Bright medium ruby. Very dark aromas of blackberry, cassis and licorice lifted by a violet element. Then juicy but quite tight on the palate, showing less sweetness than the 2007. A distinctly vertical, linear wine today; will it round out in barrel? Best today on the long, gripping finish, where the tannins are nicely ripe. The top cabernet lots got a maceration of up to 40 days in 2008, according to head winemaker Janssens.

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The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a big wine loaded with black fruit, cedar, licorice, grilled herbs and tar. Layers of flavor build effortlessly to the muscular, virile finish. Despite its size, the 2008 Reserve maintains elements of classicism that serve to balance some of the wine's more extroverted leanings. The wine impresses for its depth, expressive inner perfume and beautifully integrated tannins. It is a showstopper from Mondavi. The 2008 Reserve is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot.

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Rich, supple and graceful, with firm tannins supporting ripe plum, currant, blackberry and spice. Full-bodied, but not heavy or dense. Pleasantly complex and engaging.

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Drank alongside a 1980 Mondavi Napa. Interesting contrast... Nose of berries and mulling spices. Firm tannins and great flavors of plum and spice and currant. Complex but also just bright and fun to drink. I love this wine, although my wife was a little less impressed and thought it fairly simple.