2013 Robert Mondavi Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy December!  I can't believe how fast this year has gone, but here we are rapidly approaching the holidays, so why not pause for a nice glass of wine?  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle that I picked up at my local wine store a month or two ago, the 2013 Robert Mondavi Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (81%), Cabernet Franc (13%), Malbec (2%), Petit Verdot (2%) and Merlot (2%) to balance things out.  So let's see what she has to offer!

The wine has that classic Cabernet look, deep inky black at the center and bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of leather, oak, tobacco and dusty gravel, with just a hint of black fruit.  The taste is just a classic, high-quality Napa Cabernet, with a bit of black fruit up front, blackberry and a bit of cherry, that transition nicely to some earthy notes midpalate.  The tannins are robust, giving rise to the long, smooth and extremely dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's really quite exceptional and was a terrific value (if I recall correctly, this one was under $30!).  This would be a perfect wine for a big steak dinner (which happens a lot around here), but tonight I'm actually enjoying this with a pizza topped with sausage and fire roasted veggies.  Cheers!