ROBERT MONDAVI | The Estates | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | 2021
cabernet sauvignon | cabernet franc | petit verdot | merlot | malbec

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In 1966, Robert Mondavi established his winery with a very firm vision: to create the best wines that Napa Valley can offer, that would stand in the company of the finest Bordeaux wines. He was a pioneer who championed modern winemaking techniques like cold fermentation, stainless steel tanks, and aging in French oak, forever changing the landscape of American winemaking. His iconic winery in Oakville, with its grand archway and tower, became a symbol of this ambition. Today, his wines are a pure expression of their exceptional terroir, especially those from the legendary To Kalon Vineyard that surrounds the estate.
Today we are going to review a wine that hardly requires any introduction, as this is one of the most famous wine labels from California‘s famous Napa Valley – The Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 2021 by Robert Mondavi Winery. Although the label only mentions the cabernet sauvignon grape variety, technically this wine is a harmonious blend of five grape varieties: cabernet sauvignon (83%), cabernet franc (11%), petit verdot (3%), merlot (2%) and malbec (1%), where cabernet sauvignon forms the wine’s main body and structure, cabernet franc builds a leaner midpalate and offers a more dynamic finish, petit verdot enhances the wine’s aromatic profile with delicate dusty and floral notes, merlot provides balance and offers aromatic depth and palate roundness, while malbec adds plushness and up-front richness.

Cabernet Sauvignon is grown all over the world in a wide range of climates and regions and it can produce wines that are very high in tannins and acidity, that can mature and develop for many years in the bottle. Cabernet Sauvignon is also a late ripening grape variety, which means that it is best suited for warm climates, where it is capable to produce wines that can reach into realms of perfection, where they are rarely followed.

The grapes are sourced predominantly from the world-renowned To Kalon vineyard, which is located on prime benchland in the Oakville District appellation. The To Kalon Vineyard – a name that translates from ancient Greek as ‘the highest beauty‘, sits on well-drained, gravelly, low-fertility soils that naturally limit vine vigor, forcing the roots deep  into the ground, thus concentrating flavor in the grapes. The 2021 growing season was excellent and mild. After some rains, the season remained dry. The weather was optimal at budbreak and through the summer heat into the harvest. A lower-than-average yield resulted in very small, but deeply concentrated grapes. In the cellar, the wine spent 23 days on the skins to highlight its varietal character. Each lot aged separately for 20 months in French oak barrels (100% new oak), with additional bottle ageing time before it was deemed ready for the market release.

Napa Valley, located in Northern California, is one of the world’s most prestigious wine regions, celebrated for its high-quality wines. The valley’s Mediterranean climate, characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters, is moderated by the cool marine air and fog funneled in from the San Pablo Bay, creating significant diurnal temperature variation that preserves acidity in the grape berries.  While Cabernet Sauvignon is the region’s flagship grape, producing bold, structured, and age-worthy reds, Napa Valley also excels with top-rated Chardonnay and Merlot.
Oakville AVA, situated in the heart of Napa Valley, is renowned for producing some of California’s most powerful and refined Cabernet Sauvignon wines. The area experiences warm, sunny days balanced by cooling evening breezes funneled through the valley, creating a wide diurnal shift that preserves acidity and supports slow, even ripening. Oakville’s soils are highly diverse, ranging from well-drained gravelly alluvium on the valley floor, to volcanic and sedimentary deposits along the benchlands, providing low fertility and excellent drainage that promote small, concentrated berries. This unique microclimate yields wines known for their depth, structure, purity of fruit, and long-term aging potential.

color: very deep & opaque ruby color
clarity: vibrant crimson shades at the rim

In the glass, this wine presents a very deep and opaque ruby color – a testament to its concentration and youth – with vibrant crimson shades shimmer at the rim, hinting at its underlying energy and depth.

intensity: pronounced & flamboyant
fruit character: ripe & overripe

The nose is immediately pronounced and oaky-flamboyant, with a ripe-to-overripe fruit character – a bold and inviting statement of its new world pedigree. The foreground is a dense tapestry of black fruits, with cassis, prune, blackberry, and wild black cherry mingling seamlessly with secondary notes from its time in oak: toasted oakwood, vanilla, coconut, cloves, and a hint of sweet tobacco. Subtle smoky undertones and a touch of eucalyptus add an intriguing lift. As the wine opens up, it reveals layers of spice, think star anise, peppercorn, and nutmeg, beautifully intertwined with earthy nuances of pencil lead, crushed granite, and charcoal – all underscored by an appealingly sweet hint of blackberry jam.

sweetness: dry | acidity: high | alcohol: high | tannin: high | balance: fine
finish: long | aftertaste: ample & crisp

The palate is a textbook expression of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, with a rich and multi-layered profile. The wine feels round and ample, showcasing a full body and a complex, impeccably structured mouthfeel. The wine feels dry, with a bright and vibrant acidity that cuts through the richness, keeping the experience fresh and dynamic. A well-integrated touch of alcoholic warmth adds depth and power without being overpowering. The tannins are grippy, yet fine-grained and ripe, coating the mouth and leading into a long, ample and crisp aftertaste that lingers with notes of dark fruit and sweet spice.

maturity: developing | drink now or within the next 3 to 5 years
verdict: excellent | a reference wine | a wine that can reach into the realm of perfection

All in all, this is a textbook, new world Cabernet Sauvignon blend – the epitome of a modern, terroir-driven Napa Valley wine. It masterfully combines the vibrant power of its fruit with the dusty, mineral elegance of the Oakville terroir. While the use of 100% new oak is generous, it is so well-integrated that it complements rather than overwhelms, adding layers of complexity and nuance. This is a wine that is still developing and, while enjoyable today, it possesses the structure to evolve beautifully over the next 3 to 5 years, gaining further aromatic sophistication.

Given its power and rich profile, this wine calls for a grilled ribeye steak with herb butter, where the wine’s fine-grained tannins will slice through the meat’s richness in a complementary fashion. For a more sophisticated pairing that would create culinary synergy, consider slow-braised lamb shanks with a rosemary and garlic reduction, where the savory notes of the lamb and herbs will resonate with the wine’s earthy undertones, while the wine’s bright acidity would provide a brilliant counterpoint to the richness of the dish, creating a deeply satisfying and memorable wine tasting experience. Cheers!
ROBERT MONDAVI | The Estates | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | 2021
variety: cabernet sauvignon | cabernet franc | petit verdot | merlot | malbec
country: USA
region: California | Napa Valley | Oakville
rating: 96.3

Robert Mondavi Winery was one of the first major wineries built in Napa Valley after Prohibition. The fruit for this wine comes primarily from the historic To Kalon Vineyard, which was first planted in 1868 and is widely considered one of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon sites in the world.

© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation. Cheers!