"Odedi"

9.2

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

Deep ruby in color with a wide reddish /brick rim.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity and mouthfeel.

Showing blackberries, black currants, plums, earth, cedar, leather, chocolates, tobacco, mildew, light vinaigrette and black pepper.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 25 year old Merlot is a tad tired, but still very enjoyable.

I've had this Merlot before, but it was a more recent vintage. I have a feeling it's this specific bottle that is flawed. It might be improper storage.

Big tannins show up after 4 hours in a decanter.

Helen Turley was the wine maker. Robert Parker 96 points.

Regardless of how it is showing now, it's always nice to try these kind of wines.

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

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$100 (current vintage). — 3 years ago

Mili Desai

9.1

Nice daytime white in hot weather — 5 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.3

inky purple; licorice, plum, black cherry, tar, vanilla, spearmint; dense, powerful black fruit, exotic spices, long velvety finish, surprising balance for 16.7% ABV; sourced from 130 year-old head-trained vines in the steepest non-terraced hillside vineyard in Sonoma County, Helen Turkey was consultant — 6 years ago

I Sax

9.2

North branch inn. Ny — 7 years ago

Eric Naslund

9.4

Joey Tensley is my hero! The man makes magic in the glass and his Syrahs are legendary. There is nothing that I have tried that I didn’t love. Colson Canyon is their signature grape but everything they touch becomes magic. Better and better all night as it opened up. — 8 years ago

Tracy Hall

9.2

Nice. Young but accessible now. Helen does a great job. — 8 years ago

Jonathan Eppers

10

Uncle Joey dinner at Animal — 9 years ago

Katie Fester

9.0

Great wine I had at dinner at Joey — 4 years ago

Chris MacLean

9.1

Lovely, light and full of character. — 5 years ago

with Alessandro

Charlotte Ducote

9.7

2/16/2020 1 liter bottle $65 from Ashley shared with Joey, Macy & Korey.Tastes of blackcherry, chocolate, deliciousness! Smooth and Velvety - has slow legs, young wine, not complex. — 6 years ago

Darren Dittrich

9.1

So glad this “lost” cellar bottle was still in good shape. Candied and lightly stewed cherries, white mushroom, cardamom, cedar forest floor... all integrated, nothing overt. But, this is a big lush 14.9% Pinot ... New World, in a good way. Thanks, Helen. — 7 years ago

Bill Bender

9.3

A hearty, bold Pinot noir to be sure. Certainly youthful but not so much so that this cannot be enjoyed now. Matt Courtney worked with Helen at Marcassin and he clearly soaked up a lot—his Chardonnays are superb. I’d wait on this 2-3 years but they are tough to be patient with. — 7 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.6

Ferren 2014 Lancel Creek Chardonnay. Winemaker Matt Courtney, former assistant to Helen Turley, The Goddess of Wine, at Marcassin. Back up the truck, and get all the Ferren you can afford. Petroleum and toasty oak along with peaches, pears and spice box on both the nose and palate. Also picking up some butterscotch and toasted marshmallow. Super lush and creamy texture. Decant the mofo out of this one. It will gain complexity and weight. Tremendous finish. One of the best Chardonnays I've tasted in quite some time. Right up there with Marcassin in my estimation. Nice job Matt! — 8 years ago

with Charles

Jay

9.0

Bought in Helen GA, but enjoyed at home in TX 🇺🇸 — 5 years ago

Laura

10

Cat sitting gift from Helen — 5 years ago

TwiLea Fletcher

9.2

Shared with Joey....I mean Jodi — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Love these cool climate Shirazes from Canberra District. A riot of white pepper and spice. Medium bodied with earthy minerality with some charcuterie notes. Short term cellaring from this point. Took a bottle to the UK 23 weeks later on 26th July 2019 and had it with chicken at sister Helen and Nick’s place. Consistent tasting notes as above. — 7 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.4

My favorite of the four Keplinger wines poured. Very approachable now for a young Petit blend. Nice to meet Helen. — 8 years ago

Carl Fischer

9.3

I tried this right out of the bottle and was a little worried - super tight and one dimensional - but after two hours open it was singing and I was smiling. The nose has a more savory profile but the palate is full of bright red fruits with crushed gravel on the finish. Super smooth - the fruit and spice from the Grenache keeps the gaminess/savory flavors of the Syrah in check while the Mourvèdre adds richness. Helen Keplinger is a genius when it comes to these new world “old world blends” - I have yet to have one from her that hasn’t been fantastic. — 8 years ago

WC Fields

9.1

Bravo Joey. People seek this out. — 9 years ago