WTN: Mondavi

Last night, after reading the fire coverage, we figured we should open a "special" bottle from Napa or Sonoma. At hand was a Robert Mondavi 1994 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon "Reserve." Plummy, deep, reticent at first, but unfolded nicely over the course of the bottle, with seamlessly integrated layers of fruit, earth, and mild spice; there was a very faint hint of balsamic around the edges, and the tannins were wholly resolved, so I'd guess this to have been near the top of a gentle downslope -- but it was a bottle that did some justice to its place... and to the fear and hope for that place with which we drank it.

Glad to see the 94 Reserve still drinking well..The night that Robert Mondavi died, a buddy of mine and I celebrated the life of Mr M with a bottle of the 94 Reserve, a wonderful wine, a wonderful man..

[David M. Bueker]

While not the top wine at the '94 Cal Cab vertical last week (tie between Monte Bello and Maya), it is still very delicious, with lots of time to spare.

[Jenise]

Bill Spohn shared one of those with me about two years ago. A real stunner.