Sunday Brown Bag Tasting: Mondavi Cabernet Reserve Vertical

Our house
Tasted Sunday, November 11, 2012 by AllRed with 1,043 views

Introduction

This was our first time hosting the Sunday Group. As such, we knew the wines and order, thus these notes are not blind. The old Mondavis had normal bottles so we simply pulled the corks, and for the more recent vintages with the flange, we decanted into substitute bottles. We began pulling corks at 3:30pm, starting with the 1997, working backwards towards the 1987. Bottles were opened and decanted directly into the dummy bottle or left alone, sealed back up with a capped slow pour filter. The caps were opened and the wines poured around 5:30pm. Guesses included right bank Bordeaux, Pauillac, and Napa Cab. For dinner we served boeuf bourguignon. We had nine tasters for scoring. Cost was $50, based on ten.

Flight 1 - Warm ups (3 Notes)

The Mondavi, due to its unique bottle, was opened and poured into a decanter about 15 minutes before everyone arrived.

Flight 2 - Themed tasting (9 Notes)

Shown in the order of the flight, double blind to the group.

  • 1987 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Deep garnet/crimson color. Notes of violets, saddle leather and rose petals followed by leather, black cherry and currants. Well-balanced, with lad of red fruit, along with tobacco, roasted herbs and cherry. Long finish. 95+ pts.

    My #1, Domino's #1
    Group #5, 43 pts

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  • 1990 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Deep crimson color. Cherry and saddle leather notes at first. With ir, dark fruit, leather and barnyard notes- perhaps a touch of brett. Balanced, with nicely integrated tannins, though definitely still some there; mix of red and dark fruit, nice finish. 92-93 pts.

    My #4, Domino's #7
    Group #4, 41 pts

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  • 1991 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Deep crimson color. Aromas of tobacco, spice box, lavender and violets. Wonderful balance; seamless. Flavors of leather, red fruit and spice. With more time in the glass, aromas of cedar, red fruit, leather and florals. On the palate, a cedar quality emerges, adding complexity to the other flavors noted before. Long finish. 95+ pts.

    My #2, Domino's #6
    Group #1, 28 pts

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  • 1992 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Flawed

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    None of the wines displayed any off qualities during their brief decant, however by the time this was poured it was obvious that it was mildly corked. Still had some fruit showing on the palate though.

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  • 1992 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Of the eight wines in the tasting we had a backup bottle for three, and fortunately the corked bottle was one of the three. Unfortunately though, the backup bottle did not get as much air, and suffered a bit by comparison. Still, everyone tasted from a sound bottle. Florals, red fruit, spice and leather qualities. The palate shows some power; along with flavors of red fruit, plum and currants. Good, but without the complexity of the others in tonight's lineup.

    My #7, Domino's #5
    Group #6, 45 pts

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  • 1994 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Deep crimson color. Wonderful aromas of red fruit, leather and spice, adding a cedar note as it opened further in the glass. Balanced; red fruit, spice, leather and plum. Has a ripeness to it, as well as some power.

    My #6, Domino's #4
    Group #3, 32 pts

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  • 1995 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Light crimson color. Notes of red fruit, violets, leather and spice. Wonderful balance with flavors of red fruit and spice, florals and plum.

    My #5, Domino's #2
    Group #2, 29 pts

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  • 1996 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 30th Anniversary 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Light crimson color. Aromas of red fruit, currants, spice, florals, tobacco and dark fruit. Balanced and well-integrated. Flavors of leather, spice, florals, tobacco and spice box. Shows both power and finesse. Long finish. 94-95 pts.

    My #3, Domino's #3
    Group #7, 49 pts

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  • 1997 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 85 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Deep crimson color. Vegetal; sour red fruit and beef bouillon aromas. Has some lovely red fruit qualities on the palate, along with beef bouillon.

    My #8, Domino's #8
    Group #8, 57 pts

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Flight 3 - Nonblind dinner & dessert wines (6 Notes)

Served with boeuf bourguignon and individual chocolate soufflés.

  • 1990 Château Cos d'Estournel 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

    Notes of tobacco, red currants and dark fruit. Balanced, with plenty of fruit on the palate. Has a nice earthy undertone, as well as tobacco and forest floor qualities. Lovely. 93+ pts.

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  • 1995 Château Palmer 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    Notes of violets and florals, currants and dark fruit. Perfumed and elegant. Tannins have softened nicely though have a good way to go yet. Dark fruit and floral notes dominate the palate, and forest floor qualities add complexity. Long finish.

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  • 1986 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Soft crimson color, slight bricking. Cedar, leather, plum and violet notes. On the light side of medium-bodied and fully-integrated at this stage. Red berries and plum, along with leather and spice box. Finishes well, with plenty of fruit.

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  • 1991 Laurel Glen Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Sonoma Mountain 93 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain

    Deep color with aromas of cassis, black fruit, leather and spice box. Background notes of florals and mineral. Well-balanced across e palate and through the finish with plenty of fruit offsetting the leather and tobacco notes. Finishes with length and power. Lovely.

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  • 2009 Gérard Bertrand Corbières La Forge 90 Points

    France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Corbières

    Bottle 573 of 8964. Inky crimson color. Notes of plum, licorice, kirsch liqueur, and black fruit. Full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins and flavors of black fruit, mineral and licorice. Finishes well.

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  • 1986 Château Guiraud 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    From 750ml. Light golden color. Notes of honey, stone fruit-apricot, botrytis spice and orange blossoms honey. Rich texture, with apricot, marmalade, spice and honey flavors. Long finish; good acidity. 93+ pts.

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