"Odedi"

9.3

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

There are always exceptions to the rule! Usually known as a Cabernet Sauvignon based blend, but this vintage is Merlot based.

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Strong nose of black currants, blackberries, plums, light cedar, earth, herbs, chocolates, black pepper and tobacco leaf.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, blackberries, black currants, cherries, light oak, spices, chocolates, herbs, coffee, licorice, tobacco leaf, peppercorn, earth and black tea.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Merlot based blend from Bordeaux. Elegant and nicely balanced. Complex and engaging. Rich and powerful, but not extracted.

This 8 year old First Growth Bordeaux is starting to drink nicely, but feels very young and closed. Needs 5 years in the bottle to mature properly, but already very complex and delicious by itself. Will continue to age nicely in the 25 years.

Showing good structure and quality, fruit-forward, elegant, and soft. Evolved beautifully in the glass, and gained depth and complexity as it opened up.

I had its brother/cousin, château Mission Haut-Brion, recently and it is not as earthy as the Mission was.

Tasting these kind of wines at this early stage, is always hard, but someone's got to do it.

A great sipping wine, that will also pair nicely with food.

A blend of 53% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc. Aged in (70% new) French oak barrels for 18 months.

14% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$550. — 13 days ago

K

9.5

Floral, semi dry, low acidic — 6 months ago

Chris Buggy

9.1

Raspberry, blackberry, currant, big thick mouthfeel, long finish, tannins for days, but put together…you need something big to eat with this one, and luckily I had just the thing-pigs foot stuffed with sweetbread and foie gras — 4 months ago

with Jennifer

Alexandre Pagliano

9.4

Dark rubi robe, nose of cedar, dark cherries and asian spices. Medium bodied, oh so elegant tannins, notes of tobacco, berries and anise. Very long, very elegant. This is probably as good as it gets in terms of elegance and complexity in Rive Gauche Bordeaux other than first growths, and not by much. Enthusiastically recommended. — 4 days ago

with Jamie, Jose and 2 others

Jan de Weerd

9.4

Nuanced red. Nothing bold, nothing angular, nothing out of place. Balanced, intriguing dark wild berry flavors expressing slowly and carefully. Whispers of earth, and forest floor. Great wine to sit down and savor. But that is hard to do when there are two other people savoring that same wine and it just ‘poof’ disappears. — 24 days ago

with RoAnne and Tammy

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2016 vintage. Owned by the Tereygeol family since 1959, Pontoise Cabarrus stands for great value Haut-Médoc. The vineyards (27 hectares) are quite old ( 25 to 50 years, with the oldest vines planted in 1956). In 2016 the "grand vin" represents only 35% of the production. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates with 55%, blended with 43% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. It smells older than it tastes. Fully mature, with a round mouthfeel and good length. A reliable Cru Bourgeois Supérieur and very good value for money. Abv. 14%. — 4 months ago

Dave

9.0

Any of you ever had this? I've never had a bottle from this producer. The nose screamed Sangiovese at me! But it does taste like Bordeaux. Fruity, a little bitter, but doing well at 10 years. I think it's peaked.
Listening to Wilco. — 7 months ago

Ericsson

9.4

So underrated and punching way above its weight class. Bit more delicate and pure than your high end Boudreaux. Perfect for seaside dinners. Great vintage too. — 12 days ago

Dave

9.3

The nose on this is stunning. Big and black fruit with a dollop of tar. The pallete follows the nose with blackberries, plum, dusty rock, and dark soil. An enjoyable balance of fruit and earth. Steak wine! This is excellent.
Listening to The Lone Bellow — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This 96 Citran seriously over delivers @Cole’s Chop House Napa. Bought this 8 months or so ago for $39.99 at K&L. Clyde has brought in another grand slam value -golden gem.

Previous notes apply. Nearly 94 with the Cowboy Bone-in Ribeye. The Cowboy is their best steak and the only one I order.

I am mostly disappointed in most steakhouse recommendations or read, not Cole’s. — 5 months ago