# Private Selection Bourbon Barrel-Aged Cabernet Sauvignon (2023)

- **Producer:** Robert Mondavi Private Selection
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Malbec, Petit Verdot
- **Region:** California, United States
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Average price:** €14
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 15–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, plum, blackberry, blackcurrant, vanilla, chocolate, coffee, smoke, tobacco, cedar, leather

## About this wine

Robert Mondavi Private Selection was established to bring high-quality, innovative, and approachable California wines to a broader audience. This bottling represents a creative twist on California's winemaking heritage by marrying it with America's rich whiskey-aging traditions. Sourced from cool-climate coastal vineyards across California, the wine benefits from maritime influences that allow for slow, steady ripening. The 2023 vintage experienced one of the longest and coolest growing seasons in over a decade, resulting in excellent flavor concentration and structural balance.

## Interesting facts

- This wine flips tradition by aging classic California Cabernet Sauvignon in charred Kentucky bourbon barrels.
- The 2023 vintage experienced one of California's longest and coolest growing seasons in over a decade.
- It was awarded 90 Points and Best of Class at the 2025 Los Angeles Invitational Wine & Spirits Challenge.

## Food pairing

This bold, full-bodied wine pairs exceptionally well with rich, smoky, and caramelized flavors. The charred oak and bourbon barrel influence complement grilled and smoked meats, while the wine's structured tannins cut through the fat of rich cheeses and marbled steaks. The subtle residual sweetness and vanilla notes also make a surprising but successful match for dark chocolate desserts.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process begins with harvesting grapes at peak ripeness. Individual grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Malbec, and Petit Verdot, are fermented separately in temperature-controlled vessels to preserve their distinct characteristics. After fermentation, the components are blended. A portion of the final blend is then aged for 10 months in a combination of new oak barrels and used bourbon barrels sourced from a renowned Kentucky distillery, imparting unique spirit-barrel nuances to the finished wine.