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2000 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - USA, California, Napa Valley (2/22/2009)
About my 6th time with this wine and its best showing yet. I learned a thing of two along the way. Decant is a must. I double-decanted right back into its bottle about 1pm, to actually drink at 6pm.
Beautiful lively but surely mature color with lightly rust colored edges. The nose shows of an elegant Bordeaux. Subdued cassis and graphite/lead pencil is all upfront. The palate shows some soy, cedar, leather, earth, tar, and tobacco. The fruit has taken the back seat, but by no means missing. Some more of the red cherry variety this time. Some black cassis with some very slight cola. Mouth fell was elegant and mid weighted. Finish was decent and tannins are fully evolved. Gone is the vegetalness.
Surely a Mondavi wine, but can easily trick me blind. This really showed beautifully tonight. Glad I have more. (91 pts.)