Ron, thx and should clarify that I haven’t noticed any improvement on day 2 either.
Learn something new every day. I have always given the Rutherford Ranch Cabernet’s a pass. At this price point, I always figured the “Rutherford” moniker was a cheap marketing ploy. The idea that they might have a good product at a fair price was something that never entered my head. Will grab a couple of the most recent vintage to try soon. I will be very happy to be find a good domestic Cab at this price point.
So last night I grabbed another bottle of the 2013 RR and also overpaid for a bottle of 2013 Mondavi Napa (regular) from the grocery store to use as a realistic comparison from a somewhat similar tier of Napa Cab.
About this comparison of the Mondavi Napa Cab. So the Mondavi didn’t show well two years from vintage, eh? I’m not terribly surprised. I have not tasted the 2013 vintage yet, nor did I taste the 2012, although I have a case for later. Will likely do the same for the 2013 as well. I don’t taste recent vintages of Mondavi Cab any longer because I have a pretty good idea of what to expect. I expect it to taste pretty much as you indicated. Decent, but distant nose of good Napa fruit. Thin, tannic and a touch bitter with far less fruit than might be hoped for at this price point. I have always found them disappointing when young at the $20-$30 price point. Seriously. You have pretty much described every young Mondavi Napa cab that I’ve tasted over the past 40 years. Make no mistake, I’m a big fan. Going back to the 1973 vintage with these (well, missed much of the late 80’s and all of the 90’s as raising a child all but eliminated my wine budget). In my experience, these do not show well – to my taste anyway – when young. I buy them year after year and hold them for 7-10 years before drinking. Even then, I always give them a 2 hour decant to allow them to open to full potential. Younger than that, or with less air, I really don’t care for them much either.
Looking forward the the RR. I’m not strictly opposed to drinking Napa and/or CA cabs young. But there are some, even at this price point, and Mondavi in particular, that I don’t care to drink that way.
Thanks again.
Timothy, thx for the perspective and you might be right on the 2013 Mondavi needing some age.
Still, they do make this wine to be approachable when young and it was a bit disconcerting to have one so tannic and bitter. And please know I’m not trying to shame Mondavi or throw out criticism without any reasoning behind it, I’m a huge fan as well and my experience drinking the Napa bottling on/near release goes back to the 1999 vintage, which I tried (perhaps unsuccessfully) to elaborate on in my post above. In that context, the 2013 just really disappointed and to the point I even speculated above that my bottle might not be representative.
Put differently, of more recent vintages I found 2007-2010 and 2012 to be far more accessible and far better overall at an early stage than this bottle 2013 (didn’t have the 2011). I’m still aging some of the 2007 and 2009, wouldn’t have minded throwing in some 2012s but the price increases have steered me elsewhere.
Alex:
Last Mondavi (Napa) Cab I drank at 2-3 years was the 2010. Without prior experience, I would have written off for that vintage based on the tasting. I bought four instead. I am amused by the the CT notes that talk about the Mondavi Napa Cabs as being “over the hill” or “lacking any fruit”. These most often seem to be tasting notes from a PNP. Sigh, so much is missed is you don’t give these time and air. I finished my last bottle 2007 Mondavi Napa Cab last summer. It took almost 4 hours to open fully. In a perfect spot then. You should not feel like there is any rush to open yours.
People have been talking here about high levels of tannin in the 2013 Napa and California Cab’s. I didn’t think that it would have much affect on wines at the lower end of the spectrum. Perhaps that is not the case, and what you are seeing here is due to the vintage? Maybe set the 2013’s back for 9-10 years as opposed to 7-8? I can do that. Plenty of 2012’s to get through first in any case.
Tim
I agree that the Mondavi Napa Cab is a much better wine with 6-7 years of age on it, but I came to the realization that this investment in cellar space was not worth it. For me, it was just not that good of a wine even with the aging, so I stopped doing it. I have tried the Rutherford Ranch a couple of times (as a current release) and I thought it was a decent everyday wine (even a little “soft”) - no aging required - a much better way to spend $15-$18 than having to lay down the Mondavi for several years. My two cents…
Can’t believe I’ve never had this wine. Picked up a bottle to try with neighbors and count me in the camp that are impressed. Great everyday cab that should get better with a little age or quick decant. This one will be a case buy.
cheers
Bumping this up as we got 2013 into our warehouse, and pulled a couple to try. Tastes like Napa Cab, is friendly with food, and solid price. Look forward to sharing with colleagues and customers, thanks Alex for heads up. 2012 was good as was 2010, this is a slight step above…most importantly for me tastes like Cabernet, not cooperage.
Kris, glad to hear you’re digging it.
This really hits the nail on the head.