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.