Robert Mondavi Winery ‘The Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon, To Kalon Vineyard, Oakville, Napa Valley, California 2017
Robert Mondavi’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from To Kalon is the pinnacle of the estate’s Bordeaux-style lineup, combining site specificity, barrel selection, and age-worthy structure. The 2017 vintage illustrates how Mondavi’s Reserve program navigates tougher conditions to preserve freshness and depth within Napa’s landmark soils.
- WINEMAKER: Geneviève Janssens (Director of Winemaking)
- FARMING: The fruit is sourced exclusively from estate vineyard blocks within To Kalon, managed under Mondavi’s sustainable and organic-informed practices. Yields are rigorously controlled, and vineyard lots are hand-harvested and sorted for quality.
- VARIETY: Dominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, with smaller proportions of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc (in keeping with the estate’s traditional blend for the Reserve bottling).
- TERROIR: Fruit comes from the gravelly, well-draining loam soils of the To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville. The vineyard benches experience cooling afternoon breezes and significant diurnal shifts, which help moderate ripening and enhance aromatic retention.
- VINIFICATION: After hand harvest and cluster sorting, the grapes undergo cold-soak and then ferment in small stainless steel and oak-lined fermenters. Extraction is managed via gentle punchdowns and pump-overs to balance color and tannin intensity. Native yeasts drive fermentation, and on-skin maceration is extended post-fermentation to soften structure. Malolactic fermentation occurs in barrel.
- AGING: The 2017 Reserve was matured for roughly 20 months in French oak barriques, a significant portion of which are new. After barrel maturation, the lots were blended and allowed additional barrel integration before bottling.
- TASTING NOTES: In reviews, the 2017 Reserve is praised for concentrated red and black currant fruit, touches of dried herb, spice, and forest floor. Tannins are fine-grained and persistent, underpinned by driving acidity and a focused finish. Wine Enthusiast rates it at 93, noting its structure and potential for aging. Wine Enthusiast
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Best with dry-aged beef, game meats, lamb, grilled ribeye, or dishes with bold sauces (mushroom, red wine reduction).
- SCORES: 93 points — Wine Enthusiast (Buying Guide)
Robert Mondavi Winery ‘The Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon, To Kalon Vineyard, Oakville, Napa Valley, California 2017
Robert Mondavi’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from To Kalon is the pinnacle of the estate’s Bordeaux-style lineup, combining site specificity, barrel selection, and age-worthy structure. The 2017 vintage illustrates how Mondavi’s Reserve program navigates tougher conditions to preserve freshness and depth within Napa’s landmark soils.
- WINEMAKER: Geneviève Janssens (Director of Winemaking)
- FARMING: The fruit is sourced exclusively from estate vineyard blocks within To Kalon, managed under Mondavi’s sustainable and organic-informed practices. Yields are rigorously controlled, and vineyard lots are hand-harvested and sorted for quality.
- VARIETY: Dominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, with smaller proportions of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc (in keeping with the estate’s traditional blend for the Reserve bottling).
- TERROIR: Fruit comes from the gravelly, well-draining loam soils of the To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville. The vineyard benches experience cooling afternoon breezes and significant diurnal shifts, which help moderate ripening and enhance aromatic retention.
- VINIFICATION: After hand harvest and cluster sorting, the grapes undergo cold-soak and then ferment in small stainless steel and oak-lined fermenters. Extraction is managed via gentle punchdowns and pump-overs to balance color and tannin intensity. Native yeasts drive fermentation, and on-skin maceration is extended post-fermentation to soften structure. Malolactic fermentation occurs in barrel.
- AGING: The 2017 Reserve was matured for roughly 20 months in French oak barriques, a significant portion of which are new. After barrel maturation, the lots were blended and allowed additional barrel integration before bottling.
- TASTING NOTES: In reviews, the 2017 Reserve is praised for concentrated red and black currant fruit, touches of dried herb, spice, and forest floor. Tannins are fine-grained and persistent, underpinned by driving acidity and a focused finish. Wine Enthusiast rates it at 93, noting its structure and potential for aging. Wine Enthusiast
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Best with dry-aged beef, game meats, lamb, grilled ribeye, or dishes with bold sauces (mushroom, red wine reduction).
- SCORES: 93 points — Wine Enthusiast (Buying Guide)