2021 Robert Mondavi 'The Reserve' To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

...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.

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.