This was served during my annual WWC hosting. Typical format of sparkler, three whites, four reds, one dessert, all served blind.
My goal was to compare this 2003 next to the 2003 Pichon Baron. I’ve had the 2002 Mondavi VHR a few times and have been floored how good they’ve been. Read a review from WA and it said the 2002 was a spitting image of the 2002 Pichon Baron, so I figured I’d see if the 2003 was worthy of the same comparison.
Decanted an hour. Whoa! Much more Bordeaux like than the ‘02, and a touch lighter. Mushroom, pipe tobacco and fig, with mineral/graphite note on the nose too. Mocha dusted red and black berries, currant, herbs and saddle leather. At the end of the lunch, this eventually turned to a more resolved (and deeper core of fruit) with the tannins integrating beautifully. Really enjoyable. Pop and enjoy.
This is all u can hope for a 19 old Napa Cab. Beautifull mature nose and hitting correctly in all the angles with sage and a bit of mint . Palate is all about cedar, leather, red berries, mushrooms, truffles and a very long and silky finish. Yes it shows it's age but has the stamina to go longer. Pnp and it is ready to go! I could just smell it all day and be satisfied.
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Really in a nice spot. Starting to get a little unilateral but very good classic Napa cab notes. Starting to show the slightest hint of age. Nose is black licorice, truffle, tobacco and figs with a hint of worn saddle leather and dark chocolate. The palate is darker, black truffle, smoked sauteed mushrooms, aged blackberry and tar. The wine is muted in the middle a bit and doesn't show much. Finished with some black pepper, resolving tannin, very silky and rounded. Overall quite a nice wine but is starting to show some age. I would definitely say this one was much more youthful with a stiffer oak tannin not more than 5 years ago. I do feel like this one has the bones to go another 10 years, but I do see it getting a little more tertiary. For the fans of Napa cab with a bit of age on them, this one is in the zone and ready to go. For those that have these that like the youthful side of classic old school Napa Cabernet, you are probably going to be a little bit disappointed. I really wish I could have enjoyed this with a truffle cheese or a rare steak with braised mushrooms as this probably would have gone together like a sink and faucet with that kind of pairing.
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PnP. Totally stellar, but did start to fade after about 4-hours. Fresh fruit with good tertiary notes to back it up. Specifically, cedar, red currant, baking spices, blueberry, raspberry, and velvety tannins that were sublime. This is my first tasting of this, but this is likely in its apogee.
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Right out of the bottle it seemed fairly rich and exciting. With air however it became more green on the nose and palate and the fruit faded behind the leather and veggie notes. Decent bones but fell apart quickly.
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Cork had dry rotted, but still seemed sound. Classic old wine taste, that desiccated leather taste. Tannins fully integrated, still some fruit there, but perhaps fading. Definitely dominated by aromatics. I liked this better than I expected, but on the down side of life. Drink up.
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Brought this to share with friends at dinner. Was very tight upon opening and needed more air time than it received. Did the best I could under the circumstances. Rustic red fruits, some secondary aomas of cedar and mulch. The mid-palate was medium full but the fruit was holding back a tad. Some tobacco and graphite accompanied the chewy tannins. Bottle was throwing lots of fine sediment. If I was at home I would have decanted and pobably should have double decanted before we even left home but I wasn't sure if we would get to this wine so I held back. All in all it is a very nice bottle that deserved more care than it got on this night. 2003 continues to be an under-appreciated vintage IMHO. I'll continue to source '03 Napa Cabs value priced on the secondary market.
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This really surprised us tonight. Not sure if we're the first to pair homemade tamales with this Cab. but it turned out great. Upon first smell I knew we had a winner with dinner! Lots of aromas with deep dark fruit like blackberry, blueberry, and plum. It was very unctuous with great viscosity and a long finish. Though memorable, I'm sorry that this was my only bottle.
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Cooked! There were no signs of seepage...until I took off the capsule and saw the wine stain on top of the cork. One taste confirmed what I feared. Major bummer, as I was really looking forward to this one.
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Nice nose of dark purple fruit along with some green elements, smoke, and oak (although well integrated and not overdone). Nice tannic structure that is well integrated but rounds out the mouth feel. Drinks much more like a Bordeaux than a big overwhelming Napa Cab. Very nice wine in my opinion, but is of my preferred style. Would have received higher score if not for the green elements and if it had a few more layers. Still, a bottle I would look forward to.
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Decanted for about three hours. Brilliant ruby red color with just a hint of purple, mostly clear, medium body. Nose is unmistakable Oakville Cabernet, loaded with currant, forest floor, hint of oak. Palate is a little less fruit forward, well balanced, a little heavier oak note, subtle tannins. Long finish is very intense. This is one of the best Mondavi cabs I've ever tasted. Sit on it for several years yet, though.
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8/2/2023 - Shay.Aldriedge Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was served during my annual WWC hosting. Typical format of sparkler, three whites, four reds, one dessert, all served blind.
My goal was to compare this 2003 next to the 2003 Pichon Baron. I’ve had the 2002 Mondavi VHR a few times and have been floored how good they’ve been. Read a review from WA and it said the 2002 was a spitting image of the 2002 Pichon Baron, so I figured I’d see if the 2003 was worthy of the same comparison.
Decanted an hour. Whoa! Much more Bordeaux like than the ‘02, and a touch lighter. Mushroom, pipe tobacco and fig, with mineral/graphite note on the nose too. Mocha dusted red and black berries, currant, herbs and saddle leather. At the end of the lunch, this eventually turned to a more resolved (and deeper core of fruit) with the tannins integrating beautifully. Really enjoyable. Pop and enjoy.
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4/2/2022 - Myman24 wrote: 95 Points
This is all u can hope for a 19 old Napa Cab. Beautifull mature nose and hitting correctly in all the angles with sage and a bit of mint . Palate is all about cedar, leather, red berries, mushrooms, truffles and a very long and silky finish. Yes it shows it's age but has the stamina to go longer. Pnp and it is ready to go! I could just smell it all day and be satisfied.
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1/15/2022 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 93 Points
Much better this time. Completely agree with mflesh's recent review. He nailed it! Sad to see this go.
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1/10/2022 - mflesh wrote: 93 Points
Really in a nice spot. Starting to get a little unilateral but very good classic Napa cab notes. Starting to show the slightest hint of age. Nose is black licorice, truffle, tobacco and figs with a hint of worn saddle leather and dark chocolate. The palate is darker, black truffle, smoked sauteed mushrooms, aged blackberry and tar. The wine is muted in the middle a bit and doesn't show much. Finished with some black pepper, resolving tannin, very silky and rounded. Overall quite a nice wine but is starting to show some age. I would definitely say this one was much more youthful with a stiffer oak tannin not more than 5 years ago. I do feel like this one has the bones to go another 10 years, but I do see it getting a little more tertiary. For the fans of Napa cab with a bit of age on them, this one is in the zone and ready to go. For those that have these that like the youthful side of classic old school Napa Cabernet, you are probably going to be a little bit disappointed. I really wish I could have enjoyed this with a truffle cheese or a rare steak with braised mushrooms as this probably would have gone together like a sink and faucet with that kind of pairing.
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10/31/2021 - Winning_Wines Likes this wine: 96 Points
PnP. Totally stellar, but did start to fade after about 4-hours. Fresh fruit with good tertiary notes to back it up. Specifically, cedar, red currant, baking spices, blueberry, raspberry, and velvety tannins that were sublime. This is my first tasting of this, but this is likely in its apogee.
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1/9/2020 - iamandyc wrote: 88 Points
Right out of the bottle it seemed fairly rich and exciting. With air however it became more green on the nose and palate and the fruit faded behind the leather and veggie notes. Decent bones but fell apart quickly.
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3/22/2019 - webbaker wrote: 91 Points
Cork had dry rotted, but still seemed sound. Classic old wine taste, that desiccated leather taste. Tannins fully integrated, still some fruit there, but perhaps fading. Definitely dominated by aromatics. I liked this better than I expected, but on the down side of life. Drink up.
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3/8/2017 - River Rat Likes this wine:
Brought this to share with friends at dinner. Was very tight upon opening and needed more air time than it received. Did the best I could under the circumstances. Rustic red fruits, some secondary aomas of cedar and mulch. The mid-palate was medium full but the fruit was holding back a tad. Some tobacco and graphite accompanied the chewy tannins. Bottle was throwing lots of fine sediment. If I was at home I would have decanted and pobably should have double decanted before we even left home but I wasn't sure if we would get to this wine so I held back.
All in all it is a very nice bottle that deserved more care than it got on this night. 2003 continues to be an under-appreciated vintage IMHO. I'll continue to source '03 Napa Cabs value priced on the secondary market.
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8/27/2016 - JuliannaDHS Likes this wine: 92 Points
This really surprised us tonight. Not sure if we're the first to pair homemade tamales with this Cab. but it turned out great. Upon first smell I knew we had a winner with dinner! Lots of aromas with deep dark fruit like blackberry, blueberry, and plum. It was very unctuous with great viscosity and a long finish. Though memorable, I'm sorry that this was my only bottle.
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12/21/2013 - EMTAME wrote: flawed
Cooked! There were no signs of seepage...until I took off the capsule and saw the wine stain on top of the cork. One taste confirmed what I feared. Major bummer, as I was really looking forward to this one.
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2/3/2013 - speed wrote: 96 Points
Beautiful wine. Fruit on the nose, earthy dark berry flavors, rich mouthfeel, oak, and nice tannin finish.
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3/8/2012 - cbhall wrote: 92 Points
Tastes of black cherry, plum, and oak. Very smooth and drinkable now. This wine should improve with even more age in the bottle.
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12/18/2011 - wishiwereking wrote: 93 Points
Thanksgiving 2011
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10/30/2011 - Fateful Destiny Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice nose of dark purple fruit along with some green elements, smoke, and oak (although well integrated and not overdone). Nice tannic structure that is well integrated but rounds out the mouth feel. Drinks much more like a Bordeaux than a big overwhelming Napa Cab. Very nice wine in my opinion, but is of my preferred style. Would have received higher score if not for the green elements and if it had a few more layers. Still, a bottle I would look forward to.
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9/26/2011 - kjroenetrian wrote:
Given to Tim and Cindy Sywassink Lander ,Wy September 2011
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7/19/2009 - jleg wrote:
Had with tri tip and potato packets. No tasting notes. Excellent wine enjoyed on the patio while cooking dinner.
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10/7/2007 - CP wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for about three hours. Brilliant ruby red color with just a hint of purple, mostly clear, medium body. Nose is unmistakable Oakville Cabernet, loaded with currant, forest floor, hint of oak. Palate is a little less fruit forward, well balanced, a little heavier oak note, subtle tannins. Long finish is very intense. This is one of the best Mondavi cabs I've ever tasted. Sit on it for several years yet, though.
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