Having founded his namesake winery in 1966 with the aim of creating world-class Napa Valley wines, Robert Mondavi is considered by many as one of the most important figures in American wine. The 1997 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a deeply concentrated and sumptuously textured release with classical notes of cassis, cedar, liquorice, smoke and bay leaf. Though requiring some time in a decanter to truly open up, this is a wonderful wine approaching its apogee.