1999 Robert Mondavi Winery Fumé Blanc To-Kalon I Block

Community Tasting Notes (12) Median Score: 93 points

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Mrbuzz's profile
  • Report Issue

  4/17/2023 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 98 Points

  The I Block has always reminded me of my Mom, as she was born in 1945, as well as these vines. Picked up four bottles this 99 off WB 7 years ago...and there was a definite color difference in the bottles. Had the first two, which were the darkest, and they were clearly oxed. This bottle has always been the brightest of the four...and I'm happy to say it was a PRISTINE bottle! Brought me back to a great bottle I had in 2016...gorgeous shiny gold with green tinge color...youthful yellow pitted orchard fruits with some tropical candied pineapple, concentrated dried fruits...a wonderful oily and banana wax texture, yet LOADED with lemon tarts and dry extract...crushed rock minerality...white flower and lemongrass exotics...energized with cut! I've had a few Raveneaus at this very same place where we drank this, and I'm telling you...VERY similar! Such a brilliant bottle and experience...just hope I can someday replicate it again...no hope in the last bottle though, as it's darker color makes me cringe. But...you never know?

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View RichEB1's profile
  • Report Issue

  3/12/2021 - RichEB1 wrote:

  This bottle was 'decent'....but clearly not in pristine condition. Last of my 1999's from winebid, and while the color looked appropriate, it was mostly butterscotch, bitter citrus and some really clear oxidized notes. It wasn't ox'd to the point of being un-drinkable, but it definitley took away from what otherwise could have been a great wine. Oh well....those are the breaks when you buy at auction. No score.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View pkouchu's profile
  • Report Issue

  1/27/2021 - pkouchu wrote: 93 Points

  creme brûlée, apricot, toasted cedar, smoke, crushed rock, citrus peel and chestnuts
  
  I am aware there is bottle variation but luckily I always buy direct from the winery to guarantee some sort of provenance, its worth the premium. Lots of acidity left, rich golden fruit, I really old enjoy these old I-blocks. Fantastic wine when it's on. Lucky to not have an ox-ed bottle yet.

  1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Mrbuzz's profile
  • Report Issue

  4/19/2020 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 89 Points

  This is the second bottle from 4 acquired off Winebid back in 2016...all showed a noticeable color difference in bottle. The first bottle(darkest) was opened in 2018...and was just about shot with ox. This bottle is the second darkest, and although still much darker than a pristine bottle had back in 2016...it's not shot. Nose shows some bruised apple like the last bottle, but not any of that vinegar twang...and has some really nice walnut liqueur, dried honey, apricot, lemon squeeze, spiced apple pie. The palate is even nicer...rich yellow pitted fruit, sautéed peaches, tropical banana skin wax, salty honey butter, grilled pineapple...creamy and somewhat waxy...some nice citrus pucker cutting through...as well as a kick of oak barrel spice and some chalky limestone minerality. Can't get away from the bruised apple ox though...but I'd say this bottle is more in line with what a 21yr old SB might be aging into...and if it wasn't for that AMAZINGLY fresh and vibrant bottle I had in 2016...I might be satisfied with this bottle...but I'm not. They get better than this! There is one bottle out of the 4 that looks to be the color of the one I had in 2016...and I can't wait to try it! For now, this bottle is definitely better than the last...but still doesn't do this amazing historical wine and vineyard justice!

  1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Mrbuzz's profile
  • Report Issue

  4/15/2018 - Mrbuzz Does not like this wine: 80 Points

  Acquired 4 bottles off winebid in 2016, and there were noticeable color differences. One shows a bright vibrant color, similar to my last brilliant bottle...the other three darker. Opened the darkest of the three, and sadly it has turned. Not completely dead, but more bruised apple and vinegar twang, showing considerable advancement and darker color than the last bottle. Has some of that nice salty honey butter, waxy tropical fruits with just a little pineapple and lemon citrus acidity hanging on. But no vibrancy or energy at all. Shame!

  1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment

View all 12 Community Tasting Notes

Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.