Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville To Kalon Vineyard The Reserve 2021 (750ML)

98 DE / 97+ JD / 97 JS / 95 WS / 95 VM

2021 Robert Mondavi The Reserve To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautifully crafted wine with impressive intensity, depth, and a balanced structure that carries the day. From the To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville, the portion owned by Constellation, comes this blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. Pure blackberry fruit, cassis, graphite, and violet aromas leap from the glass, nuanced by fragrant, toasty new cedar wood. Full-bodied, framed by an array of plush dark black fruit notes, currants, crème de cassis, and polished tannins that are firm and elongated, with ironstone mineral accents. Dynamic in its length and texture, it is utterly intriguing, with a beckoning quality that lingers after each sip. You want to know precisely where this wine is going—demanding your attention.—Jonathon Cristaldi, Decanter

The flagship 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve To Kalon Vineyard is based on 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that was raised 20 months in new barrels. Dense black fruits, violets, spicy, chocolaty oak, and scorched earth-like nuances all define the aromatics, and this beauty is full-bodied, with a layered, opulent mouthfeel, velvety tannins, and a great finish. I love its overall layered, broad, expansive profile, and as with most 2021s, it's built for the long haul. Hide bottles for 5-7 years if you can, and it should have 2-3 decades of overall longevity.--Jeb Dunnuck

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.-Jim Gordon, James Suckling

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. 1,700 cases made.—James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon The Reserve To Kalon Vineyard is a dense, powerful wine. Dark, ample and expansive, the 2021 possesses notable textural depth and intensity. Time in the glass brings out expressive oral and spice notes.-Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media