It's still alive, but not for very much longer. I expected a dried out and stale, mid-grade Napa Cab but it still manages a bit of dark fruit and spice, plus some dusty old tannins. The taste profile was entirely Cocoa powder... absolutely tons of cocoa powder!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened this after a flawed 1997 of the same wine. Unfortunately I could tell this one just wasn’t as good as the 1997 must have been (had it not been flawed) That said, this was drinking beautifully. Dark fruits, tobacco, graphite. Tannins still present and structured. I love these aged Cali wines—tasted like a Cali-Bdx hybrid.
MNB: Old Wines II (Jesper's): (Blind) Medium plus ruby to garnet rim. Some sediment. Dark green bell pepper pyrazines. 13.5% alcohol. Medium plus acid. Medium plus melted tannins.
Final call: Left bank Bordeaux, 1996. A pyrazinic producer like sociando mallet. Or a St Julien.
Although... it is very clean / not Bretty, which suggests New World.
Actually: 1998 Oakville Robert Mondavi Cabernet 14.5%
Analysis: Lovely! Quite classic and green. I'm digging this. Only one person guessed California.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Once the cork was popped, it was a delightful bouquet of leather, pencil lead, and slight spice. The tannins are definitely integrated at this point and tertiary notes are taking hold. Since this is a magnum, the Oakville is still holding on, but it’s on the downward swing of its peak and will likely rapidly decline. Drink now while it’s still delightful!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A wine that many would assume to be dead, this was far from it - lovely, well-made mature CA cabernet - showing tarry black olive notes that give away the age of this wine (together with the bricking on the rim), but also still vibrant, sweetish fruit. On day 2, the fruit recedes a bit, with tobacco flavors coming to the fore, and some slight crushed rock making an appearance as well. Identifiable as CA cab, but somewhat Bordeaux-leaning in style. That balance is tasting very well right now. Very well done. Overachieved for the $13 price that I paid for this. 89-91
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep, dark inky purple. Gorgeous. Started out with a tight nose with hints of blueberry, blackberry and plum. As I drank this wine over 3 days, it got better and better with each passing day. Wow. This was a more full bodied wine than I was expecting, nice balance, tannins had been sufficiently resolved to let teh fruit shine through. Taste inclused gorgeous, explosinve blackberry, rosemary???, tobacco and dirt. Finish was well over 1 minute. Lingering blackberry flavors that were simply awesome. This was in great form, I wish I had more as this one definitely will hang in there for several more years. Would seek out again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 30 min. A bit green, as expected from this vintage. Not a lot of flavor. Thin fruit, and not very enjoyable. Not a fan of the 1998 vintage Napa wines. Vacuum sealed and will try again tomorrow.
Day 2: Much more fruit evident both on the nose and palate. Some earthiness coming through, but still not anything special. A disappointing vintage from this consistently spectacular winery.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was a nice surprise for a mature Cab from the less than stellar '98s. Nose of pine and red fruit. Palate shows dark cherry, herbal notes, and earthiness. Smooth finish. Rather elegant over dinner. Not a knockout, but I have no complaints either.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for one hour, but this wine was ready to go right from the start. Vanilla, oak, and a clear twiggy green element. The green notes continued throughout, but I didn’t really mind, it mixed with the oak well and balanced out. A short finish, with low tannins make this easy to drink, but not hugely memorable. Best within the first 1.5 hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep, dark, opaque purple, almost black. Closed nose and palate at first showing just a touch of black fruit. After about an hour the wine exploded from the glass. On the nose was blackberries, tobacco, dried herbs, some earth and traces of tar and mint. Medium to full body with nice acidity and fairly stiff tannins. Mouthfilling tastes of blackberry, dried herbs, and earthy components. Very long, lingering aftertaste. The longer it was opened, the better it got.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep, dark purple color. Nose full of crushed berries and spicy oak. Mouthfilling berries with persistant but smooth tannins. Nice lingering, fruity aftertaste with a hit of oak. Nice acidity. Several years of life left. Still have a bottle in the cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Anita: Int. nose of deep rich blk dark berries, a little pruniness, mushrooms, dark sweet leather; super silky, full bod, leather and earth with great full t’s, med. a’s, long fin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
4/9/2022 - Sanlucar Likes this wine: 89 Points
It's still alive, but not for very much longer. I expected a dried out and stale, mid-grade Napa Cab but it still manages a bit of dark fruit and spice, plus some dusty old tannins. The taste profile was entirely Cocoa powder... absolutely tons of cocoa powder!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2019 - Decanting Queen Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened this after a flawed 1997 of the same wine. Unfortunately I could tell this one just wasn’t as good as the 1997 must have been (had it not been flawed)
That said, this was drinking beautifully. Dark fruits, tobacco, graphite. Tannins still present and structured. I love these aged Cali wines—tasted like a Cali-Bdx hybrid.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
2/18/2019 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 90 Points
MNB: Old Wines II (Jesper's): (Blind)
Medium plus ruby to garnet rim. Some sediment.
Dark green bell pepper pyrazines.
13.5% alcohol. Medium plus acid. Medium plus melted tannins.
Final call: Left bank Bordeaux, 1996. A pyrazinic producer like sociando mallet. Or a St Julien.
Although... it is very clean / not Bretty, which suggests New World.
Actually: 1998 Oakville Robert Mondavi Cabernet 14.5%
Analysis: Lovely! Quite classic and green. I'm digging this. Only one person guessed California.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2018 - Republic60224 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Once the cork was popped, it was a delightful bouquet of leather, pencil lead, and slight spice. The tannins are definitely integrated at this point and tertiary notes are taking hold. Since this is a magnum, the Oakville is still holding on, but it’s on the downward swing of its peak and will likely rapidly decline. Drink now while it’s still delightful!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2013 - RCBAROLO wrote: 93 Points
Rich opulent silky finish a winner in a tough vintage proof that Mondavi and Oakville are primo. Drank like a baby reserve or a To-Kalon
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2012 - JimKov wrote: 91 Points
Aged beautifully. Drink it now..it's at its peak. Very well balanced. Full body was excellent with Korean spicy beef.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2011 - gajalaa wrote: 86 Points
Good but not great, maybe getting a bit old, dark purplish color,
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2011 - amateurwino wrote: 90 Points
A wine that many would assume to be dead, this was far from it - lovely, well-made mature CA cabernet - showing tarry black olive notes that give away the age of this wine (together with the bricking on the rim), but also still vibrant, sweetish fruit. On day 2, the fruit recedes a bit, with tobacco flavors coming to the fore, and some slight crushed rock making an appearance as well. Identifiable as CA cab, but somewhat Bordeaux-leaning in style. That balance is tasting very well right now. Very well done. Overachieved for the $13 price that I paid for this. 89-91
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2010 - chris_3 wrote: 89 Points
Very good well melded wine beautifully mature. At this point brown around the edges and softened with time
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2008 - plasiter67 wrote: 90 Points
Deep, dark inky purple. Gorgeous. Started out with a tight nose with hints of blueberry, blackberry and plum. As I drank this wine over 3 days, it got better and better with each passing day. Wow. This was a more full bodied wine than I was expecting, nice balance, tannins had been sufficiently resolved to let teh fruit shine through. Taste inclused gorgeous, explosinve blackberry, rosemary???, tobacco and dirt. Finish was well over 1 minute. Lingering blackberry flavors that were simply awesome. This was in great form, I wish I had more as this one definitely will hang in there for several more years. Would seek out again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2008 - RPerro wrote: 85 Points
Decanted 30 min. A bit green, as expected from this vintage. Not a lot of flavor. Thin fruit, and not very enjoyable. Not a fan of the 1998 vintage Napa wines. Vacuum sealed and will try again tomorrow.
Day 2: Much more fruit evident both on the nose and palate. Some earthiness coming through, but still not anything special. A disappointing vintage from this consistently spectacular winery.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2008 - Dr_Bob wrote: 89 Points
drinking very nicely; only a hint of green 1998; very nice cab; for the price, i wish i had more....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2008 - decaturwinedude wrote:
This was a nice surprise for a mature Cab from the less than stellar '98s. Nose of pine and red fruit. Palate shows dark cherry, herbal notes, and earthiness. Smooth finish. Rather elegant over dinner. Not a knockout, but I have no complaints either.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2007 - Mark wrote: 87 Points
Decanted for one hour, but this wine was ready to go right from the start. Vanilla, oak, and a clear twiggy green element. The green notes continued throughout, but I didn’t really mind, it mixed with the oak well and balanced out. A short finish, with low tannins make this easy to drink, but not hugely memorable. Best within the first 1.5 hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2007 - Elkiholic wrote: 80 Points
Tired and green. But then again I like fruit in my wine....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2006 - awkiii wrote: 90 Points
good stuff
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/31/2004 - cbbrown3 wrote: 92 Points
Deep, dark, opaque purple, almost black. Closed nose and palate at first showing just a touch of black fruit. After about an hour the wine exploded from the glass. On the nose was blackberries, tobacco, dried herbs, some earth and traces of tar and mint. Medium to full body with nice acidity and fairly stiff tannins. Mouthfilling tastes of blackberry, dried herbs, and earthy components. Very long, lingering aftertaste. The longer it was opened, the better it got.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2004 - cbbrown3 wrote: 92 Points
Deep, dark purple color. Nose full of crushed berries and spicy oak. Mouthfilling berries with persistant but smooth tannins. Nice lingering, fruity aftertaste with a hit of oak. Nice acidity. Several years of life left. Still have a bottle in the cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2003 - peternelson wrote: 93 Points
Anita: Int. nose of deep rich blk dark berries, a little pruniness, mushrooms, dark sweet leather; super silky, full bod, leather and earth with great full t’s, med. a’s, long fin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2002 - peternelson wrote: 95 Points
Winery: Plummier, fruitier, softer, bigger t’s than SLD CS; “choc, blk olives, warm licorice”
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment