WTN: Mondavi from Dad

[David M. Bueker]

1996 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

This is a bottle that my dad hand carried back from Napa in 1999 or so, but then never drank. I still can’t understand how much that happened. Anyway, this has perfect balance, still a modicum of fruit, and a finishing vapor trail of kirsch, tobacco, leather, and turned earth. Just wonderful, and I really wish I was drinking it with my dad.

Sounds great, but what wine?!

[David M. Bueker]

Sounds great, but what wine?!

Oops. Fixed.

[Jenise]

Those old Mondavi Reserves are so impressive. Bill Spohn has shared a few, and I still have at least one bottle of the 2001 that I'm kinda hoarding.

[David M. Bueker]

Have you had the 2001 before? That’s sort of the year of the really big change in Napa Cab, including Mondavi. Some folks cite 1997, but 2001 is when the dam really broke.

They were never the same post-1994.

[Jenise]

David, yes, had it long ago though, been at least ten years. I saved this one waiting for that Mondavi magic to kick in.

Great note, David. The '78 Mondavi Reserve was one of the wines that sent me down this rabbit hole to begin with, along with Caymus and Montelena.

I I loved the Mondavi reserves, but am running low. Still have 87, 92 and 94, and I'm not worried about them being in good shape! Also have 92 and 93 Opus One - might be interesting to open the 92 beside the 92 Mondavi reserve just to see what differences there were - do it blind and ask which was which!

Thanks for the note on a special wine!

[Jenise]

They were never the same post-1994.

Don't forget '95. Wasn't a Wine Spectator darling vintage like '94, but in many if not most cases I'd prefer anybody's '95 over the fleshier '94.

[David M. Bueker]

They were never the same post-1994.

Don't forget '95. Wasn't a Wine Spectator darling vintage like '94, but in many if not most cases I'd prefer anybody's '95 over the fleshier '94.

1996 is my favorite Napa vintage of the 1990s after 1991.