Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon under thirty dollars is almost non-existent, and to find one with this kind of pedigree is a rare find indeed. Take 35% of the fruit from the famed To Kalon Vineyard and 13% from the Wappo Hill Vineyard in Stag’s Leap, and the low harvest sugars of the 2011 vintage, and you’ve got a serious food friendly wine with vibrant acidity, firm grip and deep flavor. Blackberry, black currant, bright dried herbs, and touches of chocolate, pepper and spice come through clearly in the nose and on the palate, with a long finish that is currently herb focused, but will balance with the fruit with some bottle age. Well done!
Robert Mondavi Winery, Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
By Rich Cook