Professional Ratings

• 95 Connoisseurs' Guide
  Tight yet outgoing, deep and rich and somewhat broad-beamed in first impression, this solidly constructed wine comes absolutely loaded with juicy black cherry fruit supported by layers of dried currants, twigs and herbs and all nicely complemented by plenty of carefully measured oak. Full in body and fairly mouthfilling with generous tannins for grip and a fleshy underbelly, it is the kind of hedonistic wine that seems to invite early drinking but really deserves a fair measure of cellaring in order to reach its high potential. It may not be the darling of the “less-is-more” crowd, but it is guaranteed to please everyone else now and well into the next decade.
• 92 Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
  The 2010 “N M” Michael Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon, born of a powerful vintage, delivers a commanding yet polished expression of Napa Valley. Layers of rich black fruits unfold seamlessly across the palate, balanced by a refined structure that carries through a long, elegant finish. This wine finds its ideal companion in a simply grilled entrecôte, where its depth and poise elevate the dish's purity. (Best Served: 2015–2030) (Tasted: February 19, 2026, Napa, CA)
• 91 Wine Enthusiast
  Sourced from the family's Animo Vineyard atop Atlas Peak, this Cab comes from the highest-elevation blocks on the vineyard, some 1,350 feet up. Ripe plum fruit flavors surround savory elements of black tea, the structure well-honed and age-worthy through 2020–2025. Cellar Selection
• 90 James Suckling
  A red that shows lots of ripe-fruit character on the nose and palate, from prunes to dried strawberries. Full body with velvety tannins and a long finish. A little hot but it should come together in the bottle: better in 2016.