Bob McDonald

9.5

After a brief decant this wine produced a lovely perfume redolent of ripe plums ( almost pruney) Earth, minerals, black fruits and a little crushed ant. Also espresso notes A lot going on from this premium Barossa Cuvée On the medium to full bodied palate prunes plum and earthy meaty characters. This was an exceptional Shiraz. The fruit for the Command comes from a vineyard planted in 1894. — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a great Cabernet from Washington State.

Dark ruby in color with a purplish rim.

Fruity nose with blackberries, blueberries, sweet cherries, figs, light oak, vanilla, spices, licorice, pencil lead, black pepper, dark chocolates, dark coffee, earth and leather.

Medium to full-bodied and smooth, with medium acidity and long long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blueberries, cherries, plums, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, herbs, tobacco, peppercorn, espresso, dark chocolates and pencil lead.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a great Cabernet from Columbia Valley. Nicely balanced with great complexity and mouthfeel. Smooth, elegant and very tasty. This 4 year old is peaking now.

This is not an expensive wine, but with proper short term aging, it drinks wonderfully. Worth giving it a try.

Good right out of the bottle and so much better after 2 hours in a decanter.

I paired it with cheeses, nuts, dried fruits and light appetizers.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$15. — 7 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.5

First red on the cruise and given three hours in the decanter. Beautiful wine. Still semi-young in appearance with a deep purplish ruby red core and a touch of garnet on the edges. Complex nose with layers of cassis, dark spices, purple floral notes, tons of dark cocoa, and a touch of aged characteristics like forest floor. Heavy tannins (7/10) and full bodied. Well integrated and rounded. Layered palate with dark cocoa, soft dark fruits, plums, sweet spices and cinnamon. Long and lingering finish. Excellent wine with rib eyes. Drink till 2025. — 8 years ago

with Sean and India

"Odedi"

9.1

My Friday's Cabernet fix. Here we go...

Beautiful dense purple in color with a purplish rim.

Strong nose of blackberries, cherries, licorice, oak, vanilla, alcohol, cola, leather, light green vegetables, herbs, chocolates, earth, smoke, peppermint and peppercorn.

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

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cola, cedar, vanilla, licorice, earth, bell pepper, spices, peppercorn, leather, smoke, chocolates, bitter vegetables, tobacco and peppercorn.

Long finish with soft tannins, black pepper and spices.

What a Delightful Napa Cabernet this is. Balanced and elegant with Nice complexity. A Great sipping wine, but also great with food, like BBQ Meats.

A little hot at the back of the throat and needs a few years in the bottle.

I would have enjoyed it more with firmer tannins and less of the vegetable notes on the palate.

Needs a couple of hours to open up, to show some tannins. I had the 2011 before, and this vintage is better.

14.5% alcohol by volume. — 9 years ago

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.4

Amazing wine , it seems 2003 is at its peak, full elegant and complex. Deep dark color, lovely complex nose, plums, black current, chocolate, mushrooms, coffee, sweet cedar, full body, sweet round rich tannins, great acidity and a long chewy delicious finish. My score agird for once with RP at 94 points, drink to 2020. I am planning to secure more of this vintage . — 10 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Dark Ruby in color with a gorgeous burgundy rim. This is a teeth staining red wine.

Georges Napa Cab nose with vanilla, oak, blackberries, ripe plums, cherries, alcohol, wet rocks, licorice, wild flowers and black pepper.

Full bodied, smooth and elegant with medium acidity and great legs.

Dry on the palate and fruity, with cherries, blackberries, blueberries, figs, vanilla, cola, licorice, cedar and peppercorn.

Long finish with firm, round tannins, peppercorn and some acidity at the end, to make it interesting.

This is a Great wine from Alexander Valley. A cheaper version of a Napa Cabernet. Drinking nicely now, Balanced, elegant, tasty and delicious.

A Great surprise at a Good price level .

14.3% alcohol by volume. — 10 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here's a wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Bordeaux.


Deep purple in color with a purplish rim.

On the nose, black currants, plums, cherries, chocolates, wood, earth, vegetables, graphite, spices, bitter herbs, wet leaves, river rocks, peppercorn, tobacco, dark coffee and light bell pepper.

Full bodied with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, cherries, sweet strawberries, oak, licorice, spices, chocolates, light vanilla, vegetables, tobacco, peppercorn, espresso, wet leaves and earth.

Long finish with fine-grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a delicious Cabernet blend from Bordeaux. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel and great complexity.

This great vintage is already enjoyable, although it could use some additional time to mature properly, 5 to 10 years.

This Second Growth is good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up (4 hours).

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with smoked meats. Delicious and yummy.

A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Merlot.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$75. — 7 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

Dark Inky in color with a short reddish rim.

Fruity nose with black currants, blackberries, ripe figs, wood, spices, licorice, chocolates, mocha, caramel, light vanilla, tobacco, light alcohol and peppercorn.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, plums, cherries, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, coke, coffee and peppercorn.

Long finish with very soft tannins and tangy cranberries.

This California Red Blend is always enjoyable. Well balanced and enjoyable by itself or with food. Still showing nice acidity and complexity.

It's a non vintage, but I held it for a couple of years so it must be 4 or 5 years old by now.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up.

14.5% alcohol by volume.



$17. — 8 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Dark purple in color with a purplish rim.

Great fruity nose with black currants, blackberries, sweet plums, cedar, vanilla, leather, licorice, cola, light vegetables, coffee, chocolates, tobacco, spices, mocha and black pepper. Reminds me of a Napa Cabernet nose.

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

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, plums, cherry pie, dried fruits, cedar, leather, chocolates, tobacco, vanilla, licorice, spices and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This delightful Single Vineyard Merlot from Washington State is well balanced with nice complexity. This 2013 was a great vintage and it is showing wonderfully.

Easy drinking and good for parties or as a sipping wine. Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up. Good by itself or with food, like a nice piece of grilled steak.

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

92 Wine Spectator, 91 Wine Advocate.

A blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 16 months in French and American Oak (60% new).

14.5% alcohol by volume.


$28. — 8 years ago

"Odedi"

9.0

My Mid week sanity. This time it is in a form of a very enjoyable Napa Merlot.

Deep purple in color with a purple rim.

Nice fruity nose with blueberries, plums, black currants, sweet cherries, vanilla, oak, licorice, cola, light vegetables, peppercorn, earth, cloves, nutmeg, spices, chocolates, sage, eucalyptus, pencil lead and smoke.

Full-bodied and bold, with medium plus acidity and long long legs.

Dry on the palate with cherries, plums, blackberries, currants, earth, vanilla, licorice, pine, chocolates, dark coffee, spices and peppercorn.

Long finish with firm, green tannins and cherries.

A very nice Napa Merlot. Still young, but already enjoyable, and needs an hour to open up. A good sipping wine, once it is opens up, and also good with food. Paired very nicely with grilled meats on the barbecue.

Would be much better in 3 to 5 years, once more complexity comes in. Not fully balanced, but shows nice complexity potential.

I enjoyed it just by itself. A good sipping wine. The nose is not intense enough yet, but the palate is very rewarding. Alcohol is still noticeable at this point, but time will make it all better.

14.2% alcohol by volume. — 9 years ago

Jean-Francois Pelletier

9.1

Opaque color. Intense nose of black cherries, plums and chocolate. Full and smooth body with completely integrated tannins. Long finish. This is in a good place to drink now. (Drank on 5/29) — 9 years ago

with Matt, Stanley and 4 others

E. Bishop

9.2

Wow. What great wine. Beautiful big nose of plums and pears and dark berries. Deep purple and dark red color. Semi-sweet cherries are the immediate tongue burst, and it slides into a full fruit berries, plums and a earthy tone in the back. After 30 minutes or so, the tang of cherries calms to more fruit and a softer, rounder flavor with soft spicy feel on the end. Very nice. Will definitely get again. — 10 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Dark inky color with a purplish rim.

Oaky nose with plums, blackberries, wood, vanilla, vanilla, vanilla (did I say vanilla?), earth, spices and black pepper.

Full bodied, smooth and bold with nice legs.

Fruity on the palate with blackberries, figs, cherries, plums, earth, oak, vanilla, dirt and peppercorn.

Nice finish with big tanning and black pepper.

Awesome wine with a great mouth feel, that can be enjoyed by itself. I paired it with Parmesan cheese, crackers and great company. Drinkable now, but will be even better in 3 to 5 years.

A blend of 60% Monastrell, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah. Each was fermented individually, and then aged for 18 months separately, in new French and American oak barrels. After blending, it sat for over a month in steel tanks before bottling.

15.5% (Wow!) Alcohol by volume. — 10 years ago

Ken Z

9.4

Drank 12/26/18. 2 hour decant. Excellent with a Ribeye.

Nose of blackberry, earth, coffee bean, and black cherry. Flavors of cassis, earth, leather, ripe blackberry, plums, and mocha backed by medium, well integrated tannins. Full bodied black fruit on the finish, which glides on for around a minute. Exquisite balance. Can drink now and over the next 10+ years. An impressive showing for an average year.

3/22/9/5/5 + 50 = 94 pts. — 7 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It's time for #MerlotThursday. Here's a great one from Columbia Valley.

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, black currants, cherries, cooked plums, wood, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, smoke, dark coffee, mocha, earth, leather, coke and black pepper. What a great nose.

Full bodied with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, spices, espresso, chocolates, peppercorn, earth sweet vinaigrette, dark coffee and light mocha.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.

This 4 year old Merlot from Washington State surprised me.
Well balanced and enjoyable by itself or with food. Showing great complexity and mouthfeel.

Soft, spicy and smooth. Peaking now, and better now than a year or two ago.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up (1 hour).

I paired it with a filet mignon and grilled asparagus.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$20. — 7 years ago

Mike Mayer

9.4

Rich, full bodied fruit forward Cabernet from Spring Mountain. Fantastic notes of dark fruit and spice on the nose. Wonderful flavors of blackberries, dark plums, currants and a hint of anise on the palate. Super sleek tannins and beautiful structure make this a great wine, especially for the price. — 8 years ago

with Lisa

Chris England

9.2

After the amazing 2010 I had to try the 09 @ £30! Owned by & next door to Cheval-Blanc on old Figeac land 👍 & it's a fab buy to drink now to next 5yrs

🍇 80% Merlot & 20% Cab F

🍷 Opaque deep ruby

👃 Dark plum, blackcurrant & dark cherry through rich smoked oak w/ crushed minerals & farmyard then choc cherry gateaux

👄 Med+ creamy body of ripe chewy black plums/cherries/berries w/ a warm cocoa & gravelly backbone

🎯 Med+ full fruity dark fruity creamy coating w/ a mineral & melted chocolate wallop — 8 years ago

"Odedi"

9.4

Inky in color with a purplish rim.

Beautiful sweet nose of blackberries, alcohol, blueberries, cherries, oak, licorice, figs, raisins vanilla, cloves, smoke, earth, leather and black pepper.

Full bodied and buttery, with medium acidity and soft legs.

Sweet on the palate with blackberries, plums, cherries, black currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, earth, leather, chocolates, tobacco, spices and peppercorn.

Nice sweet finish with spices and round tannins.

This is a great dessert wine. Balanced, smooth and enjoyable by itself.

After 5 years of aging in oak barrels, it was bottled Unfiltered, so now it is rich and concentrated. Just delicious.

I Paired it with a chocolate cake.

20% alcohol by volume.

93 points Wine Spectator. — 9 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Let's welcome the weekend with this wonderful Merlot.

Deep red in color with medium intensity and a pink/ red rim.

Fruity on the nose with blackberries, blueberries, plums, cherries, oak, vanilla, green pepper, licorice, black pepper, chocolates, light smoke and spices.

Full bodied, smooth and elegant, with great legs and medium acidity.

Fruity on the palate with blueberries, blackberries, plums, cherries, chocolates, tobacco, wood, vanilla, coffee, licorice, cloves, spices and peppercorn.

A very long finish, with cloves, firm tannins and black pepper.

This is a Great Merlot from Spring Mountain, Napa Valley. Had it blind, and I called a 2012 Napa Cabernet. I was off by varietal, but that is what one can expect from it, a Napa Cab.

Needs a couple of years to tone down on the green pepper, Otherwise, nicely balanced and enjoyable by itself or with a big piece of steak.
Thank you, Mike, for sharing.

14.8% alcohol by volume. — 9 years ago

James Re

9.0

This is a great introduction wine into monastrell. Beautiful dark rose color, sents of ripe black fruits, leather and some floral notes. It hits with a full bodied mouth feel, high in alcohol with strong tannins and a medium to high acidity. On the palate it presents plums , black cherries , black raspberries and black licorice. I paid $10 for this but would easily pay $20. Delicious! — 10 years ago