Mondavi Cabernet Reserve 2015

Description

”Wine Profile Tasting Notes A testament to Napas grand cru vineyard site, To Kalons signature dark-fruited, dried herb complexity is seamlessly integrated with sweet oak spices of vanilla bean and toasted almonds, sending a wave of deliciously intense flavors across the richly dense palate in a tasty expression of power and elegance.Vineyard Notes This is the fifth vintage of our To Kalon Vineyard-designated Reserve. When Robert Mondavi chose the To Kalon Vineyard in west Oakville as the home for his new winery in 1966 he remarked that, It was a vineyard with a distinguished history and a magical nature. Ideal soils, sunlight, and rainto my eye, the vineyard was a treasure. Those sentiments were re-confirmed when the To Kalon Vineyard was named the Vineyard of the Year by the California State Farm Bureau in 2011. Our Reserve is blended from the finest blocks within To Kalon.Production Notes 2015 started warmer and drier than usual, without a drop of rain in January. The dry conditions continued well into April with some early irrigation in the vineyards. A cooler May reduced fruit set and provided the first signs of a lighter crop for the vintage. The harvest brought in fruit at optimal flavor maturity before a series of heat waves hit the valley. Overall, the 2015 harvest is one of the earliest on record. Our specially selected grapes for the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon were picked between September 7th and September 24th.Winemaker Notes The grapes were hand-harvested with three stages of strict sorting first, on the vine, then by individual clusters, and then again by single berry following de-stemming. The selected grapes went directly into traditional French oak tanks for cold soak, fermentation and extended macerationa total of 37 days of wine to skin contact maximizing the extraction of varietal character and complexity while keeping the tannins round and supple. The new wine was drained and gently pressed into 100% new French-oak barrels for malolactic fermentation, assuring seamless integration of fruit and oak. The final blend was assembled through repeated tasting trials over twenty 20 months of barrel aging. The wine was bottled in August of 2017.6+ Points Composed of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Reserve features a deep garnet-purple color and wonderfully expressive nose of creme de cassis, preserved plums and black forest cake with hints of cigar boxes, aniseed, dark chocolate and forest floor. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated in the mouth, the ripe, opulent black fruit is well supported by velvety tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and spicy.” – Lisa Perrotti-Brown – Wine Advocate, October 31, 201796+ Points Mondavi’s Cabernet Sauvignon The Reserve To Kalon Vineyard is fabulous. Rich, powerful and voluptuous, the 2015 oozes with class from the very first taste. The flavors are deep, dark and boldly sketched in this sumptuous, beautifully resonant Cabernet. The tannins will need time to soften, but I can’t imagine readers opening bottles anytime soon. The 2015 Reserve is one of the very finest wines I have tasted from Robert Mondavi Winery.” – Antonio Galloni – Vinous, January 201891 Points Very tight and structured, this stylish effort offers compact dark berry, currant, cedar and crushed rock flavors, making for a wine that is best-served by a long decant or cellar time. Best from 2021 through 2032. James Laube – Wine Spectator, November 15, 2018.” – Robert Mondavi Winery