"Odedi"

9.2

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

Dark ruby/purple in color with a wide reddish rim.

Beautiful nose of blueberries, black plums, black cherries, cedar, licorice, light earth, chocolates, black pepper and black tea.

Full bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate and very fruity with cooked plums, currants, cherries, light earth, cola, chocolates, licorice, cedar, spices, light bitter herbs and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 7-year-old Napa Merlot is drinking beautifully now. Spicy and entertaining. Elegant and easy drinking. Fruit forward and very chocolatey.

Needed some time to open up. I gave it 90 minutes in a decanter, and really enjoyed the nose, once it opened up.

Peaking now and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

Nicely balanced, rich and extracted. Smooth and plush. Well balanced and complex. Good by itself as a sipping wine.

A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.

14.4% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$65. — a month ago

Michael B

9.3

Stunning California Cabernet Sauvignon. Decanted x2hrs. Medium depth, Red fruits (red cherries, raspberries, strawberries) followed by soft leather and cigar box haze. There was an evolving spice that grew more prominent as the hours went by. Fiery Peppercorn and red peppers were very lively. — 4 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here is a nice one from Napa Valley.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blueberries, black plums, black cherries, spices, cedar, vanilla, earth, coke, chocolates, dark coffee, black pepper, pencil lead and light vegetables.

Full bodied with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, light vegetables, pencil lead and earth.

Medium plus in length on the finish, with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a very enjoyable Merlot from Napa Valley. Nicely balanced and fruit forward with a great mouthfeel. Showing nice complexity with more vegetables notes than I expected.

Still young and needs three to five years to mature, but already very yummy.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up (90 minutes).

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

A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.

14.4% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$36. — 5 years ago

Cassie Nelson

9.2

W Frank and Marilyn — 6 years ago

Cynthia Cross

8.9

I liked. Not dry, smooth. I enjoyed with Sis and Aunt Marilyn — 5 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

This family did things in the right order. They were farmers before they made wine. The expression says, “ you can’t make great wine without great fruit.”

The first thing I would say about this 2007 is, it’s really good but, if you have this 2007 you should wait another 7-10 years for it best self. I decanted it 2 1/2 hours and it’s still a beast. Lots of primary going on here.

In ten years, this wine has a shot at 97-99. Their 2007 was just that strong as it was with much of the rest of the Napa Valley.

The nose reveals ripe, ruby & creamy fruits of; black cherries, black raspberries, black raspberries, cooked/stewed strawberries & black plum, raspberries, purple fruit blend, pomegranate with blue fruits hovering the edges of the glass. Black licorice, dark fruit cola, understated smoked meats, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla & notes of clove, caramel, light sage, limestone, dark, rich, moist earth, moist clay, limestone, dry, crushed rock powder, black olive, fig with candied; blue fruits & field of violets.

The body is; round, lush & full. Still has meaty, tarry, teethe tannins that still show some astringency. This bottle properly stored has another 20 years of good drinking ahead of it. For those that like that older, brickier side of wine perhaps another 7-10 years. It’s in its early side of gorgeous headed to Marilyn Monroe. Ripe, ruby, candied & creamy fruits of; black cherries, black raspberries, black raspberries, cooked/stewed strawberries & black plum, plum, raspberries, purple fruit blend, pomegranate with blue fruits hovering the edges of the glass. Black licorice, dark fruit cola, understated smoked meats, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla & notes of clove, salted caramel, black tea, dry herbs with sage dominance, dark spice with pronounced heat, powdered limestone, dark, rich, moist earth, moist clay, limestone, dry, crushed rock powder, dry tobacco, dry underbrush & twig, graphite, black olive, peppery characteristics with candied; blue fruits & field of violets. The acidity is round and full...almost holds the slightly elevated alcohol heat. The finish is big; tarry, meaty tannins, ripe fruit at the mid point with a long dark, earthy spice on the long set.

Photos of; one of Lewelling’s vineyards, family member & Vineyard Manager-Doug Wight, Cabernet fruit just harvested from the Wight Vineyard & old farm/winery building. — 4 years ago

Mike R

9.7

Last night with great friends

Ridiculously delicious cab from Napa blend and Realm

I have had three years of past vintages of this wine and amazingly every year it gets better - bravo Benoit and Juan

Just a small decant and bam - color is that dependable stunning purple like a new purple on an exotic Lamborghini

The smell is rich like the feeling you get when smell fresh baked homemade chocolate chip cookies and you were 8 years old

The palette is just stunning - like the stunning feeling I got when my Red Sox won the World Series after losing three games but came back to take the final four games in 2004 - prefection in a bottle

The legs are the sexy stiletto shaped legs for a wine that you could not imagine - Marilyn Monroe would be jealous

Drink it if you got it and if not get it - it might get better over time but why wait - seriously — 5 years ago

with S and Jeff

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Tasted this at the property & bought three & three of the 14 Moose. It is even better than I envisioned at this stage and will only continue to evolve to something even more grand.

The nose shows a little paraffin wax at first with gentle, beautiful, elegant floral, ruby, ripe, fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black plums, black raspberries, plum, baked strawberries & hints of raspberries. A weave of faint; molasses, brown sugar & dark chocolate, some of the sexiest, gently layered baking spices of; cinnamon, clove, even lighter cinnamon & vanillin, hints of sweet tarriness, blossoming tree sap with a touch of bark, melted caramel, amazing, caressing, Marilyn Monroe, mid, dark spice, steeped fruit teas, limestone volcanics, a little dry, crush rocks, black licorice with gorgeous, candied, ruby, florals that are fresh & slightly withering; dark, red, blue that are set in violets & quiet lavender.

The body is wet, supple, rich and as good as it gets. She is flat out gorgeous with perfect viscosity. A little paraffin wax with gentle, beautiful, elegant floral, ruby, ripe, fruits of; blackberries, dry dark cherries, black plums, black raspberries, plum, baked strawberries & dry cranberries & hints of raspberries. A weave of faint; molasses, melted, brown sugar & dark chocolate, some of the sexiest, gently layered baking spices of; cinnamon, clove, even lighter cinnamon & vanillin, hints of sweet tarriness, blossoming tree sap with a touch of pine bark, melted caramel, dark cola, amazing, caressing, Marilyn Monroe, mid, dark spice with perfect, soft heat, steeped fruit teas, haunting here & there fresh herbaceousness, understated eucalyptus & mint, Christmas pudding over a touch of Christmas fruit cake, limestone volcanics, a little dry, crush rocks, black licorice with gorgeous, candied, ruby, florals that are fresh & slightly withering; dark, red, blue that are set in violets & quiet lavender. The acidity is simply insane. The finish falls into fantasy. It’s; sexy, gorgeous, elegant, round, rich, the definition of balance that persists for minutes falling on to a spice ending.

Most interesting Pinot of the year(s).

This will add a couple of points in 5 years.

The one is another bottling of Christmas Magic. Shots around the house on Christmas Eve-Eve. Yup, I even have a Wine Santa to enjoy wine with my Wine Snowman.

Merry Christmas Eve-Eve. 🎄🎁🎅❄️🌟⛄️

@Jason and Jennie Thank you for the introduction to DR Stephens. The 14 Moose is still better & will further stun one day but, their 15 Pinot is outstanding now. We will hold our other two bottles of their 15 another 3-5 years before opening. The first 14 Moose in 2026.

12/23/20 — 4 years ago

Bhuvana Husain

9.0

Delicious full bodied red wine courtesy of Marilyn — 5 years ago

Ryan Mullins

9.7

Like riding in the back of a motorcycle that a topless Marilyn Monroe is driving — 6 years ago