Bruce Leboff

9.3

Huge -not we was amazing. Notes of rose petals and dark fruit and berries. A hint of hibiscus. Drinking really well still tons of life left. The last bit - perfumed and elegant - the rest will wait another 5-10 years. Really fun to drink. — a month ago

with David

Josh Eichorn

9.9

A perfect wine? Perhaps. Not many Napa wines can have this kind of horsepower at 19 years old (I was always told Napa wines fall apart after 15 years). I’ve never had Screaming Eagle or Grace Family or any of the new “premier cru” wines. What I will say, though, is that I have a hard time imagining a wine being better than this. Plush, with a solid core. Very little fade. Let it breathe, but it was drinkable right out of the bottle, rich with refined tannins, so much fruit, so much pleasure. The oak is now seamless with the wine, not an addition, but a part of it. If you had told me this was a more recent vintage, I would have believed you. This was Cosentino’s top of the line and what a top it was. Age has allowed for more complexity (I did taste this when it was newly bottled) and development, but this is a young wine, still. Nothing out of place. It is one of the best wines I’ve ever tasted. Quintessential Napa, the best the valley has to offer. I forget the story of “the secret clone” but knowing what all the steps are in making great wine, having this clone was just one of the many right choices in making this. This one may outlive me. It is in its prime with no end in sight. Perfect? I’m not sure. But I’ve not had better. — 9 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It's time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here is a delicious one from Israel.

Dark ruby in color with a reddish, cloudy rim.

Strong nose of cooked plums, black currants, light violets, dark chocolates, spices, cedar, earth, vanilla, licorice, tobacco leaf, black coffee and black pepper.

Full bodied and bold with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate and fruity with black plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, currants, tobacco, licorice, light earth, coffee, herbs and peppercorn.

Spicy finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty Merlot from Israel. Fruit forward and rich. Well balanced with nice complexity, tangy and interesting.

This 4 year old is drinking very nicely now. Good right out of the bottle and better with air time. After 90 minutes, the complexity comes in, and it is showing a really beautiful nose after 3 hours of airtime.

Would be nice to revisit it in a couple of years.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a charcuterie board of cheeses, vegetables and dried fruits.

Aged in French oak barrels for 20 months. Kosher and not Mevushal.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$50. — 3 years ago

Sébastien F

9.1

Charmeur, fruité, épicé, frais. — a month ago

Emanuel Reitano

9.3

Lovely minerality and acidity. Would buy again and recommend to a friend. stands out among other Santa Barbara sauvblanc. — 4 months ago

Eric K

9.4

Very nice wine. Good fruit with berry finish. Smooth finish — 10 months ago

Martijn

9.4

Fruit and chocolate and some fancy acidity. This is sit back and relax wine! Great stuff! — 3 years ago

JFP

9.0

2018 blend pf Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache. Opened slowly but finished well with bbq ribs. A bit dry but at the price a reasonable buy in. — 2 months ago

Matthew Cohen

9.4

Big fruit. Good spice. Blackberry.

$28 — 6 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

#kosherwineSunday

This is a very tasty Cabernet Sauvignon from Israel. Feels like a Napa Cabernet.

Showing black fruits with cedar, vanilla, coffee, cola, spices, earth, chocolates and peppercorn.

Dry on the palate and fruit forward.

Full-bodied and bold with a nice mouthfeel.

Still young and needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly. Would Age nicely in the next five to seven years. Has good potential to become a 94+ wine.

Entertaining and engaging. Smooth and elegant.

Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. Unfiltered. Kosher and Mevushal.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$53. — 3 years ago