"Odedi"

9.1

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

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Very dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing red and black fruits with light wood, spices, barnyard, blood, dried meats, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, earth, herbs, peppercorn and licorice.

Nice finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This Single Vineyard Grenache from Walla Walla Valley is very stinky and austere on the nose.

Complex and very interesting, but not what I expected at all. Feels more like an old world wine.

Wine Advocate 95 points. Wine Spectator 94 points. Wine Enthusiasts 94 points.

I had a recent vintage a couple of years ago and it showed much better. Might just be this particular bottle, or it could be past its prime by now.

A good quality wine and still very drinkable.

13.2% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$120. — 4 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

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

Dark purple in color with a wide reddish rim.

Beautiful oaky nose with black fruits and chocolate notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, cherries, spices, cedar, licorice, vanilla, espresso, cola, light herbs, earth, chocolates, tobacco and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Merlot from Pomerol. Soft and elegant. Rich and fruit forward. Nicely balanced and complex with a nice mouthfeel.

This 5 years old Merlot is fresh and young tasting. Drinks like a soft New World Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of old world.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 25 years. Has good potential to become a 95 point wine.

I've had a few vintages of this wine and it is always enjoyable. A great sipping wine.

A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 16 months in (80% new) French Oak barrels.

15% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$125. — 9 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

See previous Delectable notes for this 2020 Estate. Amazing quality for the price. This is the basic Kumeu Estate Chardonnay before you consider the individual Cuvées like Mates, Coddington etc. peachy stone fruit intensity on the palate with enough acidity to keep it fresh. Should be an annual purchase. Have the last one later this year or early 2026. The Village is even less expensive at only $21.50 AUD. We had our 6th and final bottle on 9th May 2025 with consistent notes. One of the great value bargains in World wide Chardonnay. — a year ago

"Odedi"

8.9

It's time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim and medium intensity.

Nice nose with red fruits, light oak, spices, chocolates, licorice and peppercorn.

Medium bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with red currants, cherries, raspberries, earth, black coffee, bitter vegetables, light oak, spices, dark chocolates and peppercorn.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and cranberries.

This Australian Merlot is drinking nicely now. Earthier than I expected it to be. Feels like a blend of new and old world.

Showing a soft and plush mouthfeel, and a bit bitter once it opens up.

Easy drinking and better after a couple of hours of airtime. Changes every 30 minutes in the decanter. Interesting.

I had a few different vintages years ago, and it is a completely different wine today.

Aged in American oak barrels. Vegan.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$30. — 2 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Strong spicy nose of raspberries, sweet cherries, light oak, spices, licorice, earth, eucalyptus, herbs and peppercorn.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, cherries, raspberries, spices, light oak, herbs, licorice, dark chocolates, peppercorn and earth.

Spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a very tasty Merlot based Bordeaux blend from Washington State. An Interesting wine that feels more like a Right Bank Bordeaux. Tangy and spicy.

Right out of the bottle it definitely feels like a new world wine, but once it opens up it changes.

This 3 year old is so very young, and would be better in 3 to 5 years. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

I really enjoyed the nose, once it opened up. The palate needs some more bottle time, but it has good potential.

Needs time to open up properly, so be patient. I used the Zencore to expedite the process. Took about 8 minutes.

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

A blend of 60% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Aged for 18 months in French oak barrels (55% new).

14.3% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$50. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Pale Lemon in colour. Some initial caramel notes, light fruited and light weight from the cool climate Orange district. On the palate under ripe nectarine with grapefruit notes - quite a delicate Chardonnay with light acids. Has Medium intensity for Its light palate weight. Philip Shaw has quite the CV as a winemaker. From Chief Winemaker at the huge Lindemans, headhunted by the Oatleys to be Chief Winemaker at Rosemount which became a world wide brand before being sold to Southcorp (now Treasury) for a fortune to the Oatleys, and a stint with Treasury all the while developing his vineyard at Orange now run by his sons and he has gone on to his next venture. He has collected International Winemaker of the Year twice in 1988 and 2000. — 6 years ago

Marisa

9.1

Omg love this. Get at Southington’s World Wide Liquors on Queen St — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Purple in color with a wide reddish rim.

Nose of red and black fruits with wood, earth, herbs, spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee and peppercorn.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, black currants, cooked plums, oak, spices, chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, herbs and black tea.

Tangy finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a very tasty Bordeaux blend from Walla Walla Valley. Complex and nicely balanced. Rich and fruit forward, with a Bordeaux feel with a new world twist.

In your face kind of wine, and bold right now. Still young, but already enjoyable, even by itself. Needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years. Has good potential to become a 93+ point wine.

A good sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 16% Petit Verdot, 11% Malbec and 8% Carmenere. Aged in (50% new) French Oak barrels for 20 months. Vegan.

15% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$85. — 7 months ago

"Odedi"

9.3

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Beautiful nose of cherries, raspberries, cedar, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, spices, light earth and wild flowers.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, spices, toast, light vanilla, dark chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, earth and black tea.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Grenache blend from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with a hint of New World style. Elegant and rich. Fruit forward, powerful and engaging.

Nicely balanced and spicy, with a great mouthfeel.

This 6 year old is drinking beautifully now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Good right out of the bottle, and better with airtime. The high alcohol is well integrated by now. A great sipping wine.

A blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvedre from 100 year old vines. Aged in new French oak barrels. A small production of only 3,500 bottles.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$100. — a year ago

"Odedi"

9.1

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Very pretty color of ruby with a wide reddish rim.

Nice nose with unique aluminum notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with red and black fruits, earth, herbs, oak, chocolates, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco and peppercorn.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Bolgheri in Tuscany. Elegant and fruity with nice complexity.

Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Easy drinking and needs time to open up properly.

Already tasty and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.

Elegant and robust. Spicy and fruit forward.

Feels like an old world Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of new world.

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot. Aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, and 6 months in large Austrian barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$30. — 2 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.5

A steal on auction
I wouldn’t consider it a 🥩 wine but great with charcuterie
Web info
Chateau Valandraud is represented by the passion of a couple: Jean-Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud. Following the great success with the wine merchant business in Saint Emilion, they opened their own vineyard to produce their own wine.
In 1989, they bought a small parcel of 0.6 hectare (1.48 acres) located in a small valley near Saint Emilion between Pavie-Macquin and La Clotte. The origin of the wine name is as much geographic (Val: Vallon de Fongaban), as sentimental (Andraud: Murielle’s maiden name). Thus Chateau Valandraud was born.
Little by little, Jean-Luc and his wife purchased several other parcels of vines, and now, the domain represents a total surface of 10 hectares (24.71 acres), located in various areas of Saint Emilion. The diversity of soils and varietals permit the production of 6 different wines: Chateau Valandraud, Chateau Valandraud Casher, Virginie de Valandraud and the 3 de Valandraud (the second wine of Chateau Valandraud and Virginie de Valandraud), Blanc de Valandraud N° 1 and N° 2.
The final blending of the various parcels occurs in the month of March, following a blind tasting with the help of the world famous oenologist, Michel Rolland. — 3 years ago

Byron C Mayes

9.0

Dark ruby red. Inviting nose and lush medium palate of earthy black cherry, fresh mushroom, and slightly woody red plum. Medium acidity. Medium minus tannins. A Burgundy for the New World drinker. Just enough fruit and a well regulated militia of oak, tannins, and acidity make for a PN that’s true to its roots yet approachable to the novice. A wide variety of cuisines will pair nicely. I went with very authentic (read, “spicy”) Ethiopian fare. Drink now through 2028. — 5 years ago

Byron C Mayes

9.0

Dark ruby in the glass. Black plum, dark berry cobbler, and a surprising wee bit of heat (that blows off quickly) on the nose. Lush, medium full body wraps a palate confirming the nose. Medium minus tannins. Juicy, medium acidity. Blackberry and a touch of graphite on the medium long finish. Classic Columbia Valley Merlot that’s the perfect New World bridge between California and Bordeaux. Will compliment a wide range of fare whether from delivery, the grill, or the master chef. Drink now while you wait for your Red Mountain or ‘16 Pomerol bottles to settle. — 6 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Château Mercian – Mariko Vineyard Syrah 2013
Ueda City, Nagano – Japan 🇯🇵

Overview
From Château Mercian’s pioneering Mariko Vineyard, this Syrah is unlike any other. The 2013 vintage, now over a decade old, shows how Nagano’s cool climate shapes the grape with freshness and elegance rather than sheer power. (Educational note: Nagano’s elevation and wide day–night temperature swings preserve acidity, giving Japanese reds their distinctive lift.)

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry, plum, and dried cherry with accents of pepper, violet, and subtle herbs. Secondary notes of leather, soy, and earthy spice emerge with age, weaving seamlessly into the fruit.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with pronounced acidity — rare for Syrah — making it bright and affable even after a decade. Tannins are softened with age, leaving a silky texture and a long, savory finish.

Food Pairings
Perfect with Japanese-inspired pairings such as yakitori, teriyaki beef, or soy-glazed mushrooms. Also pairs beautifully with duck breast, roasted pork, or aged semi-hard cheeses.

Verdict
One of the most distinctive Syrahs out there: fresh, bright, and terroir-driven. Still harmonious after more than ten years — a wine that surprises and delights in equal measure. 🍷cheers

Did You Know?
Legend says “Mariko” takes its name from the Maruko region, once Prince Mariko’s territory in the 6th century. Today, the same land provides the ideal conditions for world-class viticulture. — 9 months ago

David White

9.1

This is becoming my great everyday quaffer with the 2022 rated 95pts by Decanter World Wide Awards DWWA plus Huon Hook (real review) also gave it 95 pts. It’s same stable as Tasmanian Bay of Fires PN
It’s about $US 30 so excellent value rated up there with $150 Burgundies — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Quite deep ruby with wide terracotta , garnet rim . Quite deep slightly funky , red focused sous bois . Tobacco , slightly herbal notes . Quite concentrated but slightly flat red fruited sous bois , tobacco tinged , mineral , grafite finish. Not the best bottle of this , a bit funky and lacks a little exuberance and clarity on the nose and palate. Drink now and over the next few years on this showing. A pity but that is sometimes the way the wine world works ! — 2 years ago

Byron C Mayes

9.0

Deep and clear butterscotch gold. Big bosomy nose of baked quince and true butterscotch. Medium full palate confirms the nose adding lemon rind, birch, and a hint of white pepper. Bracing acidity from entry to moderate finish supports it all. Ripe, New World fruit pairs with a cool Burgundian structure to make a great pair for a wide range of fare, from seafood to cream sauces to roasted fowl or pork. Take to Thanksgiving dinner or hold through 2026. — 3 years ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Deep purple in color with a wide reddish/ purplish rim.

Full bodied and elegant with medium acidity. Dry and rich on the palate.

Showing black currants, black plums, ripen cherries, wood, spices, peppercorn, barnyard, vegetables, herbs, espresso and violets.

Short finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is my first Syrah from Greece. An interesting wine. Fruit forward with an old world feel. Definitely feels like a fruit forward Syrah.

This 6 year old is drinking very elegantly now, with nice complexity and balance. Spicy and engaging.

Peaking now and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years. I gave it 2 hours to open up.

Good by itself and better with food. Will pair nicely with lamb dishes.

100% Syrah grapes were hand harvested and aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. Unfined and unfiltered.

14% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$30. — 4 years ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Ruby in color with a wide reddish/ brick rim.

On the nose blueberries, currants, plums, tart cherries, light cedar, vanilla, licorice, light earth, spices, chocolates, tobacco leaf and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium-plus acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with cherries, raspberries, plums, vanilla, licorice, cedar, leather, earth, tobacco leaf, spices, graphite, herbs and black pepper.

Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a nice wine from Napa Valley. Tangy, spicy and interesting with a nice mouthfeel.

Still young, but already drinking nicely. Feels like an Italian red with a new world twist.

Easy drinking and needs time to open up a property. I gave it 90 minutes.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a Brie cheese. Will pair nicely with pizza.

A blend of 85% Sangiovese and 15% Merlot. Aged for 18 months in French Oak barrels (35% new).

14.7% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$36. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

If I am having an Allen Brothers Ribcap, I am also opening a good bottle of Bordeaux.

The 08 Bordeaux vintage goes down in the record books as good not great. This is not nearly as good as the 2000 I had a few years back...one of the few 10’s I’ve scored since starting to write notes. However, it does drink better earlier than 2000.

Ten years in bottle was just the right amount of time to check in on this 08. It will continue to improve over the next 5-7 years and hold another 8-10 years with proper storage.

With the first sip, it was elegant, refined and showing it is Latour’s close relative. My next thought was how good it will be with the Ribcap. Good on its own but, even better with steak.

It shows classic Bordeaux style. Just ripe fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, hints of blue & purple fruit. The tannins nicely round and velvety. The structure, tension, length & balance are just starting to hit their groove. Black licorice, black tea, stones, dry loamy topsoil, dark rich earth, less pencil shaving, soft leather, understated baking spices with withering; dark, red and blue florals. The acidity was nicely executed. The finish is; stunning, elegant and very well balanced with excellent persistence.

Photos of; Chateau Latour, iconic building that since in the middle of their Estate vines, barrel room and wide shot of their estate.

Side note. Having visited Latour three times, it has always been the most clean & pristine winemaking facilities I’ve seen in my many world wine region travels. You could eat off the floor. For me, they are the “King of Kings” in Cabernet. — 6 years ago