No winery is more synonymous with Napa Valley than Robert Mondavi. And while they make all sorts of wines and at all sorts of price points, this is the one that epitomizes the winery. Somehow, they straddle the line between old and new, corporate yet having a sense of place, and making a wine that is affordable and good value for the quality. The blend of this is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petite Verdot, 5% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. It sees 17% New French Oak. Served at a recent Intowine.com tasting, this was quite a hit. Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose is tight at first but opens with air. Cassis, iodine, dark chocolate and baking spices. On the palate, this is smooth and easy drinking but also has some depth. Medium/firm tannins. Sweet cassis and some gravel. On day 2, some dry earthiness came out. This is not simple. Some warmth on the finish. This probably will improve a bit although it drinks just fine now. If well stored, this will easily last another 10 to 12 years. It will work well with roasted veggies or fowl and certainly a brisket would be a nice match.
