2018 Michael Mondavi - Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Animo (750ml)

Michael Mondavi Family Estate was founded by Michael Mondavi, son of Robert Mondavi, who set out to build a vineyard legacy of his own on a rugged, Manzanita-dotted parcel high on Atlas Peak in the Vaca Mountains. As the family surveyed the rocky site, Michael's daughter Dina remarked that it had "animo," an Italian word meaning heart or spirit, and the name stuck. Purchased and planted in 1999, the fifteen-acre Animo vineyard has become the cornerstone of the family's Napa Valley holdings, farmed with the belief that certain sites carry a rare, unmistakable character worth pursuing.

The vineyard sits on stony, volcanic tufa soil streaked with iron, at an elevation between 1,270 and 1,350 feet overlooking Oakville. The 2018 vintage blends ninety-five percent Cabernet Sauvignon, largely Clone Four grafted onto 110R rootstock, with five percent Merlot. High elevation extends the growing season well into October, requiring multiple picking passes to capture each block at its peak. The wine then ages twenty months in French oak, split evenly between new and neutral barrels.

Aromas of rich dark fruit, rose stems, and earthy forest floor lead into flavors of black cassis, black cherry, and cocoa powder, framed by fine-grained, plush tannins and a long, supple finish. It pairs beautifully with prime rib, grilled lamb rack, or a rich wild boar ragù.