"Odedi"

9.2

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Strong fruity nose of black currants, plums, cooked cherries, light cedar, earth, herbs, chocolates, black pepper, eucalyptus and black tea.

Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruit forward on the palate with black plums, cherries, black currants, peppercorn, cola, light wood, spices, coffee, dark chocolates, earth and tobacco leaf.

Nice length on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 9 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Mountain in Washington State is drinking beautifully now.

Elegant and nicely balanced, with nice complexity and mouthfeel. Rich and extracted, fruit forward and smooth.

Drinking at its peak now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years. I had this vintage 5 years ago, and it is drinking much better now.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 30 minutes of airtime.

Bold, delicious and good by itself as a sipping wine. Will also pair nicely with a nice piece of steak. I paired it with a charcuterie board and it paired beautifully with the Italian prosciutto.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged in (93% new) French Oak barrels for 22 months.

15% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$55 (at release). — 2 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 9% Syrah and 2% Petit Verdot, deep Ruby color with aromas of red and black fruits with tobacco and spice. On the palate flavors of black cherry and blackberry with smoky tobacco, black pepper and herb notes. Medium+ finish, fine tannins, ending
Fruit, spice and spice. — 8 months ago

Kenneth

9.2

Deep ruby, 14.5% , bold, strong tannic, intense structure, black fruit, , not jammy, oak, tobacco, leather, vanilla, long finish, very good wine, bought $55 — a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Blend of 55% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier, pale lemon color with aromas of citrus, floral and biscuit notes, fine bubbles and light mousse, on extended lees aging. On the palate flavors of crisp apples, peach and lemon notes, savory mineral, complex. Long ending with fruit and slight toasty biscuit character. — 3 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.4

The 2018 Les Carmes Haut-Brion was aged in 75% new oak with a touch more matured in foudres. It includes 55% whole bunches. This has a slight confit-like aroma on the nose, plush cranberry and wild strawberry intermingling with cassis and violet; aromatically, this is the more precocious recent vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, fine tannins, clean and pure with excellent acidity keeping everything on an even keel towards the finish. The 2018 has a caressing texture and is very persistent. I might quibble and say that I just find the nose a little trop, but the palate is superb. Tasted at the Les Carmes Haut-Brion vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, October 2022)
— 4 years ago

Alan Weinberg

9.2

back of the bottle explains that this wine is 45% Chardonnay and 55% Pinot Noir harvested from the vineyard by the name of Folies de la Marquetterie, first pressing, oak aged. So it’s a single vineyard rendering.

It’s delicious. Lovely bouquet and palate presence, super fresh citrus that expands on the palate, finishes clean and long. I like the density and weight coupled with freshness. And it’s one quarter the price of CdC. — 4 years ago

Whitney Broussard II

9.2

Was a great buy for $35 now $45-55 there are better options — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

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

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Fruity nose and medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity and mouthfeel.

Showing black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, chocolates, toast, licorice, spices, earth, tobacco and herbs.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Merlot based blend from Bordeaux. Rich and extracted. Nicely balanced and complex.

This 16 year old is starting to drink at its peak now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Wine Advocate 96 points. Wine Spectator 96 points.

I've had the 2012 a few years ago, but this 2010 vintage is showing so much better.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly, so be patient.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with food.

A blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 17 months in French Oak barrels. Unfiltered and unfined.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$180. — 3 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

From makers of Sassicaia, Deep Ruby color with aromas of fresh red & black fruits and earthy floral notes, 55% Cab Sauv, 27% Merlot & 18% Cab Franc. On the palate flavors of cherry, plum & blackberry with floral, licorice, cacao and earthy notes, well integrated. Fine tannins, a wine with a solid structure, elegant and smooth, long finish, great mouth feel ending with fruit and oak. Will age well over next 5+ years. Nice! — 8 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.4

2016 vintage. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot. Like many wines from this excellent vintage, starting to close a little bit. Everything is there, but will need a bit of patience to fully shine. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Mid to dark Ruby in colour. Black and Red fruits - aromatics of blackberry, note of raspberry, earthy and sandy notes. A medium to full bodied palate - rich and enduring. Costers de Vinyes Vielles comes from the company’s oldest vines. A blend of 110 year old Carinena (55%) and 90 year old Garnacha (45%). Aged for 16 months in French oak. One of the 1001 Wines. 14.5% ABV. Love Priorat wines after our visit in 2022. — 2 years ago

Luis Arguero (@winefromAtoZ)

9.1

Hand of God Fingerprint Series Red Blend 2010: Medium-full bodied. Excellent balance. Velvety tannins with layers of fruit flavors. Blackberry. Blueberry. Plum. Leather. Earth. Oak. Long smooth finish. Consisting of 55% Malbec, 35% Syrah & 10% Petit Verdot, this Argentine red blend presented nice structure & depth and after some breathing time, it released its true crowd-pleasing beauty. Definitely an outstanding wine selection with a very fitting name! En familia con el mano de dios! Cheers 🇦🇷🍷 — 4 years ago

Patricia Schnitzer

9.2

May 8, 2021. Welcome home dinner w/ Jack D, Don, and LO. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Syrah, 10% Petit Verdot. Juicy black fruit, baking spices, leather. Well balanced and totally yummy. — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Pale straw in color with a golden hue.

Strong nose of citrus, vanilla, spices, oak, yellow apples, pears and white pepper.

Full bodied, buttery and smooth, with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with citrus, melons, apples, light grapefruits, spices, hazelnuts, oak, vanilla and peppercorn.

Nice length on the finish with spices and almonds.

This is a very tasty Chardonnay from Russian River Valley.

Spicy and intriguing. Interesting with a buttery, smooth mouthfeel. Nicely balanced and Oaky.

Right out of the bottle, it is in your face kind of wine, but as it opens up, it calms down a bit with less oak and vanilla notes, so give it 20 minutes.

Will be nice to see how this evolves in 5 to 7 years.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a cheese plate.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$55. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

70% Merlot & 30% Cabernet Franc. Decanted 2 hours and enjoyed over the next 2 plus hours. Cork near new.

I have waited patiently nearly 20 yrs to enjoy this 2005. While it is delicious tonight, it still has not hit its precipice. Might be another 8-10 yrs for that.

This is the second wine of Chateau Ausone. If you are not familiar with this producer, if they redid the 1855 Classification, their first wine would most certainly be a first growth and at the very least a second growth.

I remember reading the first/original review of the 2005 Ausone from Robert Parker. It read, “if you are over the age of 55, you have to decide whether or not to buy this wine.” It went on to a glorious 💯 point review. However, that original review was taken down some months into it. Was it taken down at the behest of Chateau Ausone? The review was reworded to take out the over 55 age & anticipated drinking window of 2040-2080. Most of Chateau Ausone buyers are older, higher income. Would that drinking window prevent them from purchasing it as Chateau Ausone is not an inexpensive bottle price? Not for the younger incomes. Question for the ages but it inspired me to buy three bottles of their 05 Chapelle d’ Ausone.

About a yr ago, I had their 02 Chapelle d’ Ausone. Strangely, that night it showed better than this 05 tonight. The 02 vintage was not a lauded vintage. Yet on that night, the perfect time to open it. This 05 needs more cellaring time and will ultimately be a better wine in another 7-10 yrs.

The nose shows; beautiful, ripe, somewhat floral fruits that are; dark cherries, strawberries, cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, sweet blueberries and raspberry notes. Mid berry cola. steeped fruit tea, gently baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & beautiful vanillin, soft pepper, mix of dry & fresh herbs, tobacco, leather, graphite, volcanic ash, moist clays, limestone, amazing dark & red florals set is violets.

Medium plus resolved, powdery tannins. The palate glides with freshness and ripe, floral, juicy fruits that are; dark cherries, strawberries, cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, sweet blueberries and raspberry notes. There is no bite or a stringency, Mid berry cola, steeped fruit tea, gentle baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & beautiful vanillin, soft pepper, mix of dry & fresh herbs, excellent mid, dark spices w/ some palate heat, anise, dark chocolate baking bar, coco powder, tobacco, leather, graphite,, limestone/sandstone, dry crushed rocks, grey volcanic ash, rich, sweet forest floor w/ dry leaves, moist clays, limestone, soft cedar to sandalwood, amazing dark & red florals set is liquid violets, amazing rainfall acidity, still has firm structure/tension, well balanced, great length and a finish that is w/o end and long sets on dark, dry tannins, heated, dark spice florals, earth and tarriness.

Add two points in 7-10 yrs. I look forward to my next bottle then.

Photos of; Chateau Ausone and owner-Alain Vauthier. That short rootstock featured center is around 25+ yrs old. — 4 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

#AgedWineTuesday

Light golden in color.

Nose of citrus, limes, green apples, light yeast, minerals, spices, herbs and earth.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity, and small bubbles.

Dry on the palate with ripe lemons, apples, limes, brioche, spices, earth, apricots and light forest floor.

Nice length on the finish with limes and spices.

What a delicious 15 year old Vintage Champagne. Nicely balanced and elegant. Still showing lots of fruits.

Peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 30 minutes of airtime.

A blend of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay. Unfiltered.

12% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$125. — 2 years ago

John W

9.6

2010 1st label. Dark ruby. 55 merlot, 40 Cabernet Sauvignon and 5 petit Verdot. On the nose, leather, truffle, forest floor, plum. On the palate, cherry, caramel, oak, vanilla. Complex with good depth of flavor. Medium- Long finish. 9.6. Can buy at total wine. — 4 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

8.9

2015 vintage. Kosher version. Owned by Belgian Maurice Velghe. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Slightly rustic but well-done with Saint-Estèphe typicity. — 4 years ago

"Odedi"

9.0

It’s time for some Merlot on this#MerlotThursday.

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

On the nose, plums, black currants, strawberries, sweet cherries, light cedar, licorice, vanilla, earth, herbs, chocolates, tobacco, spices, dark coffee and black pepper.

Medium plus in body and soft, with medium acidity and long legs.

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

Medium finish with fine tannins, tangy raspberries and peppercorn.

This young Bordeaux from Saint Émilion is already showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel.

Tasty and interesting. Tangy and rich. Needs a couple of hours to open up properly.

Still young, but starting to drink nicely now. I am surprised of how approachable it is already. Still a little unbalanced, and needs another few years in the bottle to mature properly. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years.

This 2018 vintage is showing a lot of potential. A little lighter than the 2016 I had a couple of weeks ago.

A good quality wine that will age nicely in the next 15 to 20 years.

I paired it with Brie cheese and crackers.

A blend of 68% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$55. — 5 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

Rustic in a very good way. Nose has crunchy red berries, juniper, stony gravel, and a teeny bit of leather. Forceful flavors buoyed by forceful acids, pure, zingy, cherry fruit and a chalky minerality. Some relatively soft tannin. Not an erudite, pinky-extended sipper, but a great wine for pasta night. — 6 years ago