"Odedi"

9.5

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

Inky in color with a short reddish rim.

Beautiful nose of stewed plums, cooked cherries, cedar, toast, light vanilla, raisins, Indian spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, vinaigrette and peppercorn.

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

Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, black plums, cherries, spices, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs, peppercorn, licorice, light black tea and eucalyptus.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 10 year old Merlot based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley is drinking fantastically now, and probably drinking at its peak.

Elegant and robust at the same time. Very Complex and interesting. The nose is just gorgeous and the palate follows right behind.

Good right out of the bottle, and so much better after a couple of hours in the decanter.

Aged very nicely actually, and I really enjoyed the nose once it opened up. Will continue to drink nicely in the next 7 years.

Robert Parker 95 points.

Rich and elegant. Feels like a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. I love these Napa Valley Bordeaux blends, and I just love everything made by Michel Roland, the consulting winemaker here.

A blend of 62% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. Aged in (65% new) French Oak barrels.

14.6% alcohol by volume.

95 points.

$180. — 5 days ago

"Odedi"

9.0

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

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Nice nose of blue and black fruits with light wood, spices, licorice, light earth, vegetables, herbs, tobacco leaf and dark coffee.

Full-bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cherries, light oak, spices, chocolates, licorice, coffee, tobacco leaf, earth and black pepper.

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

This 7 year old Merlot from Bordeaux is peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years. Complex and interesting.

I had this vintage 3 years ago, and it hasn't changed much, except that the nose has become noticeably prettier.

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

Good by itself and better with food. I paired it with grilled picanha.

A blend of 71% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$25. — 2 months ago

"Odedi"

8.9

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

Dark ruby in color with a very wide reddish rim.

Showing a very interesting nose with black fruits, lots of barnyard notes, vegetables, herbs and dark chocolates.

Full-bodied and elegant with medium minus acidity.

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

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

This 5 year old Chilean Merlot is elegant and fruity with lots of earth notes to compliment it.

Needs 20 minutes of airtime to open up properly, and gets earthier as it opens up.

Showing some characteristics of Old World Syrah, which is very interesting.

This Single Vineyard Merlot is drinking at its peak. I had it 3 years ago, and it is drinking better now.

Wine Enthusiasts 88 points.

Easy drinking and good by itself or with food. Will pair nicely with game meats.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$20. — 2 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

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

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Red and black fruits on the nose with wild flowers, earth, light wood, garrigue, spices and coffee.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, currants, cooked cherries, light cedar, earth, fresh herbs, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf and peppercorn.

Nice length on the finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 5 year old Merlot from Napa Valley is drinking nicely now. Feels like a Right Bank Bordeaux.

Earthy, nicely balanced and complex. Loved the nose here.

Robert Parker 91 points.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly and show the complexity.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and will pair nicely with BBQ Meats.

100% Merlot grapes were aged in (33% new) French and American Oak barrels for 18 months.

14.3% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$60. — 12 days ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It's time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. This time it's not a whole lot of Merlot, but it wil have to do.

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity and mouthfeel.

Showing blackberries, plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, light earth, espresso and light cola.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Bordeaux blend from Tuscany. Fruit forward and well balanced. Alcohol is nicely integrated.

Needs time to open up properly, but delicious right out of the bottle.

A delicious wine with so much potential. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Easy drinking and good by itself or with food.

A blend of 30% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Sangiovese and 10% Petit Verdot. Aged for 24 months in French oak barrels. A small production of only 3,800 bottles made, this is bottle # 2,096.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$70. — a month ago

"Odedi"

9.2

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

Dark ruby/purple in color with a wide reddish rim.

Beautiful nose of blueberries, black plums, black cherries, cedar, licorice, light earth, chocolates, black pepper and black tea.

Full bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate and very fruity with cooked plums, currants, cherries, light earth, cola, chocolates, licorice, cedar, spices, light bitter herbs and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 7-year-old Napa Merlot is drinking beautifully now. Spicy and entertaining. Elegant and easy drinking. Fruit forward and very chocolatey.

Needed some time to open up. I gave it 90 minutes in a decanter, and really enjoyed the nose, once it opened up.

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

Nicely balanced, rich and extracted. Smooth and plush. Well balanced and complex. Good by itself as a sipping wine.

A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.

14.4% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$65. — 2 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

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

Deep inky in color with a short reddish rim.

Beautiful nose of red and black fruits with cedar, vanilla, leather, earth, chocolates, tobacco, spices, coffee, herbs and black tea.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, spices, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, peppercorn, pencil lead, earth, tobacco leaf and herbs.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Merlot based blend from from Bordeaux. Rich and engaging. Fruit forward with nice complexity.

Soft and spicy, nicely balanced and elegant.

This 5 year old Second Wine is already drinking very nicely. Would be nice to revisit it in 3 years.

Good by itself or with food. A nice sipping wine.

A blend of 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$35. — 2 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

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

Deep inky in color with a short reddish rim.

Fruity nose with black plums, black currants, blackberries, cedar, licorice, cassis, light vanilla, spices, tobacco leaf, herbs, light vegetables and chocolates.

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

Dry and fruit forward on the palate with plums, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, peppercorn, light earth, dark coffee and light black tea.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Merlot-based blend from Bordeaux. Complex and interesting. Fruit forward and elegant.

This 6 year old Merlot will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. I had this vintage two years ago, and it would be nice to revisit it again in 5 years.

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

Easy drinking and well-balanced.
The high alcohol is nicely integrated now, so watch out.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and will also pair nicely with barbecue meats.

A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. Kosher and not Mevushal.

15% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$50. — 19 days ago

"Odedi"

9.3

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


Dark Inky in color with a reddish/ purplish rim.

Fruity nose of black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, light dried fruits, cedar, light vanilla, herbs, licorice, spices, dark chocolates and light cola notes.

Full bodied and elegant, with medium acidity.

Dry and fruity on the palate with plums, black cherries, black currants, bitter herbs, earth, chocolates, cedar, eucalyptus, tobacco leaf, peppercorn and light vegetables.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a wonderful Merlot from Columbia Valley. Soft and fruit forward. Rich and nicely balanced.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 90 minutes of air time.

This 8 year old Merlot is complex and spicy. Really enjoyed the nose at this point, and the high alcohol is well integrated by now.

Easy drinking and a good sipping wine. Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

I had this vintage a few times before, and it is always delicious. I just love Michel Rolland wines.

A blend of 75% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged for 22 months in French oak barrels (85% new).

14.9% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$75. — a month ago

"Odedi"

9.5

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

Deep ruby in color with a short reddish rim. Not showing age at all.

Beautiful nose of black plums, black cherries, black currants, cedar, light vanilla, eucalyptus, tobacco, spices, black pepper, herbs and light cola.

Full-bodied and smooth with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, leather, light vanilla, herbs, tobacco, Indian spices, black pepper and light pencil lead.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.

This 15 year old is drinking beautifully right out of the bottle. Elegant and fruit forward. Nicely balanced and soft.

Peaking now and will continue to drink nicely in the next 10 years.

So enjoyable by itself. Smooth and delicate. Rich, but not 'in your face' kind of wine. A gorgeous wine.

Thank you Scott for sharing this with me.

Wine Enthusiasts 95 points. Wine Advocate 95 points.

I paired it with grilled Lamb Loin Chops.

A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

95 points.

$300. — 2 months ago