Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District 2009 750ml

Mid-October rains made 2009 a test of patience in Napa Valley, and producers who waited out the storms were rewarded with balanced, perfumed Cabernet. Robert Mondavi Winery, the Oakville pioneer that helped define modern Napa wine, sources this bottling from the Stags Leap District, a small appellation along the Silverado Trail noted for cooling afternoon breezes and velvety tannins. Look for blackberry, black cherry and cassis layered with cocoa, sage and cedar, with the supple, polished texture typical of the district. Now about 15 years past the vintage, it is in a lovely mature phase; drink over the next three to five years.