2003 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch

Community Tasting Notes (17) Avg Score: 92.9 points

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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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View all 17 Community Tasting Notes

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