My Fellow Inebriates,
I hope you don’t think I was being overly critical of ROBERT MONDAVI PRIVATE SELECTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON (2010) in Thursday’s post. I certainly didn’t mean to imply it wouldn’t be enjoyable with dinner—just not with certain dishes such as pork, chicken, or human.
That said, this Mondavi offering isn’t as heavy as many Cabernet Sauvignons out there. It weighs in with rich blackberries, cassis, and smooth oak while being tannic enough to support a heavy meal such as beef bourguignon or tourtière. But it doesn’t have that extreme saliva-drying aridity that characterizes some Cabs. If anything it finds a good balance between fruitiness and dryness—well structured and well behaved.
Those of you who share my liquids-only predilection won’t be disappointed either. With its wealth of fruit and lingering finish, this wine is lovely on its own. It just doesn’t fit the bill if you’re a cannibal enjoying your favorite cuisine.
If you are a cannibal, your local liquor store may not necessarily help you find the right wine. But my dad’s going to the government liquor store tonight, so I’ll ask him to keep his eyes peeled for a shelf talker 😉
Liquorstore Bear 
Drinking it right now. It’s definitely light with a little spice. Berry taste is there … Tastes like a poorer version of Robert mondarvi napa valley cab sav. I prefer Chilean wines usually … Packs a heavier punch thanks to the higher alcohol content and more robust tannins. Still, not a bad dinner wine, enjoying it.
Thanks for reading. Yes, there are definitely better Mondavi wines out there. Mondavi is pretty masterful at providing the full price and taste range, but at the lower end it’s just as much of a crap shoot as always.
I agree, Chile has been bringing me luck lately and also Spain with a lot of nice vintages at good prices. If you like a more robust wine, there’s a great Spanish one I’ve been meaning to review called LAYA GANACHA TINTORERA/MONASTRELL (2010). Really good buy.