Michael Mondavi Family Estate Animo Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
(Napa Valley, California) - [WE 96] [JD 94] [DM 93] [TWI 93] [WA 91]

About the Wine: 
Animo is the Italian word for "soul." In the family's experience, only certain vineyards possess this indescribable spirit that enables the creation of exceptional wines. The family selected the vineyards for Animo wines for their quality attributes and profound soul.

Tasting Notes:
A brilliant, deep ruby color matches the abundant aromas of blue and blackberries, red currant, and hints of minerality reminiscent of flint, soil, and menthol. On the palate, the 2021 Animo Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh with layered flavors of huckleberry and raspberry accentuated by notes of pink peppercorn and toasted oak on the lengthy finish. Youthful yet well-balanced and complex, this wine has great potential for aging.

Vintage Notes:
The 2021 vintage will be remembered for low yields with intensely-flavored, small-sized berries and a smooth and uneventful harvest season. The season started off with very little rain, leading to the 2nd year of drought conditions in Napa Valley, Harvest began early with white wine grapes picked on July 30th and red wine grapes beginning on August 31. While concerning in the long term, the drought of 2021 resulted in a more natural load on the vines, requiring less pruning and dropping of fruit. The resulting grapes are packed full of flavor. Winemakers across the valley are excited about the prospects of the 2021s and it is likely the smaller yields per vine and smaller berry size will result in another amazing vintage from Napa Valley.

Winemaking Notes:
The grapes came into the winery early in the morning and were gently transferred into our Pellenc de-stemmer, known as one of the most precise and gentle tools in the winemaking process. The berries were then transferred into small tanks and allowed to rest for one day prior to commencing with fermentation. Press began and we opted for a short maceration time since the small, mountain berries naturally provide ample intensity of color, tannins, and texture. The wine was then transferred to French oak barrels allowing the classic warmth of barrel aging to ensue.

Blend: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot

Ratings & Reviews

96 Points & Cellar Selection - Wine Enthusiast:
"This big, complex, aromatic and concentrated wine has tons going for it. Alluring cedar shavings, graphite, cinnamon and cocoa fill the aroma while lush, deep blueberries, black cherries and dark chocolate fill the mouth with richness. Fine-grained tannins add great textural support without any astringency. Best from 2025–2035." - Jim Gordon (Mar 2024)

94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck: 
"Awesome levels of darker blue and black fruits, scorched earth, graphite, tobacco, and crushed stone all emerge from the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Animo. Based on 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot, it's full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, with a dense, mouth-filling texture and a balanced style. This serious effort will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 15+ years." (Mar 2025)

93 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"The Animo Vineyard is planted to 6ha of Cabernet Sauvignon vines on rocky, volcanic soils with red streaks of iron between 387 and 411m on Atlas Peak. Animo is the Italian word for 'soul'. The winemakers are Sabrina Massola and Rob Mondavi, Jr., and together, they have blended 77% Cabernet Sauvignon with 23% Merlot, which was aged up to 22 months in 40% new French oak. Deep ruby colour with impressive density and palate-arresting compact, fine-grained tannins layered with intensely chalky minerality. After a few seconds, those powerful Atlas Peak tannins give way to a rush of juicy, crunchy blackberry and black cherry fruits and warm baking spice notes. Quite a powerful and robust wine. Best from 2025." -Jonathan Cristaldi (May 2024)

93 Points - The Wine Independent:
"The 2021 Animo Cabernet Sauvignon, with 25% Merlot in the blend, is deep garnet-purple in color. Notes of blackberry preserves, warm cassis, and black cherry compote spill from the glass, giving way to wafts of violets and underbrush. The full-bodied palate is chock full of ripe black fruits, with an approachable, grainy backbone and bags of freshness, finishing with a menthol lift." – LPB (Dec 2023)

91 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Animo offers up attractive scents of black cherries, vanilla, dried spices and some hints of cedar. It's medium to full-bodied, velvety and balanced, reasonably concentrated without being massive or off-putting, then adds mocha and cedar notes on the finish." - Joe Czerwinski (Jan 2024)