Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Connoisseurs' Guide
Its deep and beautifully defined aromas of dense, curranty fruit, dusty earth and generous oak signal that something good is to come here, and the broad but classically composed and keenly fruited flavors that follow confirm every hope. Already showing an uncanny impression of layering and range, this outstanding wine is at once supple in feel yet buttressed by lots of very fine-grained tannins, and, although its essential beauty is not in the least compromised by coarseness, it is a bit tough at the finish as young Cabernet can be. Five years will make a real difference here, although ten are preferred, and, from this vantage point, the wine is clearly the best Robert Mondavi Reserve in the last decade or more.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The rich and intense 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve has a saturated ruby/purple color and is sweet and dark, with a complex nose of creme de cassis, blackberry, subtle oak, and smoke. It is medium to full-bodied and seems richer, fuller, and more intense than the 2004, but again reminds me of a St.-Julien made in Napa.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.