On May 24, 11:48*am, "Bi!!" > wrote:
> 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.

Sounds great. One of our friends with an enormous Italian Cellar is
going to do a reduction party this weekend. He is keeping it close to
the vest.