Neil Valenzuela

9.8

Pale gold and brown hue. Aromas of caramel, creme brûlée, pineapple and orange pith.! Tropical fruits, dried apricots, burnt sugar and orange blossoms.

🏅91 Points - Robert Parker — 11 days ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Purple in color with a purplish rim.

Fruity nose with blueberries, black plums, stewed cherries, raisins, figs, light oak, licorice, spices, chocolates and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cherries, spices, light wood, peppercorn, dark chocolates and herbs.

Medium plus on the finish with soft tannins and tangy cherries.

This 3-year-old Zinfandel from Sonoma County is drinking very nicely now, and will continue to age nicely in the next few years.

Showing nice complexity with a soft mouth feel. Fruit forward and easy drinking. Rich, but not 'too much'.

The alcohol is not very noticeable at this point, although it is very high, so watch out.

I've had a few vintages of this wine and it is very consistent. I usually like it better with a little more age.

Wine Spectator 92 points.

A good everyday wine. Good by itself as a sipping wine, and will pair nicely with burger and fries.

A blend of 83% Zinfandel, 10% Petite Sirah, 3% Alicante and 4% Mixed Reds.

15% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$25. — 3 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

This 5 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Mount Veeder is delicious right now, although still young.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Strong fruity nose of cedar, black fruits and chocolate notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and nice complexity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, oak, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, peppercorn and light cola.

Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

Tangy and rich, yet elegant. Needs a few hours to open up properly, so be patient.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years, and has good potential to become a 94+ point wine.

A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot. Aged in (50% new) French oak barrels for 30 months. Only 1,200 bottles produced.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$100. — 10 months ago

"Odedi"

9.3

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a wide red/brick rim.

Pretty nose of currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, herbs, light vegetables, pencil lead, light vinaigrette, olives, peppercorn, leather, tobacco leaf, earth and dark coffee.

Full bodied and elegant, with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with cooked black plums, ripen cherries, oak, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, earth, light vanilla and black pepper.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Tuscany. Smooth with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.

This 19 year old is Interesting and tasty. Not from the best vintage, but still very yummy, and at its peak right now.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 3 hours of airtime.

Thank you Judy for sharing this with me.

Robert Parker 92 points. Wine Enthusiasts 91 points.

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

A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 24 months in oak barrels (30% new).

14% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$350. — 3 years ago

with Scott

"Odedi"

9.1

Reddish in color with a brick hue.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with mild complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

Showing red and black fruits with wood, tobacco leaf, vegetables, spices, peppercorn, earth and black tea.

Medium plus on the finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This 6 year old Single Vineyard Barbaresco is starting to drink very nicely. Not as approachable as the 2017, though.

Still young, but already enjoyable, even by itself. A good food wine too. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

100% Nebbiolo grapes were aged in French oak barrels for 18 months.

15% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$70. — a month ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Deep purple/ Inky in color with a short purple rim.

Fruity nose with black fruits, tobacco, vanilla, licorice, cedar and chocolate notes.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruit forward on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, black plums, tobacco, cedar, licorice, vanilla, spices, chocolates, herbs, light earth and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.

This young Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is starting to drink very nicely now. Elegant and rich.

Fruit forward with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel. A good sipping wine. Balanced and easy drinking.

Still young and needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Has ‏good potential to become a 94+ point wine.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour of airtime.

A blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, 1% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. Aged in (50% new) French Oak barrels for 20 months. Unfined and unfiltered.

14.8% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$45. — 6 months ago

"Odedi"

9.5

Dark ruby in color with a brick rim.

Showing a beautiful nose of black fruits, cedar, vanilla and chocolates.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

Fruit forward on the palate with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

Showing black currant, blackberries, cooked plums, cedar, licorice, vanilla, cola, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, caramel, light earth, eacaliptus and black pepper.

Spicy on the long finish with spices, cherries and fine grained tannins.

This beautiful 15-year-old is drinking very nicely now. smooth and elegant, rich and extracted

Peaking now and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 to 15 years.

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

Soft and enjoyable by itself. A great sipping wine. Just gorgeous.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

95 points.

$500. — a year ago

"Odedi"

9.7

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim. Not showing much age.

Gorgeous nose, and dry and fruity on the palate with medium acidity.

Showing blackberries, black currants, black cherries, cedar, cola, licorice, light vanilla, light coffee, chocolates, earth, black pepper and tobacco leaf.

Long finish with fine grained tannins.

What a wonderful surprise. This 23 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is drinking fantastically.
Elegant and fruit forward. Rich and extracted. Soft and smooth.

Good right out of the bottle, and so much better after an hour in the decanter.

Wine Enthusiasts 94 points. Robert Parker 97 points. Wine Spectator 98 points.

Showing great complexity at this point, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

A great sipping wine. Just gorgeous.

A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc.

14.1% alcohol by volume.

97 points.

$230. — 2 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

This 7-year-old Washington Cabernet Sauvignon is still drinking beautifully.

Deep Purple in color with a purplish rim.

Strong nose and full bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

Showing blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, light cedar, bitter herbs, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, peppercorn and espresso.

Fine grained tannins on the tangy finish.

Drink now, by itself or with food.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$20. — 6 months ago

"Odedi"

9.6

#AgedWineTuesday

Here is a fabulous 99 point wine by Robert Parker.

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Great nose of blueberries, blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, earth, vanilla, Mediterranean spices, espresso, cola, light herbs, chocolates, tobacco and black pepper.

Full bodied, smooth and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black cherries, figs, cedar, chocolates, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco, herbs, light earth, cola and peppercorn.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley.

Showing nice balance and a great mouthfeel. Round and rich. Elegant and smooth.

This 22 year old still has a lot of power in it, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime.

So soft and powerful, with a great nose. This is a gorgeous wine right now.

A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec. Aged in all new French oak barrels for 24 months.

13.9% alcohol by volume.

96 points.

$250. — a year ago