Continuing with my cellar reduction program I opened a couple of
cabernets from a couple ofmy favorite Napa producers during the 90's.
Chateau Montelena and Robert Mondavi. While 1996 was not my favorite
vintage from Napa in the 90's, it was a good year for producing
structured and long lived cabernets. I decanted both wines an hour
before pouring.
1996 Chateau Montelena Estate Napa Cabernet-Still inky black showing
virtually no age in the glass. Nose of cassis, blackberry, black
pepper, mint and espresso. Medium weight on the palate with firm
powerful tannins. The wine was muscular as Montelena often is and had
a lot of similarities to Pauillac. Plenty of lead pencil, anise,
cassis and a loamy eathy note. Still quite young, this wine will last
easily another 10-15 years if not longer. "A-"

1996 Robert Mondavi Reserve Napa Cabernet-Dark reddish with a bit of
brick at the edge. The Mondavi was showing a touch more age than the
Montelena with more mature aromas of leather and cedar but
predominantly plum, currants and Napa dust. Very smooth and rich on
the palate with red and black fruits, quite complex and plush with
soft resolved tannins. A bit more complexity than the Montelena at
this point. "A-"

These wines are really interesting to compare as they are variations
on a theme. Hard to pick a winner.