Drinking young — 3 months ago
a point 👌🏼 — 6 months ago
Medium pale ruby , wide garnet rim . This shows some development with porcini , sandalwood , bitumen , black tea and some sweet blackberry and red cherry . On the palate a bit more of the blackberry , cherry and sous bois , with herbal hints , quite rounded and juicy but with balanced acidity and still gritty tannin. Slightly warming alcohol , so would drink this a little on the cooler side . There is a liquorice and tar like tinge on the good length finish . This is drinking well now, though needs a bit of time in the glass, and will continue to show well over the next 5-10 years or so , perhaps longer . If not the most complex or structured Cascina Francia this makes up for it with its attractive , heart on sleeve personality, and is a great choice to open at the moment . This was still going the day after , bit more dark fruit on the nose and saline , mineral on the palate, still grippy tannins . — 8 months ago
Better on day 2 — 7 months ago
So for those who don’t know, this wine is a collaboration between one of the most famous California winemakers and one of the most famous Bordeaux wine makers (the grapes are from Napa).
The young expression when I first had it 10 years ago was big bold ripe fruit, probably the quintessential Napa cab.
The aged expression had more secondary and tertiary characteristics, terroir, and represented Baron Rothschild in respects of crafting a wine that could grow and develop and express the care that goes into winemaking as opposed to simply growing good fruit.
The young version of it perfectly expresses Mondavi and Napa. The aged version captures the elegance of Bordeaux winemaking and Rothschild’s fingerprints. You cannot fully experience this wine unless you’ve had it young and old. Unbelievable experience tonight. — 10 days ago
Holy wow! This wine was a unique and memorable experience. It was zinging out from the first glass over the next few hours it only deepened and became more substantial. Very ripe fruit but not aged. It retained vibrancy with complex earthy notes. Absolutely fantastic vintage. Top notch. — 6 months ago
Excellent, toasty notes, some green apple, balanced acidity... Lots of life left — 8 months ago
Sipping Fine Wine
Blend of Cab Sauv, Petit Verdot, & splash of Merlot; estate-owned vineyards Rutherford, Napa, St. Helena & Stag's Leap District. Just opened, 14 years in the bottle after couple of years in the barrel! Still tasting well, young & juicy, should easily last another decade, but nice now. Deep Ruby, dark fruits, spice, complex nose. Palate reflects juicy rich berry fruits, well structured harmonious wine. Fine soft rich tannins, long finish ending with fruit, tobacco and earthy tones. Wow! — 13 days ago