Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 is a full-bodied, 15.5% ABV Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon in a standard 750ml bottle. Awarded 96 points by Wine Spectator and 94 points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, this vintage draws 91% of its fruit from the legendary To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville—one of the most celebrated vineyard sites in the world.

Quick Facts: ABV: 15.5%  |  Origin: Oakville, Napa Valley, California  |  Vintage: 2006  |  Winery: Robert Mondavi Winery

Production & Heritage

Robert Mondavi founded his namesake winery in Oakville in 1966, and the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon has long served as the estate's flagship bottling. The 2006 vintage is composed of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, with the overwhelming majority of fruit sourced from To Kalon Vineyard—a site originally planted in 1868 and widely regarded as one of Napa Valley's first-growth-caliber parcels. The wine spent 18 months aging in 100% new French oak barrels, building the structural framework and fine-grained cedar character that define the Reserve program.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark purple in the glass, the nose opens with violets and ripe black currant before revealing layers of lead pencil shavings, subtle oak spice, and dried herbs. Extended time in the glass coaxes out deeper notes of loamy earth and a faint mintiness.

Taste: The entry is full-bodied and creamy-textured, with concentrated blackberry and currant flavors building steadily through the mid-palate. Anise and bay leaf accents emerge alongside a dusty, loamy earthiness, while the multilayered mouthfeel carries remarkable purity and depth. The 5% Cabernet Franc contributes a lifted floral quality that prevents the wine from feeling heavy despite its generous concentration.

Finish: Firm, chalky tannins clamp down on the close, providing serious grip and extended structure. Cedar, black currant, and a subtle mint note linger as the wine slowly resolves, suggesting this vintage still has years of development ahead with proper cellaring.

How to Drink Mondavi Reserve 2006

Decanting for 60 to 90 minutes is strongly recommended to allow the tight tannins to soften and the wine's complex aromatics to fully emerge. Serve at 62–65°F in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass. This is a library-age Napa Cabernet built for the dinner table: grilled bone-in ribeye lets the wine's tannic structure cut through richness and fat. Braised lamb shanks with rosemary echo the herbal and earthy undertones in the mid-palate. A platter of aged Comté or Gruyère draws out the cedar and spice notes on the finish, making it an excellent pairing for a cheese course.

Best For

• Gifting a serious Napa Valley wine collector seeking library vintages
• Anchoring a vertical tasting of Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
• Pairing with a celebratory steak or special-occasion dinner
• Adding mature, cellar-aged depth to a Cabernet-focused collection

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Mondavi Reserve 2006 taste like? The wine delivers concentrated black currant, blackberry, and anise flavors layered over a foundation of dusty earth and cedar, all framed by firm, chalky tannins. It is full-bodied with a creamy texture and notable purity throughout the palate.

How does Mondavi Reserve 2006 compare to Opus One? Both wines draw heavily from the To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville and share a Bordeaux-blend philosophy, though the Mondavi Reserve leans more heavily on Cabernet Sauvignon at 95% of the blend and tends to be more structured and tannic in youth. Opus One typically commands a higher price point—roughly $145 to $230 for the 2006 vintage versus $100 to $140 for the Mondavi Reserve—while the Reserve has historically scored competitively, earning 96 points from Wine Spectator for this vintage.

Is Mondavi Reserve 2006 good for sipping on its own? Absolutely—this is a contemplative wine designed for focused drinking, and at nearly two decades of age it rewards careful attention with evolving layers of fruit, earth, and spice. A long decant before serving will significantly improve the experience.

Where is Mondavi Reserve 2006 made? The wine is produced at the Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville, Napa Valley, California, with 91% of the grapes sourced from the estate's celebrated To Kalon Vineyard—a site originally planted in 1868 in the heart of the Oakville appellation.

What foods pair well with Mondavi Reserve 2006? Grilled ribeye steak stands up to the wine's firm tannins and mirrors its richness. Braised short ribs with root vegetables complement the earthy, savory mid-palate. Roasted rack of lamb with herbs plays off the wine's bay leaf and mint accents. Aged hard cheeses like Comté or aged cheddar highlight the cedar and spice notes. Dark chocolate with a cacao content of 70% or higher echoes the wine's deep fruit concentration without overwhelming its structure.

What sizes does Mondavi Reserve 2006 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most commonly available format for this vintage.

Is Mondavi Reserve 2006 worth the price? The Mondavi Reserve positions as a premium Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that competes directly with wines at significantly higher price tiers, including Opus One. A 96-point score from Wine Spectator and its To Kalon Vineyard sourcing place it among the strongest values in the world of top-shelf Oakville Cabernet.

Why Mondavi Reserve 2006?

The single most important fact about this wine is provenance: 91% of the blend comes from To Kalon Vineyard, a site that has produced some of the most acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignons in California's history. The 96-point Wine Spectator score validates the quality of the 2006 growing season and the precision of the winemaking. Eighteen months in 100% new French oak gave the wine its structural skeleton, while the natural concentration from To Kalon fruit ensures it has the depth to evolve gracefully over decades. For collectors and serious drinkers, this is Napa Valley Cabernet at its most site-specific and age-worthy.