1974 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
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Tasting notes
(13.6% alcohol; spent 30 months in barrel; 25% new oak): Medium red. Sexy ripe aromas of plum, prune and dates are accented by cedar, eucalyptus and caraway seed. At once penetrating and suave on the palate, conveying a fine-grained texture and terrific energy for a 42-year-old Cabernet. Finishes with perfectly integrated, ripe tannins and lovely length and verve. Very sexy juice with considerable class. It strikes me that a bottle of this wine could not possibly cause a hangover.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Very dark healthy crimson. Gorgeous coffee plus rich sweet fruit. Just lovely balance! So sweet and gorgeous. Complete. Any bordeaux would be so proud to taste like this! Neat – not massive but utterly seductive. Not much further to go. (JR)
Last Tasted 6/94 A consistent star of the vintage, this fully mature wine exhibits no sign of losing its fruit. The color is saturated dark plum/garnet with slight amber at the edge. The bouquet has always been ostentatious, with pungent aromas of cassis, pepper, herbs, licorice, cedar, and Asian spices. Full-bodied and superbly balanced, with that layered, expansive richness found in top, highly extracted wines, the acidity is low but sound, and the tannin has nearly melted away. This stunning, opulent, complex California Cabernet Sauvignon should continue to drink well for another decade or more.
About the producer
Robert Mondavi is a name known the world over. The ambitious businessman created his eponymous winery in 1966 to produce world-class wines in Napa, pioneering quality winemaking and becoming a champion for the region.