Blend of Cab Sauv, Petit Verdot, & splash of Merlot; estate-owned vineyards Rutherford, Napa, St. Helena & Stag's Leap District. Just opened, 14 years in the bottle after couple of years in the barrel! Still tasting well, young & juicy, should easily last another decade, but nice now. Deep Ruby, dark fruits, spice, complex nose. Palate reflects juicy rich berry fruits, well structured harmonious wine. Fine soft rich tannins, long finish ending with fruit, tobacco and earthy tones. Wow! — 6 days ago
So for those who don’t know, this wine is a collaboration between one of the most famous California winemakers and one of the most famous Bordeaux wine makers (the grapes are from Napa).
The young expression when I first had it 10 years ago was big bold ripe fruit, probably the quintessential Napa cab.
The aged expression had more secondary and tertiary characteristics, terroir, and represented Baron Rothschild in respects of crafting a wine that could grow and develop and express the care that goes into winemaking as opposed to simply growing good fruit.
The young version of it perfectly expresses Mondavi and Napa. The aged version captures the elegance of Bordeaux winemaking and Rothschild’s fingerprints. You cannot fully experience this wine unless you’ve had it young and old. Unbelievable experience tonight. — 3 days ago
Double decant and pour(lots of sediment). A splendid medium ruby red color. On the nose: a little stewed red fruit, herbaceous, worn leather, mint, sweet smokey oak, loamy soil. Taste: smooth, elegant, savory wine with a touch of dried red fruit, dried herbs, cocoa, damp earth, minerals, and a spiced iron/meaty medium finish. YUM! Mature and on the long downside, but still drinks nicely at 28 years. — 14 days ago
Excellent qpr! Upon opening, it’s somewhat subdued but half an hour later, wow! What happened?! And with food, roasted red meats, hard cheeses, grilled vegetables, it really comes alive! This is as good or better than cabs costing 2-3 times as much. Great daily drinker!! — 6 days ago
Good for a restaurant wine choice when there are no Italian reds. Not overly juicy or in your face typical of the region. Probably due to the nice peppery overlay. Acidity and tannins well balanced to permit mouthwatering enjoyment up front followed by a long relatively soft finish. Priced a bit much. — a month ago
I haven’t had this wine in a long time, but the first sip reminded me why I liked it and probably purchased in the first place. The 2012 is in a great place right now and will probably remain there for the next decade +. Lots of dark fruits but nicely balanced with a hint of tartness that gives this a rounded flavor profile. Very enjoyable. — 18 hours ago
John W
On the nose, melon and grass/herbaceous. On the palate, citrus, grass/herbs, melon, vanilla, and a long buttery, finish. — a month ago