Pop and pour into a decanter. In the glass, auburn/purple at the rim, shading to a much more youthful magenta/dark red at the core. On the nose, a beguiling mix of currants, herbs, and a secondary note of leather. On the palate, initially soft and lush, slightly muted, with currants, oak, spice, and a bit of dark chocolate, yielding to a more structured mid-palate and an almost biting back palate, with ample tannins on a long finish. Given most of the reviews here, not at all what I was expecting, and not a wine that seems as though it's at or past peak - there seems to be enough fruit and tannins to support further development. Quite enjoyable.
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MACDONALD Vertical Dinner (Saga): Very secondary in nature and while there's a hint of fruit there it's mostly in the background. Grassy and almost a hint green (which isn't by itself a bad thing - I like that flavor) but there's something simplistic about the wine that keeps me from being very excited about it. It reminds me of what I think a backyard in the suburbs might taste like perhaps in the fall when things are starting to fade a bit.
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Opened a bottle to drink with a grilled ribeye. I’d previously had it shortly after release and loved it. Wished I’d not waited so long as it is well past it’s prime. Not unpleasant, just not much to it.
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I bought this wine from Movenpick, Munich and the label looks the same as normal Reserve. (Only written on the back label, I think)
Drink along with 1990 Mouton Rothschild and 1997 Ausone.
These 3 bottles are showing very well but honestly 1996 Mondavi is the most delicious of the night. Very tempting nose, beautiful oak treatment, fragrant and seductive. Body is lovely full body, very delicious. I start red wine with Mondavi and it make me worry about Mouton and Ausone how to get over it. If we focus on the taste/delicious, I have to vote Mondavi even I always love French wine. Surprise !!!
Sunday Brown Bag Tasting: Mondavi Cabernet Reserve Vertical (Our house): 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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I guess my wife and I are the outliers here (in a positive way). Opened a bottle given the comments by others that this was possibly on the downhill. This was certainly not from our perspective. Fill was well into neck and cork was in excellent condition. Bouquet was intoxicating (in a good way!) when opened. You could tell from the first glass that we were in for a treat. We consumed over two hours with filet mignon. Classic Mondavi nose reminiscent - at least to me - of the '95 Reserve. Each glass kept getting better and better. In my opinion this is approaching peak but should provide great pleasure for the next 5+ years. Very enjoyable.
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drinking well; prob in mid point of its mature life; lots of fruit and a nose out of the bottle that is fabulous, i wouldn't decant this too long, but there is some sediment in the bottom
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Light flavors for a california cab, smooth and sweet. Definitely at maturity or just past it, drank well for 30 minutes and then faded fast. Wine had great provenance, so guessing its just age.
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Surpringly soft and mild oak, seductive sweet nose of blackberry, cherry. Well-balanced, round, tiny sweet, easy delicious. Good aftertaste. Just open and drink it then finish it very fast. Maybe the best is yet to come. Drink now - 2016....................91-93/100...........................
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Classic Napa nose. Side by side with the Fox Creek it was very obvious. Wonderful nose of charcoal, cigar, all the earthy, woody elements. Not a ton of fruity left but some interesting stuff in the background. Not spectacular, but definitely consistent with what we expected.
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Old school "elegant" california style. Someone mentioned this could be a right bank but for me it's still very much california. Very pleasurable but certainly would tend to drink rather than hold much longer based on this bottle.
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Tasted September 14, 2007. Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, dusty looking throughout. Nose of leather, dark cocoa, eucalyptus and maybe some mixed dark fruits. Light flavors of plums, berries and cherries. Light acidity, resolved tannins, little body. Drink now.
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Purchased at the winery and given as a gift in 2000. What a surprise when they brought it back to share with a dinner at our place. Upon decanting, it had a strong nose of earth, dust and tobacco. Could still sense the oak for about an hour after opening. There were light fruit flavors, but the strong earth-tones were overpowering. Decanted for 3 hours and this wine really opened up. Smooth and succulent. Coats your whole mouth and leaves a lingering plum and tea flavor long after the sip. A little menthol/mint on the finish. Beautiful ruby color. Outstanding, but possibly past its prime as I recall prior 1996 reserves having a more bold taste and finish. Don't know how it was stored, so that may have been a factor.
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6/20/2022 - jshufelt wrote: 93 Points
Pop and pour into a decanter. In the glass, auburn/purple at the rim, shading to a much more youthful magenta/dark red at the core. On the nose, a beguiling mix of currants, herbs, and a secondary note of leather. On the palate, initially soft and lush, slightly muted, with currants, oak, spice, and a bit of dark chocolate, yielding to a more structured mid-palate and an almost biting back palate, with ample tannins on a long finish. Given most of the reviews here, not at all what I was expecting, and not a wine that seems as though it's at or past peak - there seems to be enough fruit and tannins to support further development. Quite enjoyable.
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10/20/2021 - MC2 Wines wrote:
MACDONALD Vertical Dinner (Saga): Very secondary in nature and while there's a hint of fruit there it's mostly in the background. Grassy and almost a hint green (which isn't by itself a bad thing - I like that flavor) but there's something simplistic about the wine that keeps me from being very excited about it. It reminds me of what I think a backyard in the suburbs might taste like perhaps in the fall when things are starting to fade a bit.
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5/2/2020 - Good2drink wrote: 88 Points
Opened a bottle to drink with a grilled ribeye. I’d previously had it shortly after release and loved it. Wished I’d not waited so long as it is well past it’s prime. Not unpleasant, just not much to it.
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8/30/2019 - Brett wrote: 88 Points
Good, but well past peak. If you have one and plan on opening it, do it soon!
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4/4/2019 - pauldenisarcher wrote: 90 Points
Surprisingly good, may have peaked though.
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1/8/2018 - warrenpeace Likes this wine: 95 Points
Still drinking very well and shows no sign of being past peak. Great balance of fruit and tannins. Drink now or can hold for at least 5 years
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5/14/2016 - noppakit s. wrote: 94 Points
I bought this wine from Movenpick, Munich and the label looks the same as normal Reserve. (Only written on the back label, I think)
Drink along with 1990 Mouton Rothschild and 1997 Ausone.
These 3 bottles are showing very well but honestly 1996 Mondavi is the most delicious of the night.
Very tempting nose, beautiful oak treatment, fragrant and seductive. Body is lovely full body, very delicious. I start red wine with Mondavi and it make me worry about Mouton and Ausone how to get over it.
If we focus on the taste/delicious, I have to vote Mondavi even I always love French wine.
Surprise !!!
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12/18/2014 - broadband013 wrote: 91 Points
Bu sans savoir ce que c etait...: belle surprise, complexe, long, encore puissant
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11/11/2012 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
Sunday Brown Bag Tasting: Mondavi Cabernet Reserve Vertical (Our house): 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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4/8/2012 - Slammin Sammie Likes this wine: 90 Points
Had with Easter dinner - very good compliment to the roast beef. Would consume this one again if it can be found
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3/21/2011 - Vinophiler wrote: 94 Points
I guess my wife and I are the outliers here (in a positive way). Opened a bottle given the comments by others that this was possibly on the downhill. This was certainly not from our perspective. Fill was well into neck and cork was in excellent condition. Bouquet was intoxicating (in a good way!) when opened. You could tell from the first glass that we were in for a treat. We consumed over two hours with filet mignon. Classic Mondavi nose reminiscent - at least to me - of the '95 Reserve. Each glass kept getting better and better. In my opinion this is approaching peak but should provide great pleasure for the next 5+ years. Very enjoyable.
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3/19/2011 - Peech wrote: 92 Points
very minty, grassy, very sweet and jammy, concentrated and smoky. A beautiful wine.
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12/10/2010 - Dr_Bob wrote: 92 Points
drinking well; prob in mid point of its mature life; lots of fruit and a nose out of the bottle that is fabulous, i wouldn't decant this too long, but there is some sediment in the bottom
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1/21/2010 - Spookey wrote: 92 Points
A little thin on opening, then it really improved. Wonderfull Cali Cab.
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10/31/2009 - wine_ab wrote: 92 Points
Light flavors for a california cab, smooth and sweet. Definitely at maturity or just past it, drank well for 30 minutes and then faded fast. Wine had great provenance, so guessing its just age.
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2/5/2009 - noppakit s. wrote: 91 Points
Surpringly soft and mild oak, seductive sweet nose of blackberry, cherry. Well-balanced, round, tiny sweet, easy delicious. Good aftertaste.
Just open and drink it then finish it very fast. Maybe the best is yet to come.
Drink now - 2016....................91-93/100...........................
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11/15/2008 - mappleton wrote:
Classic Napa nose. Side by side with the Fox Creek it was very obvious. Wonderful nose of charcoal, cigar, all the earthy, woody elements. Not a ton of fruity left but some interesting stuff in the background. Not spectacular, but definitely consistent with what we expected.
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11/7/2008 - cortoncharlie wrote: 93 Points
Old school "elegant" california style. Someone mentioned this could be a right bank but for me it's still very much california. Very pleasurable but certainly would tend to drink rather than hold much longer based on this bottle.
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9/14/2007 - wineismylife wrote: 85 Points
WIML85
Tasted September 14, 2007. Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, dusty looking throughout. Nose of leather, dark cocoa, eucalyptus and maybe some mixed dark fruits. Light flavors of plums, berries and cherries. Light acidity, resolved tannins, little body. Drink now.
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9/14/2007 - win wrote: 86 Points
Still good, but time to consume. A bit of amber on the fringes.
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9/2/2007 - bupika wrote: 92 Points
Purchased at the winery and given as a gift in 2000. What a surprise when they brought it back to share with a dinner at our place. Upon decanting, it had a strong nose of earth, dust and tobacco. Could still sense the oak for about an hour after opening. There were light fruit flavors, but the strong earth-tones were overpowering. Decanted for 3 hours and this wine really opened up. Smooth and succulent. Coats your whole mouth and leaves a lingering plum and tea flavor long after the sip. A little menthol/mint on the finish. Beautiful ruby color. Outstanding, but possibly past its prime as I recall prior 1996 reserves having a more bold taste and finish. Don't know how it was stored, so that may have been a factor.
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