2019 Michael Mondavi 'Animo' Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Grab your Second Pour chance now - this gem is likely to be scooped up fast and there won't be a third pour...

“This site was once used as part of the blend for Opus One…” – Wine Advocate

And it’s UNDER $50 today? Say no more.

Mondavi! One of the most recognized names in wine, if not THE most. Not Robert, but his son, Michael. And he sure isn’t bringing any shame to the family name. Quite the opposite in fact.

With 94 points this serves up everything you crave in a premium Napa Cab - minus the high price.

Per Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate “Former Mondavi CEO Michael Mondavi has his own boutique operation on Atlas Peak. It includes 17 acres planted on a hillside elevation of approximately 1,600 feet in volcanic white tufa. This site was once used as part of the blend for Opus One, but it is owned by Mondavi, who produces between 700 and 1,000 cases.” So, Animo is a different story. With the scores, the pedigree, the vintage, and at a never-before-seen low price it will be gone soon.

Everything you want in Napa Cab. We always ask ourselves “will I be happy if I paid X for this” and the answer is a resounding YES! The world may be a mad place at times, but after a sip of Animo all is well and good, that's for sure.

This knockout with 95% Cabernet and 5% Merlot hails from Mondavis’ said Atlas Peak’s high-elevation site. 2019 was near perfect, and this is a serious showing - packed with creme de cassis, blackcurrant and red raspberry whips, roasted walnuts, and a little bit of that “soyaki” stuff from Trader Joe’s. A pronounced earthiness, with some kinds of dried mushrooms and fresh soil, comes into focus, too.

Super creamy, full-bodied, and soft, supple tannins that carry across the tongue with a lazy-river-like finish. It has a long shelf life ahead of it, and as Wine Enthusiast noted it's "an ideal one to stash away for future enjoyment". Assuming you have a good sense for delayed gratification...

End of the vintage, here today, gone tomorrow.

94 Points – Wine Enthusiast Saturated flavors of black cherries, black olives, dark chocolate and tobacco are wrapped in velvety, persistent tannins in this full-bodied wine. Considering its complexity and concentration, it's an ideal one to stash away for future enjoyment. Best from 2026-2036.