Mission Codename First dibs
Deep Cover: Small allocation alert!
“Since 1971, Robert Mondavi Winery’s Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve has been one of California’s most renowned red wines, and it’s better today than ever as it now comes entirely from the extraordinary To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville.” – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous
Being first in line to get the new iPhone? Pass.
First in line to get the latest drop of a 97-point Mondavi TO KALON Reserve Cab?! YES!
Best of all, you don’t need to run, sprint, crab walk, or army crawl your way to the front or deal with a 17-year-old Verizon nerd who calls you “bro”.
We muscled our way to the front of the pack for the latest drop of the legendary wine from THE Robert Mondavi. Right now, there’s one place to get it - straight from the winery.
And you’ll pay $250 for the privilege. Once released (yes, we CAN get you some shipped today!) who knows how high other pending scores, and resultant prices will be? It is a 2021 after all… and as Suckling perfectly put “Wow, Mondavi’s top red wine is very impressive in 2021.”
So, yea… $195 for a bottle seems like a pretty, pretty, pretty good deal.
Mondavi’s To Kalon site hardly needs an introduction. Perched in a prime location in Oakville, it’s one of the best vineyards to grow Cabernet Sauvignon in the world. For decades this bottling has been a pillar of prime Napa Cabernet, and this vintage shows why.
It’s glorious, as usual, with 97 and 95 points from a few pros. The 2021 vintage delivered big time, and if you can stash a few of these for a couple of years you’ll be rewarded for sure. Drink it now, if you’d like, or age it for forty years. There’s never a wrong time. We won’t bore you with pedantic tasting notes - it’s hard to capture this wine anyways fully, anyways the pros pretty much nailed it. All we’ll add is that it’s dense, structured, opulent, and flat out sexy! Especially at our price, today…
While it lasts at least.
97 Points – James Sucking “Wow, Mondavi’s top red wine is very impressive in 2021, all svelte but muscular and built for long-term enjoyment. A bit richer and more layered than the 2018 and 2016, and the signature sage character is subdued here. Showing great black fruit and flowers with integrated oak spices on the nose, the tannins building as you sip, black cherries, blackcurrants, cocoa and light graphite showing on the palate. So smooth and full-bodied but not heavy, lifted by fresh acidity and very fine-grained tannins. From organically grown grapes. Bottles from the 1990s are still great to drink, so no hurry to open it. Try from 2028.”
95 Points – Wine Spectator “This is lush and seductive in feel, with a gush of boysenberry and blackberry compote flavors that rolls through, along with melted black licorice, mocha and Christmas pudding accents. A flash of warm paving stone at the tail end keeps this grounded, and a charming purity emerges as this airs in the glass. Best from 2025 through 2040.”
What the Winery Says
2021 'The Reserve' To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
- Winemaker
- Geneviève Janssens
- Varietals
- 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
- Vintage
- 2021
- Alcohol
- 14.5%
- Appellation
- Oakville, Napa Valley
- Vineyard
- To Kalon Vineyard
- Total acidity
- 5.9 g/L
- pH
- 3.77
- Residual sugar
- 0.05 g/L
- Aging
- 20 months
- Barrels
- 100% new French oak