1969 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Elegant and stylish, with pretty currant and spice flavors. Still showing ample oak and tannin. (JL)

The 1969 Cabernet Sauvignon from Robert Mondavi continues to drink beautifully at fifty-four years of age and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The refined and still quite vibrant bouquet offers up scents of black cherries, cigar wrapper, a touch of petroleum jelly, brown spices, fresh sage, a dollop of dried eucalyptus and lovely upper register smokiness. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and still has lovely depth at the core, nice soil undertow, melted tannins and a long, bright, focused and seamlessly balanced finish that closes with impressive lift and grip. This does not hit quite the level one would expect from one of the old Mondavi Reserve cabernets, but it has aged beautifully and remains a lovely glass of suave, fully mature cabernet sauvignon at more than a half century of age!