Victor Hsu

9.1

This IS Santa Barbara County Pinot! First taste was a big burst of fruit. Not too sweet, not simple and unsophisticated, not a jammy Zin bomb, mind you. Instead, more like a zing of bright, pure, winey fruit. Remarkable and memorable. We had the 2022 vintage in a magnum bottle so perhaps that helped preserve its freshness and purity. We enjoyed this Big Mama at the Palm Restaurant in downtown LA, celebrating my daughter Rachel’s graduation from UCLA Law School. Congratulations, Rachel! — 7 days ago

Mary Ellen Bonisteel

9.2

Lovely bubbly - notes of vanilla and raspberry . Highly recommend if available in your state. Happy New Year!!! — 5 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Strong spicy nose of raspberries, sweet cherries, light oak, spices, licorice, earth, eucalyptus, herbs and peppercorn.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, cherries, raspberries, spices, light oak, herbs, licorice, dark chocolates, peppercorn and earth.

Spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a very tasty Merlot based Bordeaux blend from Washington State. An Interesting wine that feels more like a Right Bank Bordeaux. Tangy and spicy.

Right out of the bottle it definitely feels like a new world wine, but once it opens up it changes.

This 3 year old is so very young, and would be better in 3 to 5 years. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

I really enjoyed the nose, once it opened up. The palate needs some more bottle time, but it has good potential.

Needs time to open up properly, so be patient. I used the Zencore to expedite the process. Took about 8 minutes.

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

A blend of 60% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Aged for 18 months in French oak barrels (55% new).

14.3% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$50. — 2 years ago

Anthony James Marr

9.2

Beautiful layered aromatics after decanting - medium body with minimal tannins, but long and elegant with notes of dark berries - 2019 vintage

Could use more time - just a baby — a month ago

Jess

8.9

Medium ruby color.
Aromas of black plum, vanilla.
Dry. Flavors of plum, vanilla, cinnamon, peppercorn. Medium-rich, velvety tannins.

Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 2/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 4/5 — 3 months ago

romo

9.1

Concrete ferment and a transparent robe of bright red fruits. A pleasant surprise. No rocks here. #grenachefest — 7 months ago

Rhandi Chapman-Kidwell

9.1

This is a solid Merlot. It’s smooth but rather one note to me. I don’t get the level of flavors in this one. It is beautiful in the glass and over all a decent Merlot. I would buy again — 3 years ago

Edward Nelson

8.9

Not bad. Good price. Little sugary for a 9+. — 2 months ago

Jess

8.9

Pale lemon color.
Aromas of lime, floral, mineral.
Dry. Flavors of lime, pear, peach, ginger, honeysuckle.

Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 2/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 4/5 — 3 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Nice nose of cedar, licorice, cola, Indian spices, chocolates and tobacco.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, spices, light vanilla, tobacco, peppercorn, espresso, eucalyptus, light vegetables and herbs.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 4 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Yountville is already delicious. Fruit forward and elegant. Soft and smooth.

Showing nice complexity. Still young but already enjoyable even by itself.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour in the decanter. A good quality wine.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. This Single Vineyard has good potential to become a 94 +point wine.

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

A blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. Aged for 19 months in (55% new) French Oak barrels. Only 7,200 bottles made.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$90. — 5 months ago