By Michael Mondavi Family Estate
Animo 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage Notes
The 2021 vintage will be remembered for low yields, intensely flavored, small-sized berries, and a smooth, uneventful harvest season. The season started with very little rain, leading to the second 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 31st. While concerning in the long term, the 2021 drought resulted in a more natural load on the vines, requiring less pruning and fruit drop. The resulting grapes are packed full of flavor. Winemakers across the valley are excited about the prospects for the 2021s, and it is likely that lower yields per vine and smaller berry size will result in another amazing vintage from Napa Valley.

Winemaking Notes
The grapes arrived at the winery early in the morning and were gently transferred into our Pellenc de-stemmer, 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 before commencing fermentation. Pressing 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.

Technical Details
Blend: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot
Aging: 21 months in French oak (50% new, 50% neutral)
TA: 5.50 g/L
pH: 3.64

Tasting Notes
A brilliant, deep ruby color matches the abundant aromas of blueberries 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 aging potential.
[Information provided by Folio Fine Wine Partners]

Wine: Michael Mondavi Family Estate 2021 Animo Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)
Score/Rating: 96 - Cellar Selection
Suggested Drinking Window: 2025 - 2035
Review Date: 04/01/2024
Reviewed By: Jim Gordon
Tasting Notes: 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.

Wine: 2021 Michael Mondavi Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Animo
Score/Rating: 94
Suggested Drinking Window: 2029 - 2040
Review Date: 03/31/2025
Reviewed By: Jeb Dunnuck
Tasting Notes: 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 [...] Cabernet Sauvignon and [...] 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.

Wine: Michael Mondavi Family Estate, Animo Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA 2021
Score/Rating: 93
Suggested Drinking Window: 2025 - 2035
Review Date: 05/12/2024
Reviewed By: Jonathan Cristaldi
Tasting Notes: 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 [...] Cabernet Sauvignon with [...] Merlot, which was aged [...] in [...] 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. [...].

Wine: 2021 Michael Mondavi Animo Cabernet Sauvignon
Score/Rating: 93
Suggested Drinking Window: 2024 - 2042
Review Date: 12/21/2023
Reviewed By: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Tasting Notes: 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.

Wine: [...] Michael Mondavi Family Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Amino 2021
Score/Rating: 92
Review Date: 09/19/2024
Reviewed By: James Suckling
Tasting Notes: Deeply scented and brooding aromas of mulberries, dark chocolate and cedar. The palate is densely structured with firmly integrated tannins and acidity, showing notes of blackcurrants, tobacco leaves and earth. Will benefit from time in the bottle to soften the tannins. Drink or hold.

Wine: 2021 Michael Mondavi Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Animo
Score/Rating: 91
Suggested Drinking Window: 2024 - 2035
Review Date: 01/31/2024
Reviewed By: Joe Czerwinski
Tasting Notes: 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.