"Odedi"

9.3

It's time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!


Dark Inky in color with a reddish/ purplish rim.

Fruity nose of black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, light dried fruits, cedar, light vanilla, herbs, licorice, spices, dark chocolates and light cola notes.

Full bodied and elegant, with medium acidity.

Dry and fruity on the palate with plums, black cherries, black currants, bitter herbs, earth, chocolates, cedar, eucalyptus, tobacco leaf, peppercorn and light vegetables.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a wonderful Merlot from Columbia Valley. Soft and fruit forward. Rich and nicely balanced.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 90 minutes of air time.

This 8 year old Merlot is complex and spicy. Really enjoyed the nose at this point, and the high alcohol is well integrated by now.

Easy drinking and a good sipping wine. Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

I had this vintage a few times before, and it is always delicious. I just love Michel Rolland wines.

A blend of 75% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged for 22 months in French oak barrels (85% new).

14.9% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$75. — 25 days ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.5

Medium dark rubi robe, nose of dark cherries, violets and spices, lots of crushed flowers and spices on the mouth, long and structured, complex, deceivingly accessible, this is serious stuff and one of the best vintages of the Drouhin Petits Monts we have tasted in years, which is high praise considering how many great vintages we tasted. — 2 years ago

with Adriana

Bob Pratt

9.2

Very balanced, drinking beautifully right now. Ripe plum, black cherry, blueberry, a hint of tobacco. This 2010 vintage deserves its praise. Back in the US after 11 years in China, liberating the wines that have been waiting for me. — 4 years ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.3

Everything about this wine screams uncool in our industry in the present era: high alcohol (14%), heavy extraction, generous use of new oak (presumably), ripe + chewy tannins, flavors that shout rather than whisper and high praise from Robert Parker (cue Elaine or Carlton Banks’ dance moves). Maybe it’s my 90’s nostalgia or maybe I’ve been drinking too much vintage port these days 🤷🏻‍♀️ but it all works beautifully here: intense aromas of licorice, pepper, cedar, black plum, wet tar, dried tobacco, cranberries, cassis, dried violets. And this is only the beginning... A blast of macerated red and black berries on the palate, held together by a solid acid backbone, followed by a long finish laced with black olive, dried tobacco, mocha and mineral. Hedonistic. Three cheers for Alicante Bouschet! — 4 years ago

Devin Brown

8.9

The description: Deep ruby colour, with purple shadows. The bouquet shows rose, delicate red fruits similar to currant and raspberry, pepper, clove and accents of brush. Medium-bodied, in the mouth is velvety, with hints of cherry, blueberry and licorice, with fresh and energetic tannins.
The opinion: Agee with description, and it’s an excellent wine. — a month ago

Matt

9.7

Ah, "Terras Gauda Rías Baixas Albariño'-a veritable jewel from the spectacular landscapes of Spain's Galicia, specifically the picturesque Rías Baixas DO, where the Atlantic whispers sweet nothings to the vines. This splendid Albariño unveils a bouquet of zesty lemon, fragrant white flowers, and a hint of sea breeze, tantalising the senses like a playful flirtation. The producer, Bodegas Terras Gauda, founded by the illustrious Ramón V. de Garay, is famed for its commitment to sustainable practices. Fun fact: they pioneered the use of genetic research in their vineyards-a cleverer endeavor than my attempts at crossword puzzles! Albariño, that beguiling grape, is renowned for its bright acidity and versatility; a wonderful partner in crime for seafood, particularly oysters, as the minerality complements their briny sweetness. It also loves the spicy embrace of Asian cuisine, where its zesty notes dance playfully. This delightful nectar has garnered praise, earning a commendable 90 points from Wine Enthusiast. Truly, it's one to uncap whilst contemplating life or... other intimate matters far too risqué for polite company! — 2 months ago

"Odedi"

9.3

This is a delicious Bordeaux blend from Columbia Valley in Washington State.

Very dark in color, and looks very young.

Full-bodied, smooth and bold, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, raisins, dried figs, vanilla, cedar, licorice, cola, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, spices, earth and coffee.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This 8 year old is peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.

Smooth and elegant. Rich and extracted, with a great mouth feel.

Good by itself or with food. A great wine to sip on and talk about.

Robert Parker 94 points.

Needs 3 hours to open up properly, but good right out of the bottle as well.

I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

A blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Petit Verdot, 17% Merlot, 7% Cab Franc and a splash of Malbec. Winemaker is Philippe Melka.

15.4% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$65 (current vintage). — 2 years ago

Victor Hsu

9.0

A good, solid California Cab but what’s all the fuss about? I’m seeing ratings of 98, 99, even 100 from JS. Really? No way. This is a clear case of praise crossing over into hype. Granted, still a bit young and not at its peak but after five years in the bottle and an hour of decanting it needs to be more than just fine if it wants to justify stratospheric scores. This wine compares unfavorably to Ridge Monte Bello, Stags Leap Cask 23 and other peers. It lacked sophistication and poise—where’s the promised minerality, graphite, cedar shavings, oak, leather, blackcurrant, cherry, and complex balance of fine grained tannins, fruit, acid and alcohol? Where? We chose this wine for a birthday dinner at Lawry’s Prime Rib in Beverly Hills. Not a disaster but a disappointment given our high expectations (and the high price).
— a month ago

David Kline

9.4

Soft, lovely, bread-y nose of black currant fur, licorice, light mint forcing upward, sprouting through potting soil. Cinnamon and blueberry warmly embraced by dark bread and small specks of black pepper. Fruit tannins thickly house-painted across your front teeth in a real sense. Muscle. Licorice-charcoal, bitters, blackberry, black currant, graphite-smoke halo, black cherry, oak and cedar, wound up and closed in places, but powerhouse lurking in the shadows.



#lajota #lajotavineyardco #lajotahowellmountainestate
#howellmountain #oakville #napa #napavalley #cab #cabernetsaugvinon — 2 years ago

with Courtney

Mark Farrell

9.0

This was an evening out in Raleigh while in town for a wedding. We had a glass of the Nine Hats Red Blend. Medium purple with a nose of blackberry jam, strawberries, vanilla, and a slight hint of sweet tobacco. Very much a fruit forward wine on the palate. Full bodied, this is a crowd pleaser. We had this by the glass at Vita Vite in Raleigh, NC. At $20 a bottle this is a great value. — 3 years ago