Robert Stackowiak

9.0

Though 55 percent Cab and 36 percent Merlot (the rest is Cab Franc and Petit Verdot), the Merlot provides a lot of influence making for a blend lacking in complexity but still quite nice. Opens up nicely with air. December 2025. — 6 months ago

Scott E. Becker

9.2

[Tasted on January 25, 2025 at Home with Tom, Kathy, Mark and Lucille]

Purchased during September 2022 visit to the winery. “Billet Doux” means “Love Note” in French. 58% Semillon; 36% Sauvignon Blanc and 6% Muscat. Late harvest dessert wine in style of Sauternes. Mango, apricot, mandarin orange and peach fruit, with honey and ginger. Sweet and rich with nice balance. — a year ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2018 vintage. 36% Petite Syrah, 30% Syrah, 22% Mouvèdre, 12% Grenache. Broken up betwixt Paderewski (77%) and Catapult (23%) Vineyards. Big, bigly and bigger body. Monster push throughout. Good luck. Now or in the next decade yields a great drinking experience. 5.29.24. — 2 years ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.2

41% cab franc, 36 cab sauvignon and 23% merlot. Very accessible but with plenty of fine layers and complexity. Juicy. — 4 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

Pale lemon in color with a green hint.

Fruity nose of citrus, lemons, grapefruits, green apples, spices, tangerine and bitter herbs.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity. Crisp and refreshing.

Dry on the palate with grapefruits, limes, lemons, green apples, bitter herbs, spices, light earth and white pepper.

Tangy finish with limes and almonds.

This is a nice Albariño from the Central Coast. Easy drinking, very refreshing and tangy.

Needs a couple of minutes to open up, and better when not too cold.

A good quality wine and good by itself or with food. I paired it with fresh berries, cheeses and crackers.

Albariño grapes were fermented in Acacia barrels. A small production of only 276 cases made.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$36. — 5 years ago

KRISTIE

9.2

Dry red wine aged in oak for 36 months, featured aromas of fresh cherries and strawberries with hints of vanilla, tobacco, and licorice. — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

A pretty color of dark ruby with a nice reddish rim.

Strong nose of blueberries, black cherries, plums, vanilla, licorice, oak, cloves, spices, pencil lead, light vegetables, chocolates, tobacco, dark coffee and black pepper.

Full bodied and spicy with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, black currants, cherries, sweet raspberries, tobacco, herbs, spices, vanilla, oak, licorice, light vegetables, coffee, chocolates and peppercorn.

Long finish with soft tannins and tangy cranberries.

This Cabernet Franc from Livermore Valley is very enjoyable right now. Showing nice complexity with a soft and smooth mouthfeel.

This is a nice surprise. I expected to see more bell peppers and vegetable notes, but I didn't in this case, which I liked.

Needs 30 minutes to open up and remove some of the acidity. Has high alcohol but it is not noticeable.

A good wine to sip all by itself or to pair with food. Nice and enjoyable.
I paired it with cheeses and olives.

Would be nice to see how this evolves in the next 2 to 5 years.

15.7% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$36. — 7 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.0

NV 80 Pinot noir 20 Chardonnay 36 m sur lattes True to type champagne — a year ago

Kevin Blix

8.9

May have had a little funk. Would like to try again. — a year ago

"Odedi"

9.2

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

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

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

Dry on the palate with red and black fruits, cedar, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco and herbs.

Long finish with fine grained tannins.

This is a delicious Merlot from Santa Clara Valley in California. Rich, yet elegant.

Good right out of the bottle, and better with airtime.

Good by itself, and will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec. Aged for 36 months in oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$24 (at release). — 2 years ago

Jason Gelman

9.3

one of the most memorable bottles of old bordeaux i’ve had. 36 years old and in a perfect drinking window. the leather, tobacco leaf, cigar box, tannin is all light and delicate at this point. hard to describe in words but just a beautiful bottle, really a pleasure to drink. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Just opened another bottle! Founded in 1932 by Isaac Muga Martínez, now run by children Manuel, Isabel & Isaac Muga Caño. Deep Ruby, aromas of sweet red and black fruits with pepper spice and oak. 4 grape blend from the Haro district (70% Tempranillo, rest Garnacha, Mazuelo & Graciano), 36 months in oak, palate shows elegant flavors of cherry and currant with espresso, vanilla & toasty oak tones. Soft full ripe tannins, lively acidity on a long finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Great vintage! — 5 years ago

Jeff Hasmann

9.3

Iconic spring season champagne. There are many reasons everyone loves this stuff - Grand Cru fruit, 36 months on lees, Billecart’s unique vinification process - but the best reason is that it is just so darn delicious. Tonight, the bouquet was intense and very much like a Chablis Grand Cru. Upon pouring into the glass, one notices the fine, elegant mousse rising from the bottom. Then the first sip - strawberries and pear with undertones of nuanced brioche and yeast. The style here is elegant and finessed. Beautiful juice! Tonight’s bottle disgorged in May, 2018. 50/30/20 chard/PN/PM, 9g/l dosage, 40% reserve wine. You will be hard pressed to find a better bottle of champagne in the $75-$90 price range. Well done! NV on May 8, 2020 — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Founded in 1986 by Josep-Maria Raventos, member of the Codorníu family, creating a small, quality-oriented winery standing apart from the large co-ops. A blend of 40% Xarel-lo, 36% Macabeu, 18% Parellada, 6% Monastrell. Red berry and floral aromas with fine bubbles. On the palate strawberry and cherry with mineral yeasty notes on the lingering finish, good balance. Hand harvested and secondary fermentation rests for 15 months before disgorgement. A nice bargain. Tasting Sample. — 8 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Pale salmon in color.

Strong nose of raspberries, strawberries, citrus, yeast, bread and minerals.

Medium in body with medium plus acidity and small bubbles.

Dry on the palate with citrus, green apples, light raspberries, earth, light yeast, minerals and sea salt.

Nice length on the finish with almonds and limes.

This is a delicious Rosé Champagne.
Well balanced and entertaining. Complex and interesting.

Easy drinking and good by itself or with food.

A blend of 62% Pinot Noir, 24% Chardonnay and 14% Pinot Meunier. Aged for 36 months on its lees.

12% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$120. — a year ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.5

2022 vintage. A blend of 53% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Petit Verdot. As Siran is consistently of Cru Classé quality, I've put the bar high, tasting it next to the 2022 La Lagune. While it doesn't have the depth and quality of tannins of the latter, Siran 2022 is an impressive effort, a classic Margaux in the same league as the magnificent 2019 Siran. — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Fruit 64% Napa & 36% Sonoma. Pale lemon with aromas of fresh ripe citrus and tropical fruits with herb mineral notes. Pineapple, peach and citrus flavors adding grapefruit tones, great acidity balance, smooth, medium+ finish ending with bright mineral character. Nice! — 4 years ago

"Odedi"

9.3

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley.

Pretty color of dark ruby with a wide reddish rim.

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

Showing black fruits with cedar, cherry pie, vanilla, leather, spices, earth, chocolates, tobacco, coffee and herbs.

Long tangy finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 6 year old Napa Cabernet is drinking very nicely now. Showing great complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Nicely balanced and rich. Opulent yet elegant.

Good right out of the bottle, and so much better after 2 in the decanter. As it opens up, more earth notes show up. After 4 hours the nose is so nice, I just kept smelling on it for a long time.

This is a Napa Cabernet with a touch of Bordeaux. Interesting and tasty. Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.

A great sipping wine to have all by itself. Will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak. Paired wonderfully with Italian prosciutto.

I had it 2 years ago, and it is drinking better now. What a delicious Cabernet.

Aged in French oak barrels for 36 months. A tiny production of only 8 barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$90. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

From 30-year old vines. 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha (no ‘11 made b/c Garnacha wasn’t great). Tempranillo spent 36 months on 4-year old American oak, Garnacha spent 30 months on 2-year old American oak. Ruby with nose of red fruit, cedar and floral citrus notes. On the palate flavors of cherry, currant and orange peel with vanilla, cacao and tobacco notes. Well developed, fine tannins, long finish ending with earthy mineral flavor. Very Nice! — 5 years ago

Stephen Mandy

9.5

36 year old Palmer- smoky tobacco and cedar nose, delicate juicy fruit flavor, soft subtle tannins - a ballerina! Fabulous wine. — 7 years ago