are looking for tertiary flavors of dried flowers and leather then wait 5 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
4th Saturday group "uptown" tasting (Our house): Terrific bouquet featuring cassis, black fruit and plum, developing a nice floral undertone as it opens. Dark fruit, spice and vanilla flavors carry fine-grained tannins. Finishes with good length and maintains balance across the palate. Excellent, if obviously young. Guessed Napa Cabernet.
Despite how well it is drinking today, I'd give this another five years before I'd consider opening one as this will be truly special at maturity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Three hour Vinturi decant; rebottle for transit to restaurant with nearly another hour slow-ox at table. Lovely dark fruit jumped out at me during decant. Still pools nearly black; looks brand new. Nose of spicy black currant, blackberry, and dark red cherry with hints of creamy vanilla and some very elegant cigar box notes. Great mouthfeel and flavor; this has been gaining in complexity (2+ years since last try) but has yet to reach its apex. Beautiful medium+ finish.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Plum, prune and volitile alcohols on the nose. A rich, sensuous set of legs and a deep garnet hue give this wine an unctuous appearance belied, ultimately by the mouthfeel. This is a dry, tannic wine that has a texturally rough, gravelly mouthfeel. Still, though, it is fruit forward and opulent enough to enjoy now. Don't get me wring though; it's young and backward now. The fruit-blueberry, plum, and a stewey prudish character- yield to light smoke and secondary, oakish hints. The immense tannins hold the oak and fruit at bay, leaving a dry perception and charcoal on the finish. This wine needs to come into its own and develop. It has structure, but it is not yet softened or integrated. Wait a few years for optimal tasting.
Pop and poured to be consumed over 3 hours. It really is starting to come to. Definitely was a solid wine at open, but two hours of air really got it starting to show great fruit with tannin balance. If you want a big but drinkable Cali cab, this is getting right into that window. Of course, it has years beyond too, so certainly no rush.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP and drank over 3 hours. I thought this was a great wine. Wife had a taste but said she was not in the mood for wine (rarely hear that!) and so she switched to vodka. SCORE! That means I got the whole bottle to myself! Hey - it was Fat Tuesday - you are supposed to over indulge. Notes consistent with my last bottle from Feb 2013 - although I think this is smoother now. The 2 years has helped this and it has at least a decade before decline. Still have a few more in the cellar - will open another when the wife is in the mood for more vodka!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark and rich. Beautiful nose. The wine has developed nicely. The various components have come together to evolve into a rich and beautifully balanced wine. Very long finish. Should continue to improve for some time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opaque ruby color. The nose is held back with cassis, cedar and minty notes. The palate is dry, with medium acidity, and a high level of soft tannins, high alcohol, full body and intense flavours of cassis, cherry, and cedar. Still very young and will develop well for another 10 years easily. Elegant, long and complex. Outstanding.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 2 hours. Nose of blackberry, currant, mocha, licorice and spice. A black fruit core with mocha, spice and soft tannins on the palate. Leads to a very long finish. Full bodied with a rich, dense texture. Paired with a Smorgasbord.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
dark color. understated nose. complex and balanced, but not a lot of fruit right now, nor any secondary notes. I'm going to wait a bit for next bottle. I am giving it a 92 but it may have 95+ potential
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This struck me as more impressive than enjoyable. Very big wine, with lots of oak and plenty of tannin, it's a wine that makes you think "serious cali cab." But the fruit and structure are both so big still that I can't say this will ever integrate fully. I'd take a Beringer PR over this any day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Top Tasters: rich deep purple, opaque, inky; ripe (but not jammy) blackberry, blackcherry cassis; cigar leaf, earthy minerals, well-integrated vanilla/oak/smoke; great structure with huge rugged tannins, coffee grounds notes. Could almost be a modern style Bordeaux; very good, classic, what CA Cab should be. Who needs "polished tannins" anyway?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really nice bottle. Decanted for about 3 hours. Still tannic and showing signs of a long life ahead. Very balanced. Lots of earthy leathery notes. Almost old world in its profile. Wish I had more than 1 bottle left. Will wait a few more years before indulging again.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Multiple tastings with consistent notes. Drank head to head with 07 BV clone 4. Both were excellent wines, but I have the nod to BV, but only by a single point. Classic Mondavi Reserve from that period, touches of smoked meat and bacon fat. Good depth of fruit, nice aromatic balance. I've been much less impressed with some more recent released, but this one is very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Solid wine, but disappointed with its value, as it should be much better at this price point. Poured through Vinturi and decanted for 15 minutes before pouring back into the bottle for transport. Uncorked the bottle for an hour before drinking. Blueberries and tannins. Relatively smooth and integrated, but nothing special going on.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 2 hours. This wine is tasting beautiful. Very voluptuous on the palate with lots of cherry and other red fruits. Firm tannins integrate with more and more air. Fulled bodies and rich. Looking forward to tasting this again in a couple years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Coming along nicely since last tasting in 2012. Plenty of legs for many years' improvement. Decanted for 2 hours prior to serving, excellent Napa nose, taking me back to my visits. Tannin and alcohol still on top, red berries underneath. Deep red in the glass, hold another couple years and plan for a long ride on these bottles
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 1.5 hours. Aromas of black currant, blackberry, blueberry, mocha, cedar, licorice and baking spice. A dark fruit core of currant, blackberry, and blueberry compote integrated with baking spice, licorice and balanced tannins on the palate. Leads to a long finish. Full bodied with a velvety, smooth texture. Benefited from the air time, and has the character to age well. Paired with Greek tenderloin.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
excellent cab ... burly, yet pure ... firm, well integrated tannins ... very rich, but a modest amount of fruit, but really balanced and approachable ... secondary notes will develop with time ... this is easily a 20+ year cab
We drank a bottle of 1994 Mondavi Reserve the same night ... interesting to compare the two. The '94 still showing very well with more earthy nuances
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A pleasant full bodied wine whose tannins have softened up and is ready to drink. Deep purple color with great legs on the glass when swirled. A well balanced wine that is fully ready to drink and well worth the money
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very dusty after an hour after decanting through a Vinturi. Started to open later with deep, very dark fruit. This an excellent wine but give it time to open before drinking.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
6/24/2012 rated 94 points: Dense, full bodied, ready to drink. Deep purple color and great legs that just slowly seep down the glass. An excellent production--well worth the money. (5034 views)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep garnet color with vanilla and cedar on the nose. Nice ripe flavors of blackberry and blueberry on the palate with a smooth finish. Seemed somewhat closed with spice and alcoholic heat coming through. No rush to drink this, but ready now. Nice accompaniment to a peppered filet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pours to a dark purple with good density. Fruit forward nose with black currant, vanilla and tobacco. Balanced acidity and stand out texture that spills into the finish. 5+12+17+8=92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pools nearly black in the decanter; nose of spicy black currant, blackberry, and dark red cherry with hints of creamy vanilla and some cigar box. Great mouthfeel and flavor, this should gain in complexity if cellared for another 3-5 years. Nice medium+ finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My 4th of 6 bottles and it's getting better every time I open one. The fruit and tannins are resolving nicely. Texture is getting silkier. Acid is mellowing out. Classic and very classy Napa cab. Will hold the last 2 bottles as long as I can.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
It is my first bottle from this vintage; yes, it is exactly what I hoped for: a Napa Cab from the top! It was great from the nose (blackcurrant, vanilla) to the texture and also to the end! Perhaps you could wait some more years but I am sure almost everybody will like it already now!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I know I opened this way too early. But curiosity got the better of me and since I have more, I decided to give it a sneak peak. Medium to full body cabernet with lots of up front fruit (got plum, blackberries, cinnamon, currant, vanilla and toasty oak) and medium long finish. Really good bottle of wine!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
At the onset you can taste the rich, loamy Oakville earth as it fills the palate. Not as full-bodied and dense as one would expect from the vintage. This exhibits a meaty character with nuances of black currants, pane grille, herbs de Provence, and clove. The tannins have already smoothened, and yet the ripe fruits manage to transcend elegantly. I can appreciate why the critics have scored this wine so high, but quite honestly, I cannot see it breaking away from the pack. It's just a more refined 2007 Robert Mondavi Cabernet. Too safe. Drink now until 2018.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pools nearly black in the decanter; nose of spicy black currant, blackberry, and dark red cherry with hints of creamy vanilla and some cigar box. Great mouthfeel and flavor, this should gain in complexity if cellared for another 3-5 years. Nice medium+ finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a fantastic wine that needs a few more years in bottle to be truly enjoyed, but the makings are definitely there. I see this gaining 2+ points with more age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep, concentrated purple color. Bold, opulent and sweet nose with ripe aromas of blackcurrant jam, mocha, prunes, some earth and chocolate milkshake oak. Very youthful, sweet and massive palate with concentrated flavors of overripe prunes, jammy blackcurrants, milk chocolate, ripe blackcerries, some vanilla and a hint of sun-baked earth. No noticeable acidity, but quite prominent, grippy tannins that give the wine some grip and sense of density. Has some complexity, but overall the wine appears so sweet and fat, that I really don't understand why everybody is raving about these. Short finish with pruney and jammy flavors and some oaky flavors of milk chocolate, sweet vanilla and bitter spices that linger on a bit longer.
With its sturdier tannins and lower alcohol, this is a lot better effort than the soft, fat and flabby 2008; but still, as a whole, this wine is way too sweet, overripe and oaky to be taken seriously. No sense of elegance, sophistication or balance. Could probably get better with age if the wine sheds its baby fat and integrates its oak. Still, this wine really offers nothing than a ~20€ Aussie Cab couldn't offer - except excessive concentration, which the wine has already way too much. Quite overpriced at 89,90€. Not recommended.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is more of a course in it's own right, no food needed.Big dark fruit but wonderfully well balanced and very smooth. All thought outstanding. Decanted for one hour.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A little bit closed, but still a lovely nose of ripe fruit. On the palate a thick layer of dark, ripe, fruit delivered in a power package with balance and harmony. Although I would have preferred less fruit, I would not call this wine jammy, however it is close. I would say this is full body+. This is heavy stuff. Tannic, but it does not stop you from enjoying this wine already now. Day 4-5: A taste of mature cabernet sauvignon combined with fruit, but no additional complexity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
dark ruby color. Blackberry and blueberry nose. Tastes of black cherry, cranberry, black cherry, anise, and earth. Chewy tannins. Very full bodied. Powerful finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dense, full bodied, ready to drink. Deep purple color and great legs that just slowly seep down the glass. An excellent production--well worth the money.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a huge wine. Dense, and thick displaying a dark purple to black color. Huge nose of spicy black currant, blackberry, and dark red cherry underscored with hints of creamy vanilla and some cigar box. Lots of structure with still firm and chewy tannins; still way too early to drink. Decant for the next few years. Great mouthfeel and flavor, this should gain in complexity if cellared for another 3-5 years. Great lengthly finish that lasts for a while. Would pair well with a thick charbroiled steak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The weakest in a vertical of the 06, 07 & 08 reserves. The earthy aroma comes through as slighty green on the palate. Good fruit source and structure is there but this seems a bit disjointed at the moment given the integration level of similarly sourced 07 cabs. Has the ability and history to improve with age. Look forward to revisiting in a year or two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A little too much fruit still after one hour decant, too young. But at the second night, woo!! Very well structured and huge potential! This is about 96% to kalon, so the fruit do matters!! Guess need to give more time to integrate and be rounded. Not easy approach than other high priced to kalon wines
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Appearance: Purple. Aroma: Cigar box, blackberry, vanilla, sulfur. Taste: Dark fruit, dried herb, tannins, barnyard—Parker was far too generous giving this a 95pt rating.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark opaque violet color with reticent dark fruit, dried herb, sweet cigar box aromas. On the palate, nice amplitude, plush tannins, and vivid blackberry, cassis, mocha, vanilla flavors. Medium-long finish. Glad I've got a couple of more bottles. Will be interesting to see how it evolves. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot; 18 mos. in 100% new French oak; 93% To Kalon Vineyard and 7% Oakville AVA; alcohol 15.9%
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark opaque violet color with reticent dark fruit, dried herb, sweet cigar box aromas. On the palate, nice amplitude, plush tannins, and vivid blackberry, cassis, mocha, vanilla flavors. Medium-long finish. Glad I've got a couple of more bottles. Will be interesting to see how it evolves. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot; 18 mos. in 100% new French oak; 93% To Kalon Vineyard and 7% Oakville AVA; alcohol 15.9%
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice Cabernet. Classic in style with vanilla, mocha, blueberry, and a hint of cigar. That being said, this wine has a very nice mouth feel and a decent finish. I would have preferred this to be at a $65.00 price point but it was still very enjoyable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Huge breadth with fruit draped over several layers of structure. Delicious, with good energy if uneven and compacted. Medium-low harmonious acidity. A lovely sweet-earth, dark fruit and mocha note lasts forever. Hold. 92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rich, earthy and potent cassis on the nose. Med/full mouthfeel, finish is intense cassis, blackberry jam, and vanilla/mocha finish that is sticky and lengthy. Really great wine. Almost reminds me of Lewis.
I might purchase again.
-- Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Terroirist Blogger Tasting #3: SRP: $135. Extracted and massive, but somehow elegant. Layer after layer of big, dark fruits with seductive blueberries and bright red fruits underneath. Underneath the fruit is some minerals along with smoky, spicy cigar box and cedar. On the palate, the wine is lush, velvety, and structured, with a finish that’s lively and coats the entire mouth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had to try one as I love the QPR on the Mondavi 07 Oakville ($26.99) at this time. 2 Hr decant… Drank alongside a Quilceda Creek 07. Big, bright and Fruity –drying and aggressive tannins at this young age (much more than the basic Oakville bottling) - dark blue fruits and sweet tobacco. Cedar and oaky aromas will come into balance. Fruit is more dominate in this than the more complete QC that has that purity and mineral palate cleansing with a nice 30 second finish. Will probably gain 2-3 points with 3-10 years additional aging.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Napa Valley in a bottle. Ripe fruit with mocha and vanilla notes throughout. Could easily be mistaken for any other $80 bottle of Napa Cab. If you like this style, you'll like this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not quite the '06, but still a wonderul expression of cabernet. Not as fruit forward as the Chimney Rock Elevage but so elegant and silky like its '06 counterpart, it will excite for years to come. What a great Thanksgiving this was.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is really good. I agree with other reviews - this wine is reserved, but delicious. You can tell there's a lot going on in the background but that it's hiding a bit right now. This wine is heavy and dense, with lots of dark hanging berries that are a bit muted. The midpallet is sweet and lucious with dusty yet faint tannins. The finish is long and full. You can see this 07 mondavi will be fantiastic for years to come.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Have tried other vintages of this great wine - so had fairly high expectations prior to consumption. Opened and decanted it one hour prior to tasting - maybe a bit short (in hindsight).
The nose was big and fruity - with a smell of wood. Initial taste impression were blackberry and creme de cassis, but as other people have stated this wine hasnt quite opened up yet. You could feel it lingering under the surface - without truly coming out.
The tannins were slightly noticeable - by no means intrusive on the overall taste experience, and this is a good wine - no doubt about it. However, have to agree with others that it will definitely require a few more years in the cellar before reaching its true potential - then it could be a 95+ bottle for sure. Unsure if one more year is enough (Parker states it should be ready from 2012) so personal guess is that it should be kept for 2 years more.
Only drank 1/3 of bottle - re-corked the remainder and will try it again tonight. Looking forward to seeing if one additional day will have opened it up a bit more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice wine but I was expecting more - well made, rich, fruity, big, but not all that complex. Granted I should have probably waited. Was up against Beringer '05 Private Reserve and Beringer was clear winner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Delicious. Great vintage, nose open and smelling of cassis, blackberry, and new wood. Mouthfeel was medium full bodied. Smooth taste, dark fruit and hints of vanilla and sage. Finish medium long. Heavy weight of etOH (apparently 16%) but it was not hot at all.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wine Festival Tasting Room, quick notes. Huge nose of blackberry, blueberry pie, black cherry, and dark plum. Rich dark cherry, plum, strawberry, and spice on the palate. Very dry with a long finish. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I committed oenophilic sin and popped one of these far before it was ready to be popped, but I'm oh so glad I did. As young as it is, it's already delivering a beautiful wine experience .. medium to full body that will likely gain in weight in the next year in bottle, spectacular fruits even though just a tad plum dominated, smooth tannins, layers of complexity and a warm, lingering finish.
I fell in love with Cali Cabs starting with the 2001 Mondavi Reserve and have enjoyed many excellent years since with the 2002, 2004 and 2006 but none have matched the 2001 for me ... but this one is going to not only match it but exceed it in the next 2 to 3 years. Time to watch for end-of-vintage sales and stock up!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
An awesome effort, this has wonderfully concentrated fruit that carries through from the initial attack into a medium(+) length finish. Red fruit and plum dominated, this wine is carried through the midpalate with soft, gentle tannins that coat the mouth. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2/9/2024 - RS4 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow. Incredible flavor and complexity. Decanted for only 15 - 20 minutes
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2023 - hoservin Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for one hour. Nose of blackberry, currant, cedar, spice, mocha and anise. Ripe black fruit, mocha, cedar, spice, anise and crushed rock on the palate. Very long, pure finish. Nice balance. Medium to full bodied. This easily has to 2-3 years of runway. No rush. Served with grilled filet mignon and Diane sauce.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2023 - R Mellon Likes this wine: 95 Points
Spectacular. Deep, dark red with plenty of life left in it, but drinking beautifully now. Tons of dark fruit with a long finish. Kept opening up after an hour and paired with smoked NY steaks, but also great sipping on its own. Will be interesting to see how this continues to evolve over the next 10+ years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2023 - manny651 Likes this wine: 93 Points
lovely, still drinks youthfully, has plenty of life left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2023 - Madera16 wrote:
On the palate it has some oddly green hexanal-like notes. Aggressive fuzzy tannin, big big alcohol. So it’s a bit weird on the palate. I almost wonder if more time will help it out. It’s still a bit burly right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/21/2022 - Oldmanzin Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark fruit, pencil shavings, unsmoked tobacco and spring flowers mingle so nicely together. This wine could have used a slight decant, but it was delicious none the less. Great depth and texture. At age fifteen, the wine showed great structure with the ability to age gracefully for another ten to fifteen years easily. Great juice.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2022 - Odedis.Wine.reviews Likes this wine: 98 Points
Dark ruby, almost inky in color, with a short brick rim.
Fruity nose of blackberries, black currants, cooked plums, cherry pie, spices, cedar, vanilla, leather, light earth, pencil lead, peppercorn, coffee, mocha and tobacco leaf.
Full bodied, bold and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, cooked cherries, cedar, licorice, vanilla, leather, black currants, sweet chocolates, coffee, cola, peppercorn and spices.
Long spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley (To Kalon Vineyard). Showing great complexity with a great mouthfeel.
Rich, extracted and opulent. Fruit-forward and elegant. A delicious wine. Spicy with a teeth staining color.
This 15 year old from the great 2007 vintage is just beautiful now. Has a lot of years in it still, and will continue to age nicely in the 15 years.
Delicious right out of the bottle, and even better after 3 hours of airtime.
Good by itself as a sipping wine. I just loved it.
16% (!) alcohol by volume.
98 points.
$130.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2022 - Hilltime Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank @ Connor’s Steakhouse celebrating our 31st anniversary. Opened and decanted for an hour, with a beautifully expressive nose of flowers and black fruit. Initially, tastes were very much tobacco and leather but after some additional time of opening, definite black cherry and bitter chocolate notes were abundant. A wonderful bottle which complimented our choice of grilled filets. Ready now but probably still has lots of life left.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2021 - boomecho Likes this wine: 96 Points
3 hour decant. Smokey, oakey nose with hints of forest floor. Full bodied and smooth. Intense, deep layers of dark berry fruit. Long berry finish. Just delicious. Truly wow. Tasted double blind with a 2010 Beringer cab sauv reserve which it blew away.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2021 - Russocaster Likes this wine: 92 Points
Un clásico. Sencillamente sobresaliente. Después de una largo decante (2 horas) disfrutamos de un vino hermoso, integrado, de taninos amables y muy fragante. De un profundo, casi negro escarlata se encuentra en un gran momento para disfrutarlo. Muy recomendado.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2021 - Hi.its.Don.4.Wine Likes this wine:
This wine, along with 7 others, was enjoyed while visiting my daughter recently.
While a part of me wanted to take copious notes on each wine and do reviews on them all, I think once you see the wines and their quality, you’ll understand why that was just not necessary, it would also be time that would be taken away from enjoying the wine and the moments spent with family. Let me assure you all, that every one of the wines was spectacular, even the 19-year-old Champagne, whose bubbles had little left, but nonetheless showed brilliance and age-worthiness.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2021 - cos65 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still deep purple
Ripe rich balanced huge oakville
Absolutely lovely and still quite young. Its recent dumb phase has passed, leaving a rich huge Napa.
Very enjoyable now, though I’d choose to hold. Or at least a very long decant
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/29/2021 - capacious Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good structure and balance, somewhat understated, think its as good as it will be. Not what Mondavi Reserve used to be in the prior decades.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/12/2021 - Everaldo Likes this wine: 94 Points
1,5 hora de decanter, vinho de respeito! Boa acidez, taninos em perfeito equilíbrio deixando uma sedosidade única, creme de cassis, frutas negras, pimenta…Um final agradável sem ser muito longo e persistente.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2021 - maxima wrote: 93 Points
FOUDUVIN-Club de dégustation de l`Estrie- Dégustation DÉCONFINEMENT Juin 2021; 6/16/2021-6/21/2021 (Retaurant AVV La Suite de Sherbrooke): Après un 2010 bouchonné, je me rabât sur le 2007.
Debout depuis 3 jours, il a été soigneusement décanté et mis en carafe un bon 2 heures.
Un dépôt fin mais substantiel est filtré.
Remis en bouteille non-bouchée pour un bon 8 heures
et rebouchée avant le départ pour le resto.
C`est ample et dense mais le tout reste bien équilibré
et super gouteux.
Du graphite, des épices, du cassis et du cèdre.
Il y a aussi du chocolat et un élevage bien dosé et assez
Intégré. Les tannins sont charnus et soyeux.
La finale hyper longue est tout aussi soyeuse.
Excellent et pour encore bien des années.
PS : Accord DIVIN avec le filet mignon sauce au fromage bleu!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2021 - Darwine Likes this wine: 93 Points
A very nice To Kalon wine. This is a full bodied wine with leather and dark fruit and some aromatics on the nose. Taste was a little jammy with flavors of black cherry and and dark plum with a lingering spicy finish. Opened up after 1/2 hour - great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2021 - MB17 wrote: 91 Points
It starts big, and delicious, ready to drink right off the bottle. But as the meal progressed, its oakyness and high alcohol got to me. Maybe not to my taste, but its quality is undeniable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2021 - WineJ2019 wrote:
Same as last tasting note
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2021 - weinmatt wrote: 94 Points
Pretty fierce for a sipping wine. Worth the 10+ year wait. Even on first open, a wave of eucalyptus and olive tapenade. With 2-3 hours of air, tongue tickling tobacco, currants and smokiness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2021 - levinml wrote: 90 Points
Pretty major disappointment as I had high expectations for this. But never really got to a place over a couple nights that it was the wine I hoped for. Fruit pretty muted the whole time. Not sure what to expect going forward.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2021 - WineJ2019 wrote: 90 Points
This was fine but I was hoping for more. Starting to show some age on the finish. Pretty lush and full bodied.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2021 - scotty_b wrote: 93 Points
Loads of cedar, graphite, and wild berries. Grippy tannins. In a good place. Drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2021 - jonphillips Likes this wine: 94 Points
Quite liked this and bigger than I thought. Then I saw 16% alcohol and thought: “I didn’t realize it was that big!”
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2020 - vinodolphin Likes this wine: 93 Points
A real treat. So good and perfect time. Tannins slight, rich with a great lingering long finish. Drank over two days.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2020 - Highlander wrote:
A monster of a wine....Big, Big and bigger. It is hard to disguise the 16% alcohol, but this wine does a good job. Decanted for over an hour in the duck. Lots of dark fruit. Thick and concentrated with reasonably integrated tannins. Ready to drink now with proper air
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2020 - Martysfo wrote: 94 Points
Excellent bottle in the Mondavi style. Considerably leaner than most Napa cabs, with some delicious acidity. Good fruit, ball currents and some plums. Long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2020 - rpontual wrote: 89 Points
Dark red color with no signs of aging. Tannins are still present but approachable. Long finish. The relatively low score is for the fact that it lacks balance, accidity is higher than it should be.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/30/2020 - kenj001 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very good! Would’ve liked longer finish though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2020 - Serge Birbrair wrote:
Big and huge Californian....still plenty left of the goodness in a bottle
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2019 - vinodolphin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Hailed by all. Tannins almost gone. Drinking perfectly. Delicious!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2019 - chull Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking well! 93! Enjoyed over 2 hours. Good from beginning to end.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2019 - efeldhake@yahoo.com Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep garnet and color. Nose of blackberries, dark cherries and hint of leather. Tastes of crushed blackberries, leather, And hints of espresso and vanilla. In a nice place and drinking well. Good structure and medium to long finish. Should drink well for another 7+ years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2019 - hoservin wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for one hour. Blackberry, currant, mocha, anise, cedar and spice. Good depth on the very long finish. Full bodied. Served with steak Diane.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2019 - R Mellon Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking really well, especially after opening up with decanting a couple hours. Should have many more years with properly cellaring.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/16/2019 - Schiffy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow! This is an amazing Cabernet. Fruit forward, full bodied with dark, blackberry rich fruit that has a finish that goes on and on. Perfectly balanced with silky smooth tannins along with notes of cassis, plum, chocolate and mocha. Drinking perfectly right now with minimal decanting.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2019 - Amerique wrote: 92 Points
Short, rich,
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2019 - rpontual Does not like this wine: 87 Points
The tannins are settled, for my taste this wine is a big disappointment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2019 - Oldmanzin Likes this wine: 95 Points
Classic Napa valley Cabernet. Dark fruit, pencil lead and a touch of earthiness keeps everything in balance. Wonderful nose and palate. It is nicely layered! Hitting on all cylinders now. Spectacular juice!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2019 - Bam_Man Likes this wine: 91 Points
Brought with us to the Black Diamond Clubhouse to share during the Valentine's Day dinner dance. Young-looking in the glass, showing attractive, complex aromas of crushed dark fruits, spice and cedar. Full-bodied and rich, displaying the velvety texture and elegant mouth-feel that are its trademark. There's plenty of ripe, delicious plum and dark currant fruit here, backed by a pleasant, moderate acidity. Shows very good depth and intensity on the mid-palate, then falls a bit flat into the long, but noticeably hot finish, where tannic grip seems to be completely missing. Very juicy, delicious and enjoyable, but seemed rather "Caymus-like" overall - which is not what you'd expect from this wine. The 16.0% ABV looks to have been somewhat problematic here.
50+5+12+16+8=91
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2019 - shellylowen Likes this wine: 93 Points
mouth filling satin tannin, blackberry and cassis, long finish, nice nose
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2019 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 90 Points
It’s a opaque violet color with very appealing dark fruit, truffle, leather, cedar wood,spice and a kiss of mint aromas. On the palate rich and opulent with medium acidity and vivid Kirsch, blackberry, cassis, vanilla flavors with plush, ripe tannins. A bit angular for my palate, but damned if it ain’t delicious!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2018 - LarisaJoy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Delicious, perfectly aged, and a match for xmas dinner of filet.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2018 - SonnyChiba wrote: 92 Points
One of the better Napa wines I’ve had recently. It’s very young and rich, but enough going on to keep it interesting. Supple ripe fruit, black licorice, with good structure and smooth balance. Certainly a good steak wine now, but having tried this a few times in the past as well I would be curious to let this sit for another 5 or more years. 92+ points
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2018 - Kevnzworld wrote: 95 Points
Jammy with big bodied flavors of chocolate and dark berries mixed with nice acidity. Theres some oak that one would expect but there also an umami quality to this wine that one would look for in a much older wine.
The finish lasts and has a nice
touch of spice and acidity.
Honestly, I didn’t expect a lot from this wine given it’s the current Mondavi company, I purchased it at an auction because I like small batch wines and this is of Kalon vineyard
Overall I’m pleasantly surprised.
This is well within its drinking window, but may still improve. I have two more
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2018 - BrunelloBob wrote: 92 Points
Excellent. PnP and ready to drink
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2018 - cos65 Likes this wine:
Ripe rich Cali cab, but losing its baby fat and in a slightly backward phase. I might hold or a long decant if serving now
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/17/2018 - JJ58 wrote: 95 Points
Delicious wine that was a shop stopper with a small group of family and friends. We were wowed by all aspects of the wine
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/12/2018 - rinnocenzi Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful bottle ofwine. Tasting great right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2018 - jcasey555 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking very nicely now. Should have waited for the earlier bottles.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2018 - tplskylrk Likes this wine:
Beautiful year, terroir, and Wine making. Really nice right now, first one of 10. Insert happy face.
The pour says a lot. This is rich, layered, dusty almost dark purplish liquid. No sign of age yet in the rim.
Nose is dense dark ripe can sav. That heavy valley floor, signature Napa floor. Delicious.
Such a velvety texture, big gobs lovely fruit fill the palate, some alch, more fruit, some charry oak, earth, then an herby fine and med and few rough tannins scrape away, then acid and more fruit. So balanced. This has loads time to go and I think it has past stage 1, past awkward stage and in a stage II 10 YR window. Perfect.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2018 - jeffm_fla Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent bottle. 10+ years on, you really see how good 2007 was in Napa. The flavors are deep and dense, with layers of dark fruit and subtle spice. This is so clearly a To Kalon Cab (even though the label didn’t say it back then) and is just gorgeous. I bought a ton of ‘07 Napa wine and drank it way too early...
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2018 - scotty_b wrote: 92 Points
Drank side next to the 05 Reserve. The 07 had more guts and flavor. Nose of blackberry and leather. Nice tannic structure. This wine will go another 5 to 10 years. Better than the 05, which was silky smooth but on its way downhill.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2018 - hoservin wrote: 93 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for two hours. Nose of violets, blackberry, currant, mocha and spice. Black and red fruit, mocha, licorice, graphite and spice on the palate. Leads to a long finish. Full bodied. Served with pork bruschetta.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/4/2017 - Rixon Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dricker denna något år för tidigt. Men den är fantastisk god med en bra syra och härlig, balanserad frukt. Möjligen en aning för mycket restsötma (typisk för 2007?) - annars hade betyget blivit ännu högre. Ett snyggt och elegant vin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2017 - kcp Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still lovely. Three more to go.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2017 - Helenachuck Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine shows a very deep, concentrated deep red rim, still hints of ruby, very clear with an opaque center. The nose on first impression (cellar temperature) is classic, in a Bordeaux style interpreted by Napa. Cabernet essence, leather, black fruits, some sweetness and perfume, a bit of black licorice. No off notes - clean and complex with bottle-aged complexity. On the palate, ripe fruit, grilled notes, black cherry essence, and a good grip are the first impressions, along with some plum notes. After an hour of air, there is more black currant, licorice and tar in the nose. The palate is atilll driven by dark fruit, and is ripe and complex. The tannins are evident, but are more round and supple than tight. Very fine cab, approaching maturity, but with plenty of life left - which in our experience has not always been true of Mondavi Reserve at 10 years. Lovely wine.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/28/2017 - IvanKrazy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking very good right now. Marked nose of dusty blueberries and other black fruit. Not as great as I remember it when it was younger.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2017 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Sunday Group: Mini-Horizontals- Mondavi, Dominus & Chappellet (Mike's): Double blind. Perfumed dark fruit leads the way for flavors of dark fruit- cassis and black cherry- with fine tannins and good balance. This is very pretty. Floral and dark fruit qualities. 92-93 pts.
My #1, Domino's #1
Group #1, 45 pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2017 - Rthornton Likes this wine: 93 Points
Had this with a rib-eye cooked on the grill. This wine is so rich, deep and beefy, I didn't need the steak! Amazing that 10 years go by and this wine is better than ever. It is not a Bordeaux wine, but California at its best. Thank you!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2017 - floridawinedrkr Likes this wine: 95 Points
This is a big Cali wine. Loads of depth, richness, toasted oak, charcoal, smokey fire, vanilla, and berries. Needs a 4-6 hour decant. Really great wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2017 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Really liked this. Shows lots of restraint, and lots of depth to the flavors and aromas as well. Thank goodness it was served and consumed before the 2009 Deep Time or else this would have been completely lost, and that would have been a great shame. For a list of descriptors, see Life At Your Leisure's fine note. Would love to see this in 8-10 years. recommended
Served non-blind. Audozed 11 hours, then double-decanted one hour before serving at cellar temp.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2017 - maxima wrote: 92 Points
Bu avec Bulle, Meursault et Mike LM lors de notre traditionnel souper Super Bowl LI…avec une orgie de bouffe pour l’accompagner. Fromages (Truffo, Hatley, Alfred le Fermier, Bleu Élizabeth, Migneron), terrines, Saucissons, Dinde fumée, Prosciutto, Pancetta, Oignons confits, mousses de homard…etc).
En carafe pour seulement 2 heures, aurait bénéficié du double au minimum.
Nez parfumé et intense sur le cassis, les cerises, la framboise, l’élevage et le chocolat, très beau.
En bouche, c’est ample et assez boisé encore mais assez bien équilibré. Le cassis et les mures sont bien présents avec de l’anis et un peu de menthol. Les tannins sont amples mais souples avec une finale bien longue mais aussi très satinée. Encore jeune mais très bon tout de même.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2017 - floridawinedrkr Likes this wine: 95 Points
This needs a 4-6 hour decant at the least. 16% alcohol. Great nose. Massive perfume nose. Cedar wood, anise, cherry, burnt wood, loganberry, blackberry, and licorice. Lots of power still in this. This was no light weight.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2017 - themki wrote: 96 Points
Still needs decant - then rich example of Cali's equivalent of a premier cru
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2017 - TastesGoodToMe Likes this wine: 94 Points
I have been drinking one of these every two years. This one was fantastic. Has improved a lot. Black fruit, thick in the mouth, long deep finish. I have one left - not sure I will wait another 2 years though since it is drinking so well now.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
1/1/2017 - manny651 Likes this wine: 95 Points
beautiful, perfumy, berry nose. concentrated palate of dark fruit, smooth tannins, spice and anise. an absolute delight and great representation of a high quality Napa cab. fantastic with a grilled porterhouse.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2016 - EMark Likes this wine:
I had one of these five months ago and did not particularly care for it. This is a better report. Nose of dark berry fruit. Sure enough, typical Cabernet Sauvignon cassis on the tongue. Some hint of tobacco or coffee on the rear palate. Super tannic and plenty of acid suggest that this is a candidate for many more years of aging—maybe decades. It's reasonable to conclude that my previous experience was a bad bottle.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2016 - Foster wrote:
Should have decanted longer, but lovely cab.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2016 - hoservin wrote: 94 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 1.5 hours. Aromas of blackberry, currant, mocha, licorice, cedar and dried herbs. Red and black fruit, mocha, licorice and crushed rock on the palate. Fruit forward style. Finishes long and smooth. Full bodied. Served grilled ribeye steaks with béarnaise.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2016 - Hercules Likes this wine: 96 Points
Fantastic wine. Everything you want in a Napa Cab. Full body, smooth, fruit forward wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2016 - jmoon Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good but typical obvious one dimensional mid level Napa cab. Woody chocolatey plummy black currant juice. Works sideways with food, doesn't integrate with even a steak. So why 91 points? Because it's perfectly enjoyable juice.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2016 - EMark Does not like this wine:
I may have had a bad bottle, but I found this one to be an alcoholic mess. I agree with the dark color, and I almost might agree with the soft entry, but after that It seemed hot and totally unbalanced. I do have another bottle in storage. So, we'll give that one a try some day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2016 - nywine68 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep purple color. A huge mouth coating wine with a big tannic backbone. This needs another 10 years to come into its own. Dark berry fruit and licorice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/11/2016 - MNig wrote: 92 Points
This wine was still quite young, even though it had already entered its adulthood. The nose was quickly greeted by a perfume of jammy notes. Blackcurrant, blackberry and heart-cherry, paired with notes of leather, graphite and some mint. On the palate a rather straightforward attack of juicy and sweetly fruit, again reminiscent of blackcurrant, blackberry and heart-cherry. Full-bodied, but elegant style with polished tannins. At 16 abv. the alcohol is well-integrated, but is still noticeable with a slightly hot, but also sensationally long finish. A little more acidity would add to the wine’s freshness.
16 Vol-%.In der Nase Cassis, Brombeerkonfit, Leder, etwas Graphit und Minze. Sehr saftige, süßliche und dunkle Frucht nach Cassis, Brombeere und Schwarzkirsche. Sehr fein und kraftvoll zugleich. Körperreich. Noch sehr jung, selbst wenn er bereits Spaß bereitet. Sensationell langer Abgang. Die 16 Vol-% merkt man nur bedingt und zwar vornehmlich im Abgang. Etwas mehr Säure würde dem Trinkfluss gut tun.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/29/2016 - libero wrote: 92 Points
Ready to drinking.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2016 - mhenry Likes this wine: 92 Points
The wine was softer than I expected. Delicious, well balanced, but I paired it with bbq NY steaks, and the wine was a bit overwhelmed. It would go better with a lighter fare. This is my only bottle, so I don't have anything to compare it against. Probably drank like a nice Bordeaux. If I had additional bottles I'd flag them to be drunk this year.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2016 - mikeywines Likes this wine: 97 Points
Fully open after a 1/2 hour decant it is a rich full bodied wine with flavor of hoisin, fig and black cherry a long finish and elegant tannins woven seamlessly into the rich full body. IMO this wine is at its peak right now, but it still drinks with plenty of vibrancy, so if you are looking for tertiary flavors of dried flowers and leather then wait 5 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2016 - ipp Likes this wine: 94 Points
wow ... this To-Kalon is starting to drink like a rockstar. Big fruit, smooth tannins, long finish. Excellent cab.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2015 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
4th Saturday group "uptown" tasting (Our house): Terrific bouquet featuring cassis, black fruit and plum, developing a nice floral undertone as it opens. Dark fruit, spice and vanilla flavors carry fine-grained tannins. Finishes with good length and maintains balance across the palate. Excellent, if obviously young. Guessed Napa Cabernet.
Despite how well it is drinking today, I'd give this another five years before I'd consider opening one as this will be truly special at maturity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2015 - Sethbo11 wrote: 92 Points
PNP. Seems like it still needs more time or a long decant to tame the tannins a bit.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2015 - jcasey555 Likes this wine: 91 Points
still needs more time
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2015 - libero wrote: 92 Points
Full body and dark red. Aromas of red berries and spices. Well balanced acidity and tannin. Ready to drink by now
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2015 - robertdtwo Likes this wine: 92 Points
Three hour Vinturi decant; rebottle for transit to restaurant with nearly another hour slow-ox at table. Lovely dark fruit jumped out at me during decant. Still pools nearly black; looks brand new. Nose of spicy black currant, blackberry, and dark red cherry with hints of creamy vanilla and some very elegant cigar box notes. Great mouthfeel and flavor; this has been gaining in complexity (2+ years since last try) but has yet to reach its apex. Beautiful medium+ finish.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2015 - misterstarre Likes this wine: 92 Points
Plum, prune and volitile alcohols on the nose. A rich, sensuous set of legs and a deep garnet hue give this wine an unctuous appearance belied, ultimately by the mouthfeel. This is a dry, tannic wine that has a texturally rough, gravelly mouthfeel. Still, though, it is fruit forward and opulent enough to enjoy now. Don't get me wring though; it's young and backward now. The fruit-blueberry, plum, and a stewey prudish character- yield to light smoke and secondary, oakish hints. The immense tannins hold the oak and fruit at bay, leaving a dry perception and charcoal on the finish. This wine needs to come into its own and develop. It has structure, but it is not yet softened or integrated. Wait a few years for optimal tasting.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/21/2015 - mrmedoes Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pop and poured to be consumed over 3 hours. It really is starting to come to. Definitely was a solid wine at open, but two hours of air really got it starting to show great fruit with tannin balance. If you want a big but drinkable Cali cab, this is getting right into that window. Of course, it has years beyond too, so certainly no rush.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2015 - TastesGoodToMe Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP and drank over 3 hours. I thought this was a great wine. Wife had a taste but said she was not in the mood for wine (rarely hear that!) and so she switched to vodka. SCORE! That means I got the whole bottle to myself! Hey - it was Fat Tuesday - you are supposed to over indulge. Notes consistent with my last bottle from Feb 2013 - although I think this is smoother now. The 2 years has helped this and it has at least a decade before decline. Still have a few more in the cellar - will open another when the wife is in the mood for more vodka!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2015 - Hi.its.Don.4.Wine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark and rich. Beautiful nose. The wine has developed nicely. The various components have come together to evolve into a rich and beautifully balanced wine. Very long finish. Should continue to improve for some time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2015 - Markus Randall Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opaque ruby color. The nose is held back with cassis, cedar and minty notes. The palate is dry, with medium acidity, and a high level of soft tannins, high alcohol, full body and intense flavours of cassis, cherry, and cedar. Still very young and will develop well for another 10 years easily. Elegant, long and complex. Outstanding.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/5/2015 - maxima wrote: 92 Points
Tannique et un brin asséchant, bonne structure mais pas pret!
Beau fruit et épices et immensément long.
Potentiel énorme.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2014 - bberg wrote: 93 Points
Oh. Yea. Baby. This is what a classic Napa can is all about.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2014 - hoservin wrote: 94 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 2 hours. Nose of blackberry, currant, mocha, licorice and spice. A black fruit core with mocha, spice and soft tannins on the palate. Leads to a very long finish. Full bodied with a rich, dense texture. Paired with a Smorgasbord.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2014 - ipp Likes this wine: 92 Points
dark color. understated nose. complex and balanced, but not a lot of fruit right now, nor any secondary notes. I'm going to wait a bit for next bottle. I am giving it a 92 but it may have 95+ potential
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2014 - libero wrote: 92 Points
Still drinking it...this particular bottle shows that this wine has reached its peak and has started decaying.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2014 - TwoSmoochies wrote: 92 Points
A little heavy on the oak but very well balanced
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/6/2014 - JGinMO wrote: 92 Points
This struck me as more impressive than enjoyable. Very big wine, with lots of oak and plenty of tannin, it's a wine that makes you think "serious cali cab." But the fruit and structure are both so big still that I can't say this will ever integrate fully. I'd take a Beringer PR over this any day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2014 - peternelson wrote: 92 Points
Top Tasters: rich deep purple, opaque, inky; ripe (but not jammy) blackberry, blackcherry cassis; cigar leaf, earthy minerals, well-integrated vanilla/oak/smoke; great structure with huge rugged tannins, coffee grounds notes. Could almost be a modern style Bordeaux; very good, classic, what CA Cab should be. Who needs "polished tannins" anyway?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/22/2014 - rwilk_2000 wrote: 93 Points
Really nice bottle. Decanted for about 3 hours. Still tannic and showing signs of a long life ahead. Very balanced. Lots of earthy leathery notes. Almost old world in its profile. Wish I had more than 1 bottle left. Will wait a few more years before indulging again.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/29/2014 - webbaker Likes this wine: 94 Points
Multiple tastings with consistent notes. Drank head to head with 07 BV clone 4. Both were excellent wines, but I have the nod to BV, but only by a single point. Classic Mondavi Reserve from that period, touches of smoked meat and bacon fat. Good depth of fruit, nice aromatic balance. I've been much less impressed with some more recent released, but this one is very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2014 - carlsport Likes this wine: 90 Points
Solid wine, but disappointed with its value, as it should be much better at this price point. Poured through Vinturi and decanted for 15 minutes before pouring back into the bottle for transport. Uncorked the bottle for an hour before drinking. Blueberries and tannins. Relatively smooth and integrated, but nothing special going on.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2014 - sjdoc wrote: 96 Points
Much better than expected. Had a little bit of schrader quality to it.
Fruit forward. Vanilla and some blue berry. Even tannins.
I bought this in 2010 and this is the first bottle I opened. I will be looking to find more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2014 - Barbaro wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. This wine is tasting beautiful. Very voluptuous on the palate with lots of cherry and other red fruits. Firm tannins integrate with more and more air. Fulled bodies and rich. Looking forward to tasting this again in a couple years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2014 - kcp Likes this wine: 93 Points
Maturing nicely for a Mondavi reserve, still has plenty of life. Best to air for a couple of hours before serving.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/23/2014 - BinVA Likes this wine: 95 Points
Coming along nicely since last tasting in 2012. Plenty of legs for many years' improvement. Decanted for 2 hours prior to serving, excellent Napa nose, taking me back to my visits. Tannin and alcohol still on top, red berries underneath. Deep red in the glass, hold another couple years and plan for a long ride on these bottles
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2014 - hoservin wrote: 93 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 1.5 hours. Aromas of black currant, blackberry, blueberry, mocha, cedar, licorice and baking spice. A dark fruit core of currant, blackberry, and blueberry compote integrated with baking spice, licorice and balanced tannins on the palate. Leads to a long finish. Full bodied with a velvety, smooth texture. Benefited from the air time, and has the character to age well. Paired with Greek tenderloin.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2014 - ipp Likes this wine: 94 Points
excellent cab ... burly, yet pure ... firm, well integrated tannins ... very rich, but a modest amount of fruit, but really balanced and approachable ... secondary notes will develop with time ... this is easily a 20+ year cab
We drank a bottle of 1994 Mondavi Reserve the same night ... interesting to compare the two. The '94 still showing very well with more earthy nuances
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2014 - johnbhamrick wrote: 93 Points
A pleasant full bodied wine whose tannins have softened up and is ready to drink. Deep purple color with great legs on the glass when swirled. A well balanced wine that is fully ready to drink and well worth the money
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2013 - jcasey555 wrote: 92 Points
Very dusty after an hour after decanting through a Vinturi. Started to open later with deep, very dark fruit. This an excellent wine but give it time to open before drinking.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2013 - czarny wrote: 93 Points
Absolutely loved this wine. Velvety, smooth, lighter than expected -- perfect for a varied meal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2013 - bobv Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice, mellow, soft tannin wine. Nice variety of fruit flavors.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2013 - gejohnston Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good but not up to the hype of the wine or the vintage. Perhaps it is just too early.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2013 - cwfraase wrote:
First taste out of the bottle was Wow. Everyone liked it. This deserves a higher score. Highly recommended. Buy a case if you can.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2013 - johnbhamrick wrote:
I still stand by these views:
6/24/2012 rated 94 points: Dense, full bodied, ready to drink. Deep purple color and great legs that just slowly seep down the glass. An excellent production--well worth the money. (5034 views)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2013 - KeithSurg wrote: 92 Points
Deep garnet color with vanilla and cedar on the nose. Nice ripe flavors of blackberry and blueberry on the palate with a smooth finish. Seemed somewhat closed with spice and alcoholic heat coming through. No rush to drink this, but ready now. Nice accompaniment to a peppered filet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2013 - jad1964 wrote: 91 Points
It is ready to go. And it drinks pretty well. BUT it is not worth the $. Plenty of $40 bottles I can find that would be on par or better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/30/2013 - grafighter Likes this wine: 94 Points
I keep telling myself to hold these bottles for few more years, and I just can't. It's that good now! Very consistent with my last notes. 1 left...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/24/2013 - Delli Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pours to a dark purple with good density. Fruit forward nose with black currant, vanilla and tobacco. Balanced acidity and stand out texture that spills into the finish. 5+12+17+8=92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2013 - blaine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent, playing at a typical high level. Very round, drinking nicely, long finish. No hurry, but no need to wait either
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2013 - robertdtwo wrote: 92 Points
Pools nearly black in the decanter; nose of spicy black currant, blackberry, and dark red cherry with hints of creamy vanilla and some cigar box. Great mouthfeel and flavor, this should gain in complexity if cellared for another 3-5 years. Nice medium+ finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2013 - grafighter Likes this wine: 94 Points
My 4th of 6 bottles and it's getting better every time I open one. The fruit and tannins are resolving nicely. Texture is getting silkier. Acid is mellowing out. Classic and very classy Napa cab. Will hold the last 2 bottles as long as I can.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2013 - South Thurgau Likes this wine: 94 Points
It is my first bottle from this vintage; yes, it is exactly what I hoped for: a Napa Cab from the top! It was great from the nose (blackcurrant, vanilla) to the texture and also to the end! Perhaps you could wait some more years but I am sure almost everybody will like it already now!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2013 - TastesGoodToMe Likes this wine: 93 Points
I know I opened this way too early. But curiosity got the better of me and since I have more, I decided to give it a sneak peak. Medium to full body cabernet with lots of up front fruit (got plum, blackberries, cinnamon, currant, vanilla and toasty oak) and medium long finish. Really good bottle of wine!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2013 - jeffm_fla Likes this wine: 92 Points
Surprisingly restrained and Bordeaux-like for an '07 Napa cab. Layers of flavor and a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2012 - MarkMich wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 2+ hours. Not enough.....got better over the next hour. This will be an even better wine in 5 to 10 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2012 - vinodolphin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderful as always. Like Velvet with soft tannins and a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2012 - johnbhamrick wrote: 91 Points
Pleasant to drink. Well balanced. Well worth the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2012 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 wrote: 93 Points
At the onset you can taste the rich, loamy Oakville earth as it fills the palate. Not as full-bodied and dense as one would expect from the vintage. This exhibits a meaty character with nuances of black currants, pane grille, herbs de Provence, and clove. The tannins have already smoothened, and yet the ripe fruits manage to transcend elegantly. I can appreciate why the critics have scored this wine so high, but quite honestly, I cannot see it breaking away from the pack. It's just a more refined 2007 Robert Mondavi Cabernet. Too safe. Drink now until 2018.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2012 - robertdtwo wrote: 92 Points
Pools nearly black in the decanter; nose of spicy black currant, blackberry, and dark red cherry with hints of creamy vanilla and some cigar box. Great mouthfeel and flavor, this should gain in complexity if cellared for another 3-5 years. Nice medium+ finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2012 - BinVA wrote: 94 Points
This is a fantastic wine that needs a few more years in bottle to be truly enjoyed, but the makings are definitely there. I see this gaining 2+ points with more age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/12/2012 - forceberry wrote: 84 Points
Deep, concentrated purple color. Bold, opulent and sweet nose with ripe aromas of blackcurrant jam, mocha, prunes, some earth and chocolate milkshake oak. Very youthful, sweet and massive palate with concentrated flavors of overripe prunes, jammy blackcurrants, milk chocolate, ripe blackcerries, some vanilla and a hint of sun-baked earth. No noticeable acidity, but quite prominent, grippy tannins that give the wine some grip and sense of density. Has some complexity, but overall the wine appears so sweet and fat, that I really don't understand why everybody is raving about these. Short finish with pruney and jammy flavors and some oaky flavors of milk chocolate, sweet vanilla and bitter spices that linger on a bit longer.
With its sturdier tannins and lower alcohol, this is a lot better effort than the soft, fat and flabby 2008; but still, as a whole, this wine is way too sweet, overripe and oaky to be taken seriously. No sense of elegance, sophistication or balance. Could probably get better with age if the wine sheds its baby fat and integrates its oak. Still, this wine really offers nothing than a ~20€ Aussie Cab couldn't offer - except excessive concentration, which the wine has already way too much. Quite overpriced at 89,90€. Not recommended.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2012 - Janstan wrote: 94 Points
This wine is more of a course in it's own right, no food needed.Big dark fruit but wonderfully well balanced and very smooth. All thought outstanding. Decanted for one hour.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/31/2012 - Sundbyberg wrote: 95 Points
A little bit closed, but still a lovely nose of ripe fruit. On the palate a thick layer of dark, ripe, fruit delivered in a power package with balance and harmony.
Although I would have preferred less fruit, I would not call this wine jammy, however it is close.
I would say this is full body+. This is heavy stuff.
Tannic, but it does not stop you from enjoying this wine already now.
Day 4-5: A taste of mature cabernet sauvignon combined with fruit, but no additional complexity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2012 - kstoddard wrote: 91 Points
dark ruby color. Blackberry and blueberry nose. Tastes of black cherry, cranberry, black cherry, anise, and earth. Chewy tannins. Very full bodied. Powerful finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2012 - libero wrote: 94 Points
Dense, bordeaux color, black berries and stars fruit taste, wet forest aromas. Delicious and to me a solid 94
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2012 - johnbhamrick wrote: 94 Points
Dense, full bodied, ready to drink. Deep purple color and great legs that just slowly seep down the glass. An excellent production--well worth the money.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2012 - wmccone54 wrote: 93 Points
This is a huge wine. Dense, and thick displaying a dark purple to black color. Huge nose of spicy black currant, blackberry, and dark red cherry underscored with hints of creamy vanilla and some cigar box. Lots of structure with still firm and chewy tannins; still way too early to drink. Decant for the next few years. Great mouthfeel and flavor, this should gain in complexity if cellared for another 3-5 years. Great lengthly finish that lasts for a while. Would pair well with a thick charbroiled steak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2012 - PerfectVintage wrote: 90 Points
The weakest in a vertical of the 06, 07 & 08 reserves. The earthy aroma comes through as slighty green on the palate. Good fruit source and structure is there but this seems a bit disjointed at the moment given the integration level of similarly sourced 07 cabs. Has the ability and history to improve with age. Look forward to revisiting in a year or two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2012 - pinotblanc wrote: 94 Points
A little too much fruit still after one hour decant, too young. But at the second night, woo!! Very well structured and huge potential! This is about 96% to kalon, so the fruit do matters!! Guess need to give more time to integrate and be rounded. Not easy approach than other high priced to kalon wines
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2012 - Lord Rayas wrote: 92 Points
Celebration lunch (CFC beat Barca) with KH, Eric, Jon, 7, Nelson (The Pawn): incredible power and concentration. thick and dense. notes of coconut and toffee.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2012 - johnbhamrick wrote: 94 Points
Still like it as much as before. Great structure and fabulous with the filets tonight!!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2012 - andrew.schoen wrote: 88 Points
Appearance: Purple. Aroma: Cigar box, blackberry, vanilla, sulfur. Taste: Dark fruit, dried herb, tannins, barnyard—Parker was far too generous giving this a 95pt rating.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2012 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark opaque violet color with reticent dark fruit, dried herb, sweet cigar box aromas. On the palate, nice amplitude, plush tannins, and vivid blackberry, cassis, mocha, vanilla flavors. Medium-long finish. Glad I've got a couple of more bottles. Will be interesting to see how it evolves. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot; 18 mos. in 100% new French oak; 93% To Kalon Vineyard and 7% Oakville AVA; alcohol 15.9%
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2012 - Martin Redmond wrote: 92 Points
Dark opaque violet color with reticent dark fruit, dried herb, sweet cigar box aromas. On the palate, nice amplitude, plush tannins, and vivid blackberry, cassis, mocha, vanilla flavors. Medium-long finish. Glad I've got a couple of more bottles. Will be interesting to see how it evolves. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot; 18 mos. in 100% new French oak; 93% To Kalon Vineyard and 7% Oakville AVA; alcohol 15.9%
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2012 - johnbhamrick wrote: 94 Points
Still rate it a 94. Fabulous wine out of the bottle. Couldn't ask anything more for the money. Paid $69 per for a case.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2012 - johnbhamrick wrote: 94 Points
Drank right out of the bottle. It was ready. Smooth nose and nicely balanced tannins and fruits. Long legs on the glass. Definitely a keeper
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2012 - Double-A Likes this wine: 95 Points
Concentrated, currant, mineral and vanilla nose. Full, rich, firm and glycerined. Very good essence and minerality.
5/5
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2012 - RJurman wrote: 92 Points
Nice Cabernet. Classic in style with vanilla, mocha, blueberry, and a hint of cigar. That being said, this wine has a very nice mouth feel and a decent finish. I would have preferred this to be at a $65.00 price point but it was still very enjoyable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2012 - silton wrote:
Huge breadth with fruit draped over several layers of structure. Delicious, with good energy if uneven and compacted. Medium-low harmonious acidity. A lovely sweet-earth, dark fruit and mocha note lasts forever. Hold. 92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2012 - Gestalted wrote: 93 Points
Rich, earthy and potent cassis on the nose. Med/full mouthfeel, finish is intense cassis, blackberry jam, and vanilla/mocha finish that is sticky and lengthy. Really great wine. Almost reminds me of Lewis.
I might purchase again.
--
Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2011 - davidwhitedc wrote: 94 Points
Terroirist Blogger Tasting #3: SRP: $135. Extracted and massive, but somehow elegant. Layer after layer of big, dark fruits with seductive blueberries and bright red fruits underneath. Underneath the fruit is some minerals along with smoky, spicy cigar box and cedar. On the palate, the wine is lush, velvety, and structured, with a finish that’s lively and coats the entire mouth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2011 - enjoywine wrote: 93 Points
Had to try one as I love the QPR on the Mondavi 07 Oakville ($26.99) at this time. 2 Hr decant… Drank alongside a Quilceda Creek 07. Big, bright and Fruity –drying and aggressive tannins at this young age (much more than the basic Oakville bottling) - dark blue fruits and sweet tobacco. Cedar and oaky aromas will come into balance. Fruit is more dominate in this than the more complete QC that has that purity and mineral palate cleansing with a nice 30 second finish. Will probably gain 2-3 points with 3-10 years additional aging.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2011 - Rob MacKay wrote: 92 Points
Napa Valley in a bottle. Ripe fruit with mocha and vanilla notes throughout. Could easily be mistaken for any other $80 bottle of Napa Cab. If you like this style, you'll like this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2011 - AGee wrote: 92 Points
Not quite the '06, but still a wonderul expression of cabernet. Not as fruit forward as the Chimney Rock Elevage but so elegant and silky like its '06 counterpart, it will excite for years to come. What a great Thanksgiving this was.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2011 - Dasher wrote: 96 Points
Wow! Waht a awesome bottle of wine. Great looking botle. It won my tasting contest.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2011 - mdmcgonigal wrote: 91 Points
Dark berries in the nose. Dark fruit with a hint of herbs. Lots of tannin up front
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2011 - Thirsty1 Likes this wine:
This wine is really good. I agree with other reviews - this wine is reserved, but delicious. You can tell there's a lot going on in the background but that it's hiding a bit right now. This wine is heavy and dense, with lots of dark hanging berries that are a bit muted. The midpallet is sweet and lucious with dusty yet faint tannins. The finish is long and full. You can see this 07 mondavi will be fantiastic for years to come.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2011 - MightyMilburn wrote: 92 Points
Have tried other vintages of this great wine - so had fairly high expectations prior to consumption. Opened and decanted it one hour prior to tasting - maybe a bit short (in hindsight).
The nose was big and fruity - with a smell of wood. Initial taste impression were blackberry and creme de cassis, but as other people have stated this wine hasnt quite opened up yet. You could feel it lingering under the surface - without truly coming out.
The tannins were slightly noticeable - by no means intrusive on the overall taste experience, and this is a good wine - no doubt about it. However, have to agree with others that it will definitely require a few more years in the cellar before reaching its true potential - then it could be a 95+ bottle for sure. Unsure if one more year is enough (Parker states it should be ready from 2012) so personal guess is that it should be kept for 2 years more.
Only drank 1/3 of bottle - re-corked the remainder and will try it again tonight. Looking forward to seeing if one additional day will have opened it up a bit more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2011 - Jbaileyn wrote: 95 Points
Full flavor. Smooth finish. Currants, cedar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/30/2011 - BK29 wrote: 92 Points
Nice wine but I was expecting more - well made, rich, fruity, big, but not all that complex. Granted I should have probably waited. Was up against Beringer '05 Private Reserve and Beringer was clear winner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2011 - vegasoenophile wrote: 97 Points
Rather reserved nose. Outstanding on the palate! Really delicious and wonderful!
- WS Grand Tour 2011
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2011 - mmyette wrote: 94 Points
Delicious. Great vintage, nose open and smelling of cassis, blackberry, and new wood. Mouthfeel was medium full bodied. Smooth taste, dark fruit and hints of vanilla and sage. Finish medium long. Heavy weight of etOH (apparently 16%) but it was not hot at all.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2011 - jeffm_fla wrote: 94 Points
Very good wine. Ripe but not flabby, with good acidity and smooth tannic structure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2011 - MattTM wrote:
Wine Festival Tasting Room, quick notes. Huge nose of blackberry, blueberry pie, black cherry, and dark plum. Rich dark cherry, plum, strawberry, and spice on the palate. Very dry with a long finish. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2011 - JeffDenise wrote: 87 Points
Easy drink. Good baseline for an above average cab. When in doubt....Mondavi. Not too fruity, not too dry, not too bold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2011 - calicabnut Likes this wine: 95 Points
I committed oenophilic sin and popped one of these far before it was ready to be popped, but I'm oh so glad I did. As young as it is, it's already delivering a beautiful wine experience .. medium to full body that will likely gain in weight in the next year in bottle, spectacular fruits even though just a tad plum dominated, smooth tannins, layers of complexity and a warm, lingering finish.
I fell in love with Cali Cabs starting with the 2001 Mondavi Reserve and have enjoyed many excellent years since with the 2002, 2004 and 2006 but none have matched the 2001 for me ... but this one is going to not only match it but exceed it in the next 2 to 3 years. Time to watch for end-of-vintage sales and stock up!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2011 - mxpbuy wrote: 93 Points
Sampled 2/7/11. Opens right up. Easy to drink. As in most vintages, ripe but not overripe fruit. The wine is built to last and might improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2011 - vegasoenophile wrote: 90 Points
- Tasted at Wine Spectator New World Wine Experience 2010
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2010 - ews3 wrote: 94 Points
An awesome effort, this has wonderfully concentrated fruit that carries through from the initial attack into a medium(+) length finish. Red fruit and plum dominated, this wine is carried through the midpalate with soft, gentle tannins that coat the mouth. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2010 - CultCabKing wrote: 89 Points
peppery and lots of alcohol
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment