Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

To preserve its vibrant fruit and natural acidity, the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are harvested in the cool early morning hours and immediately brought to the winery. The grapes are carefully destemmed, gently crushed, and the must is fermented with the skins, partly in stainless steel tanks and partly in oak barrels. During their 44-day maceration period, the wines extract a maximum of the powerful varietal aromas and particularly soft tannins from the skins. They are then racked, transferred to barrels, and undergo malolactic fermentation to develop even more harmonious richness and depth before finally maturing for 16 months in French oak barriques (15% new). In the glass, it displays a deep garnet red with purple highlights. On the nose, it unfolds an intense bouquet of violets and sweet blackcurrants with delicate notes of bay leaf, lavender, graphite, and a spicy hint of oak. It tastes juicy, opulent, and powerful, with aromas of dark fruits such as blueberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, and plums. These are complemented by an earthy spiciness with notes of herbs, licorice, and distinct minerality, which meld together on the palate to create impressive richness and depth. Complex yet magnificently concentrated, with supple, sweetly ripened, yet firmly structured tannins, the finish is smooth, elegant, and endlessly long. Wine Spectator: 90 points; James Suckling: 92 points for the 2019 vintage.