"Odedi"

9.1

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Very fruity on the nose and full bodied with medium minus acidity.

Dry to off dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black currants, blackberries, cooked plums, oak, vanilla, dried fruits, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, spices, light herbs and peppercorn.

Short finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 8 year old Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County is still drinking very nicely, but will not get better from this point.

Complex and easy drinking. Fruit forward with a touch of RS. Rich and extracted with a mouth coating feel.

A nice sipping wine.

14.6% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$50. — 10 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

No formal notes . Quite deep ruby , garnet , thin garnet rim . This is quite open and aromatic , with a spicy , herbaceous cassis , truffle , tobacco , grafite hints , very classic and serious but also really attention grabbing . On the palate this is quite rounded and juicy for Las Cases , good mineral , grafite tinged cassis , quite fine but present tannins , balanced acidity with a tobacco tinged finished and pretty good length . Drinking well now but also can go a while yet, perhaps over the next 10 or so years . — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Medium ruby garnet quite narrow terracotta rim . Quite herbal , dried strawberry and red cherry nose , touch of iodine , sous bois , dried mushroom notes , discreet roasted coffee note after a while. Quite pretty red fruits on the palate with good freshness , strawberry , earthy cherry and a marine , iodine like note , sous bois underneath . Quite elegant and well balanced acidity with fine tannic grip . Good red fruit , earthy tinged finish . This is showing more advanced than the 2001 Reserva , and would like to try another bottle of this , as I suspect this half is a bit below par. On the basis of this bottle drink now and over the next 5 or so years . — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

No formal notes. Maybe slightly less dense ruby, wider rim . More refined and quite elegant , medium bodied , slightly more cooler greener fruits . This quite aromatic initially, mix of red and dark hedgerow fruits . A little more refined and small boned , perhaps a little light a shorter than others . This was impressive out of the gate , aromatic and charming quite mineral also , though it was the only wine that faded a little with time in the glass . This appears to be at its peak though probably will remain here for another 5 -10 years perhaps — a year ago

Dawn Cole

9.5

2018 Deep Ruby in color, the 2018 Austin hope Cabernet Sauvignon expresses aromas a fresh black currents and cherries accompanied by Subtle smoky nose and dried spices on the pallet this lavish powerful wine is layered with juicy blackberry, ripe cherry, vanilla bean and brown butter. It’s full-bodied and rich, balanced by a touch of bright acidity and firm polish tenants number seven top 100 winds of 2020. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Deep Ruby in colour - quite dense. On the palate opulent red fruits and some blackberry - full bodied, concentrated and latent, with much more to give. Lucky enough to have had a visit and tasting at the winery 4 years ago where we were told, because of climate change they are increasing the Mourvèdre component in the blend because of its better suitability to hot conditions. This has developed to the stage where the 2017 Hommage just released is “nearly all Mourvèdre “ I read recently. Quite earthy with a little tar. One of my favourite producers in a good vintage still with a 10 year future at least. — 7 years ago

Willie Carter

9.2

Dark ruby with light purple accents in the glass. Big, rich nose of vanilla, plums, bright cherries, and a touch of oak peeking out. The good thing about drinking these so young is that the fruit is so bright and fun. Such nice acidity running throughout, even though this vintage is a little thinner than previous ones at this moment. Plenty of ripe red fruit and herbs on the palate with more oak, old leather, and cloves. If you have any of these sitting around, leave it alone for a few more years. Or do like me and open it now. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

One of the better-known Crus Bourgeois of the Medoc.
Had another ‘11 in cellar. Dark Ruby with aromas of black and blue fruits with tobacco spice. Palate displays blueberry and blackberry with cacao and earthy herbs. Smooth characteristics, well balance full body wine with velvet tannins. Not a satisfying wine. Prrfect now. Consistent wine! — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.5

VCC is my favourite Pom & @ £130 this shows how great an off vintage can be 👍 Great now but will improve 😍

🍇 83% Mer & 17% Cab F

🍷 Garnet ruby

👃 Soft oaky smokey spiced plum, damson, cherry & blackcurrant in damp earth, prune, vanilla, honey, liquorice, flowers & dark mocha - divine 😎

👄 Med creamy silky smooth body of chewy spiced plum & blackcurrant in liquorice mocha

🎯 Long stewed dark plummy fruit earthy mocha linger — 9 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Deep ruby red with concentrated aromas of ripe black fruit with subtle nutty spice and bitter chocolate. The wine is a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. The palate offers flavors of dark fruit, sour black cherry and dried blackberries, with a firm touch of oak and leather. Tannins are present, but soft due to the age of the wine. The finish is elegant with a slight dry mineral tang, medium in length. Very Nice. Should last a few more years, but why wait, it’s perfect now! — 10 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.5

Regrettably the one Bodega I missed from a stomach bug on my trip last week, though I still love love you Spain and look forward to going back. Now back to the wine....
A beautiful ruby core with some orange and pink at the edges.
The nose is elegantly fruited, with dry flowers, cherry and American oak notes of coconut, dill and toast.
The palate is elegant, refined, while masterfully complex and persistent at the same time. The finish is long and crazy silky. One of the few GR from a very older producer that uses only proprietary fruit.

— 11 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.8

Blend of Cab Sauv, Petit Verdot, & splash of Merlot; estate-owned vineyards Rutherford, Napa, St. Helena & Stag's Leap District. Just opened, 14 years in the bottle after couple of years in the barrel! Still tasting well, young & juicy, should easily last another decade, but nice now. Deep Ruby, dark fruits, spice, complex nose. Palate reflects juicy rich berry fruits, well structured harmonious wine. Fine soft rich tannins, long finish ending with fruit, tobacco and earthy tones. Wow! — a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.7

Ruby with complex fruit aromas, spice and oak. Blend of 90% Tempranillo & 10% Graciano, aged 48 months on American oak, 20% new. On the palate flavors of dark berry fruits with spice, oak and smoky earthy notes, slight vanilla nuances on ripe full soft silky tannins. Long finish, nice mouthfeel, ending with fruit, oak, cigar box spice and clean mineral earthy tones, a joy to Sip this Fine Wine!! Tasting great, has more aging potential! — a year ago

Mary H

9.0

Classic Riesling petrol nose, rich sweetness (~auslese-ish?) with more muted fruit. — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium ruby garnet , narrow garnet rim . Quite deep spicy tobacco , cassis , redcurrant , grafite , smoky herbal notes on the nose. On the palate this is quite restrained and elegant , with a mix of red and dark fruits , cassis , blueberry , red currant , touch of menthol also . Good refreshing acidity and slightly gritty tannins , good length with grafite and tobacco stained finish . This is showing well and is probably at peak at the moment , no rush as it will stay here for another 8-10 years or so . — a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.6

1991 inaugural vintage by famous Vega Sicilia estate. Tried the ‘13 again and it doesn’t disappoint. Deep Ruby with an array of aromas, dark fruits, spice, floral and some oak. The palate shows strawberry, blackberry & plum flavors with hints of espresso and licorice encased in gentle oak. Firm tannins great balance with acidity, full body, long finish ends with fruit, oak, spice, and mineral character. Just starting to open now, will benefit from more time! — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

When in doubt, a sure bet is a well aged, good vintage Heitz. @Eric Shanks

I intended to grab an 06 but, mistakenly grabbed an 07. I’ve not had one of my 06’s yet...next weekend.

The one thing I do every time I open one of my ten year or older Heitz Napa Cabernet’s is smile & think, this was sub $35 at Costco. It’s the wine feeling/definition of stealing candy from babies.

The nose is a beautiful harmony of fruit, earth and florals. Steeped, somewhat stewed, candied fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of purple fruits; boysenberries, ollieberries, & mulberries. Dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, touch of incense, fire ambers, dark spices with violets palate heat, chocolate pudding, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, dark chocolate, caramel, sweet, soft, dark spice, dark berry cola, dark cherry kirsch, dark, rich earth, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dry top soil, moist clay, understated herbs & dry brush, brewed coffee, mint, some sage & bay leaf, tobacco, dry, old leather with amazing, fresh & slightly withering & candied; dark, red, blue, purple with a violet & lavender frame. The acidity is splendid. The long, ripe, ruby, lush, elegant, well crafted balance of fruit & earth is delicious and persists endlessly with a dark spice on the long set.

The body is; delightful, ripe, rich, lush & full. The structure, tension, length and balance are woven in a perfect tapestry. This 07 has another 10-15 years easily. The tannins are rounded, smooth but, still have a dark, chewy, tarriness with baby teeth. The beauty of the vintage is on full display. Steeped, somewhat stewed, candied fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of purple fruits; boysenberries, ollieberries, & mulberries. Dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, touch of incense, fire ambers, chocolate pudding, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, dark & milk chocolate, caramel, sweet, soft, dark spice, dark berry cola, dark cherry kirsch, dark, rich earth, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dry top soil, moist clay & dry brush, brewed coffee, mint, tobacco, dry, old leather with amazing, fresh & slightly withering & candied ; dark, red, blue, purple with a violet & lavender frame. The acidity is perfect. The finish is; rich, ripe, ruby, candied, well balanced fruit & earth, elegant and long sets into velvety, round tannins and mid dark spices.

Photos of; the winery, tasting patio, old basket press and wide shot of the winery & Estate vines. — 7 years ago

Luca Lerario

8.9

4h decanting
Dark ruby color, creamy
Dark berries, leather, tobacco at nose. Earthy notes
Medium long at palate, good acidity, full body — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.6

This may be the smoothest Hermitage I've had @ £83 it's like a pig rolling in velvet 🐷 so smooooth 😍 Great now but 97+ over next 5-20yrs 😎

🍷 Ruby w/ purple hue

👃 Cloves, Olives, thyme & piggy 💩 through blackberry w/ touch of liquorice & minerals

👄 Med+ body incredibly super smooth olive tapenade, blackberry & dark cherry - surprisingly well balanced @ this age 👍

🎯 Long dark fruit & olive pure silk finish — 9 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

8.9

Dark ruby red with a purplish hue. Good dark fruits on the nose with some forest floor and truffles. Light bell peppers in the finish. Moderate tannins (5.5/10) and medium bodied. Lots of soft dark fruits and damp leaves. Medium plus finish. Great restaurant wine and solid Sonoma Cabernet. Drink till 2022. — 10 years ago

with Sean

Hao Feng

9.2

Clear, deep ruby with tears. Clean nose, developing medium plus aroma of savory, spice, peppery, mint, black fruit, earthiness, mushroom and leather. Dry, medium plus acidity, mid plus tannin, high alc, high body, mid plus flavor strength and mid plus finish. Very good wine, good for aging — 10 years ago

Tom Garland

9.7

+2 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment) A beautiful deep ruby red color. On the nose: Expressive nose captivates with dark red fruit, espresso, chocolate, floral, menthol, sweet tobacco. Taste: rich, round, intense wine with dark cherry/blackberry, minerals, cedar, tobacco, and a peppery-pencil lead-dried herb long dry finish. YUM! A brilliant wine just entering its drinking window with time to go. — a year ago

with Brenda

"Odedi"

9.1

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Nose of red and black fruits with light wood, tobacco and chocolate notes.

Dry on the palate with sweet raspberries, cherries, light oak, licorice, chocolates, spices and earth.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This young Grenache blend is starting to drink very nicely now, with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.

Elegant and rich. Interesting and engaging. A very traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape in style.

Well balanced and good by itself as a sipping wine. Will also pair nicely with food.

A blend of all 13 allowed grapes in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but mostly Grenache. Hand picked and whole cluster. Aged for 2 years in large French oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$110. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

I bought this bottle in Florence around 2019. I later found out the shop was owned by Antinori - the producer of the wine. An excellent Super Tuscan from Bolgheri. 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. Dark Ruby with a tawny rim starting to develop. Classic Bordeaux descriptors of Cassis, herbs, tobacco and hints of cocoa with oak totally integrated. A rich and mouth filling palate such that it could have been from a new world vineyard in a good vintage. This is comparable in quality to a good Super Second. Interestingly the 2007 had the major change of Syrah being eliminated from the blend in favour of Cabernet Franc. An outstanding Bordeaux blend which exceeded expectations. I should keep an eye out for more bottles. — a year ago

Tom Garland

9.2

Inspired by @Eric 94 Dalla Valle tonight.

Decanted for sediment (some fine/cloudy sediment). A sensational tawny ruby red color. On the nose: Very aromatic nose of black cherry, currants, barnyard, earth, leather, and smoked meat. Taste: Damn, must have added some water from the fountain of youth. A smooth, still bright, juicy medium body wine with black currants, leather, hint of red berries, musky earth, and a minty espresso medium finish. Nice classic aged Cali cab! — 4 years ago

with Brenda

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Mmmm....better. 1999 was a meh vintage to most critics. I find it has evolved to better things with this much time in bottle.

The nose reveals, ruby and candied; blackberries, black cherries, black plum skin, black raspberries, raspberries, poached cherries & strawberries. Touch cooked green bell pepper, mixed berry licorice, anise to black licorice, used leather, saddle-wood to cedar, dark, moist, black earth, limestone, stones, graphite, vanilla, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg and dark spice, coffee, dark chocolate with fresh & withering, dark, red, blue and purple flowers.

The body is just full. The tannins are soft, round, chewy and tarry. The structure, tension, length and balance are pretty good for 99. ruby and candied; blackberries, black cherries, black plum skin, black raspberries, raspberries, poached cherries & strawberries. more cooked green bell pepper on the palate, mixed berry licorice, anise to black licorice, used leather, saddle-wood to cedar, dark, moist, black earth, limestone, stones, graphite, vanilla, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg and dark spice, coffee, dark chocolate with fresh & withering, dark, red, blue and purple flowers. The acidy is nice. The finish is elegant, well balanced but, not as rich as other good vintages Palmer. It is spicy and persists minutes on the palate.

Photos of; Chateau Palmer, their barrel room, a photo of their vineyard soil structure-if you didn’t know where all that earthiness comes from, a picture is worth a thousand words and their tasting room. — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.4

This is the first wine that made me fall in love with Chile 🇨🇱 wines back in early 2000 when it was around £25-£30 😍 Now at around £60-£65 does it still deliver? Oh yes baby this is delish now but in 5-8 years a 😈

Tomorrow I’ll post my newest love from Chile to wrap up a week of my 🇨🇱 favourites - darn I forgot Ocio Pinot Noir to 😊 Have you enjoyed my week of my personal Chile favourites ❓

📍 Concha Y Toro Don Melchor Puente Alto Vineyard - 2013

🏵 94 points w/ much more potential having had these aged 😉

🍇 91% Cabernet Sauvignon & 9% Cabernet Franc

🍷 Deep dark opaque ruby

👃 Dark smokey plum dragged through a dark berry bramble bush then swished into the soggy earth w/ lashings of melted cocoa & a dollop melted raspberry & blackcurrant liquorice

👄 Med+ body of creamy smooth rich dark berries, dark plum & raspberry w/ a touch of cherry all bathed in gloopy cocoa cream

🎯 Long ripe blackcurrant, dark plum & raspberry cocoa silky slight herby linger

— 7 years ago

Shane Walker

9.0

Very smooth but with nice crispness and tannins. Lovely dark ruby colour. Great with the lamb rack. — 9 years ago

with Michele

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.0

Deep ruby red with purplish hue. Definite oak influence on the nose with a touch of smoke, and coated with dark berries. Moderate tannins (6/10) and medium bodied. Fruit forward and tons of baking spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and lots of dark cocoa. Medium finish. Drink till 2022. — 9 years ago

with Sean and India

Leslie Cole

10

Quite possibly my favorite wine ever!!! — 10 years ago