Daniel Ciolek

8.9

Nice for a steak dinner at a restaurant for a reasonable price. Pop and pour Zinfandel blend. Deep color, fruit and spice aroma. Palate is heavily red Zinfandel with dark berries, plum, and spice - pepper with a hint of nutmeg and vanilla. Balanced tannins and acidity. Short but pleasant finish. — 2 years ago

"Odedi"

9.4

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Deep purple in color with a short purple rim.

Pretty nose of blueberries, cooked black cherries, blackberries, figs, cedar, vanilla, spices, chocolates, earth, herbs, coffee, tobacco, licorice and black pepper.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, currants, black cherries, raisins, dried figs, vanilla, cedar, cola, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, earth, bitter herbs and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley. Feels like a Napa Cabernet with a Bordeaux touch. Fruity and rich, yet elegant.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours in the decanter, but it definitely needs longer than that.

What a great mouthfeel. I just love these Napa Bordeaux blends.

Still young and would be better in 5 to 10 years. Could be a 97+ point wine in 10 years. Will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years.

Thank you John for sharing this with me.

A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$500. — 3 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here's a delicious one from France.

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Strong nose of blackberries, black plums, black currants, cedar, tobacco, vanilla, leather, spices, dark coffee, milk chocolates and peppercorn. Pretty, once it opens up.

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

Dry on the palate and fruity, with blackberries, earth, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, licorice, spices, light alcohol, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, leather, pencil lead, herbs and black pepper.

Medium plus on the finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious 5 year old Right Bank Bordeaux. Drinking very nicely now, although still young.

This 2016 vintage is showing very nicely now. Well balanced with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.

Still a little hot at the back of the throat, at this point, but I love the cedar and sweet cherry notes.

Needs 90 minutes to open up properly, so give it time. Good by itself once it opens up.

Will age nicely in the next 15 years, and has good potential to become even better.

Tasty, tangy and spicy. A delicious wine from a great vintage.

A good food wine too, that will pair nicely with BBQ Meats. I paired it with cheeses and green olives.

A blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Grapes are grown on limestone soil.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$55. — 5 years ago

Frank Heinz

9.4

Linda Rudolph brought this to us from South Africa — 6 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Last night, a buddy of mine who’s a Disabled Veteran and Registered Architect, announced that he was assuming control of a SDVOSB Architecture firm. He had spent the better part of a year of trying to reach a purchase agreement. So it was an evening of celebration. He’s been a Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars fan for some time and he planned to pull the cork on a few bottles. We had a couple of rando bottles too but all were California Cabernet Sauvignon. I brought this bottle. It was part of my most recent delivery from Seavey and I was curious to try it out. Well...it was clearly infanticide. This was reductive at first and most of that blew off after about fifteen minutes. This was just so wound up. Delicious, fresh and almost crunchy fruit with a lot of structure. This was very bright compared to the Heart of Fay that preceded and just fell a touch short due to it being somewhat reticent. That being said, cellar time will be very kind to these and I would imagine this will show better down the road or with a lot of air, which this didn’t get. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

When it comes to my B-day, there is only one fit, an old Pichon Lalande with my Ribeye. As a lover of Bordeaux, these two are my favorite pairing. It’s a very slow walk to the finishline. A small bite of steak and a sip of 89 Pichon Lalande. Then, repeat until finished. I had some concerns about this bottle. A slightly slippery and crumbling cork. The first sip was not bad, but not what you want or are expecting. After some time in the decanter, it really started to shine. On the nose; ripe, ruby, floral cassis, blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The body is full, round and silky. Tannins are well resolved at around 80%. The texture, length, tension and length are in a sweet spot. The fruits are ripe, ruby & expressively floral. Blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, scorched earth, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The acidity is just a little off but still nice. The finish is divided nearly equally in fruit, earth, florals and herbaceous. It’s very enjoyable but falls just a little short in longer, lingering length. This bottle had good storage, not great. Even so, still has another three to five years ahead. A bottle with excellent storage has another five years beyond this one. Photos of; the backside of Pichon Lalande, angled terrace view of their vines right next to Latour, my steak & twice baked potato (so good) and CEO Nicolas Glumineau. — 8 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Full bodied with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, spices, oak, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, light earth, light vegetables, herbs, tobacco leaf and black pepper.

Medium finish with grippy tannins and raspberries.

This 15 year old, Fifth Growth Bordeaux, is still young and tight. Needs 5 to 10 years in the bottle to mature properly.

I gave it 90 minutes in the decanter, but it probably was not enough.

Robert Parker 96 points. Wine Spectator 92 points.

Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Grippy and rich.

Definitely needs food at this point, like a big piece of steak.

A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.

13% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$125. — 2 years ago

Edward Nelson

9.1

Wife wanted date night. Pulled this. Not great, very good. Needed a short time to open up. — 3 years ago

Yoly Sardinas

9.0

Great wine! Paired well with my Short-rib and risotto — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Deep Ruby, purple edges, with aromas of fresh berry fruits, cigar box spice and earthy mineral notes. On the palate rich ripe fruit, blackberry & black cherry with hints of dried spices. Good balance with slightly firm tannins, opened quickly, and lively acidity. Long finish, complex ending with oak, herb, mineral and earthy character. Will improve with short term aging, but don’t wait too long as you might be disappointed! Very nice Shiraz! — 5 years ago

Paul J

9.1

Disappointing! I used to be a big fan of this producer, but recent bottles have been lacking.

1 hour decant. Dark purple color. Nose has oak, vanilla, and plum. The body lacks depth and has almost no fruit. More New World than Old World. Short finish. My rating might be harsh at 91, but just had higher expectations. — 5 years ago

with Brooke

Nate Warner

10

This is a very balanced full body wine, nose has light black licerace with black current. Taste has medium tannins with short tail. Very smooth taste of berry. — 7 years ago

with Cody

David Walser

9.3

It’s Phelps Preferred Club weekend so to honor the occasion I brought a slightly aged wine to get us in the mood. Enjoyed with the short rib risotto dish and really enjoyed both the dish and wine. — 8 years ago

Federico Gabriel

9.0

nice short finish not to tannic overall good buy — 8 years ago

Jess

9.0

Medium ruby color.
Aromas of black cherry, raspberry, cinnamon, floral.
Dry. Flavors of ripe black cherry, fresh blackberry, licorice, floral. Medium, chewy tannins.

Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 3/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 4/5 — 2 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Deep purple in color with a short purple rim.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Showing black fruits with earth, oak, spices, coffee, dark chocolates, vegetables, light vanilla, herbs and peppercorn.

Starting to drink nicely now. Still young and needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly.

Good right out of the bottle, but very tight. Needs 3 hours to open up, but it finished too quickly.

Aged in (25% new) American oak barrels for 14 months.

14.4% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$45. — 3 years ago

Giang Chau

9.3

2018 Ridge with short ribs — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Pale lemon with complex aromas of fresh ripe citrus and tropical fruits with herbal mineral notes. Pineapple and orange citrus flavors adding grapefruit, melon & peach tones, great acidity balance, rich & smooth, long finish ending with rich bright mineral character. Nice! Had this several times, consistent quality. Short-term aging will benefit. Just outstanding — 4 years ago

"Odedi"

9.7

Celebrating 20K on Instagram with this beautiful wine!

Dark ruby in color with a short purple rim. Doesn't show age at all.

Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet cherries, black currants, figs, raisins, vanilla, cedar, licorice, cloves, cola, chocolates, mocha, caramel and black pepper.

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

Dry and extremely fruity on the palate with blackberries, black plums, cooked cherries, cedar, leather, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, mocha, coke, light earth, peppercorn, leather and tobacco.

Long finish with firm tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a great Napa Bordeaux blend. Showing great complexity and mouthfeel. Nicely balanced and fruit forward.

A fantastic wine from a great vintage. I've had a few different vintages of this, from older to younger, and this 2012 vintage is so nice right now. Will be even better in the next 10 to 15 years.

Thank you John for sharing this with me.

Rich yet elegant. Opulent and luxurious. Delectable and delicious.

Robert Parker 96 points.

Good right out of the bottle and much better after 3 hours of airtime. Fun wine for parties if it's in the budget. 😉

A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. Aged in New French oak barrels for 24 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

97 points.

$250. — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

9.3

It’s time for my #FridayCabernetfix . Here is a gorgeous one from Napa.

Deep purple in color with a short purplish rim.

Fruity nose with blackberries, black plums, cherries, figs, spices, light cedar, toast, vanilla, licorice, graphite, black pepper, herbs, tobacco, chocolates, mocha and coffee.

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

Dry and still very fruity on the palate with blackberries, black plums, cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, spices, chocolates, coffee, mocha, tobacco and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 11 year old Napa Cabernet from Oakville, is drinking very nicely now with a smooth mouthfeel. Spicy with nice complexity. A Nice wine to sip on by the porch. Delightful!

Peaking now and will be still good in the next few years. Good right out of the bottle and better as he opens up and shows some tannins.

I paired it with a herb and garlic prime rib dish.

Thank you, Mike for sharing this delicious wine with me.

14.6% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$95. — 7 years ago