Second to last bottle from a case purchased back in 2012. The last couple have seemed slightly over-the-hill, but this one was just perfect - maybe the best one yet. Now fully mature, showing lightening at the edge and some noticeable bricking. Powerful scents of baking spices and Napa earth fill the glass. Full-bodied and rich, but now smooth as silk. Still retains plenty of its gorgeous plum and dark currant fruit, but secondary flavors are now much more prominent. There's tremendous depth and intensity on the mid-palate and an incredibly long finish that features complex notes of spice, caramel and mineral. So elegant and refined. A splendid Mondavi Oakville that easily outperformed the 2007 Mondavi Reserve that we had several weeks ago to celebrate Kerry's birthday. 50+5+13+18+8=94
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This $30 wine is my nomination for being the greatest Cabernet Sauvignon at its price level in the Mondavi line up. I love watching it soundly beat other Oakville Cabs made by non-Mondavi wineries priced 2 to 3 times as much as this Mondavi. Two things make this wine superior - a high percentage of Caberbet Sauvignon of 88% and a high 90% of its grapes from the great Tok Alon Vineyard owned by Mondavi.
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Tasted from a bottle that was purchased upon release and pristinely cellared, this wine was decanted off of its heavy sediment and serially sampled over the ensuing three hours. A deep-to-opaque ruby blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 1% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot, more than 90% of the fruit was sourced from the To Kalon vineyard. Ripe, rich and with impressive depth, it is packed with black cherry and black currant fruit, accented with notes of allspice, licorice, espresso, cedar and lavender. Full-bodied, freshly acidic and nicely balanced, it weaves in a well-integrated component of spicy oak. Despite being listed as 15.5%, the alcohol is likewise well-woven, as are the plentiful fine-grained tannins. Solid in the middle and long on the back end, this is a delicious Cab that should show well throughout the decade. Drink now-2030.
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12/17/2022 - Deelirious wrote: 92 Points
Excellent stuff. Has matured nicely. Lots of fruit. Tannins have mellowed and integrated
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11/8/2021 - rinnocenzi Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful drink over next 5-10 years.
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2/28/2021 - Bam_Man wrote: 94 Points
Second to last bottle from a case purchased back in 2012. The last couple have seemed slightly over-the-hill, but this one was just perfect - maybe the best one yet. Now fully mature, showing lightening at the edge and some noticeable bricking. Powerful scents of baking spices and Napa earth fill the glass. Full-bodied and rich, but now smooth as silk. Still retains plenty of its gorgeous plum and dark currant fruit, but secondary flavors are now much more prominent. There's tremendous depth and intensity on the mid-palate and an incredibly long finish that features complex notes of spice, caramel and mineral. So elegant and refined. A splendid Mondavi Oakville that easily outperformed the 2007 Mondavi Reserve that we had several weeks ago to celebrate Kerry's birthday.
50+5+13+18+8=94
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1/4/2021 - Kenny_G Likes this wine: 93 Points
This $30 wine is my nomination for being the greatest Cabernet Sauvignon at its price level in the Mondavi line up. I love watching it soundly beat other Oakville Cabs made by non-Mondavi wineries priced 2 to 3 times as much as this Mondavi. Two things make this wine superior - a high percentage of Caberbet Sauvignon of 88% and a high 90% of its grapes from the great Tok Alon Vineyard owned by Mondavi.
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12/25/2020 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted from a bottle that was purchased upon release and pristinely cellared, this wine was decanted off of its heavy sediment and serially sampled over the ensuing three hours. A deep-to-opaque ruby blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 1% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot, more than 90% of the fruit was sourced from the To Kalon vineyard. Ripe, rich and with impressive depth, it is packed with black cherry and black currant fruit, accented with notes of allspice, licorice, espresso, cedar and lavender. Full-bodied, freshly acidic and nicely balanced, it weaves in a well-integrated component of spicy oak. Despite being listed as 15.5%, the alcohol is likewise well-woven, as are the plentiful fine-grained tannins. Solid in the middle and long on the back end, this is a delicious Cab that should show well throughout the decade. Drink now-2030.
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