A very good introduction to Napa Valley cabernet for drinkers who are unfamiliar. This offers ripe, generous red and black fruit on a velvety texture of fine-grained tannins. Black cherries, dark plums and blackberries come up in the aroma and then go deeper on the palate. Contains 7% petit verdot, 8% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 1% malbec. Aged in all French barrels, 31% new, which add accents of cinnamon and cedar. Drink now or hold.
92 points, Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast (Jan 2025)
The 2022 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley was tasted with Kurtis Ogasawara, Director of Winemaking, who joined Mondavi in 2015 after previous roles at Newton and Chandon. A solid representation of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine sources fruit from St. Helena down to Carneros, with the bulk of the blend coming from the Wappo Hill property in Stags Leap. All five Bordeaux varieties are included in the blend. Fermentation begins with a cold soak in stainless steel, followed by 26 days on skins, and 18 months of ageing in 31% new French oak. The wine opens with powerful Kirsch aromatics, lifted by bright Bing cherry, warm baking spices, new wood cedar, and white pepper. It is plush and layered on the palate, with black-toned fruit and robust, lingering tannins that carry through a long finish of dark red and black fruit, warming spices, and mineral tension. A balanced expression of power and fruit-forward ripeness, this vintage showcases both depth and structure, making for a bold yet polished Napa Cabernet.
92 points, Jonathan Cristaldi, Decanter (Feb 2025)
Mondavi's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa spans five Bordeaux varieties and several AVAs, with the largest components coming from Stags Leap District and Oakville. Aged in French oak (38% new) for 18 months, it's excellent entry-level stuff, boasting gentle black cherries, loam and cinnamon notes. Full-bodied, it's soft and supple, almost suede-like in feel, with some mocha and dark chocolate notes on the slightly warm finish. Enjoy it on the young side over the next several years.
90 points, Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate (Oct 2025)