It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Deep inky in color with a short reddish rim.
Fruity nose with black plums, black currants, blackberries, cedar, licorice, cassis, light vanilla, spices, tobacco leaf, herbs, light vegetables and chocolates.
Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruit forward on the palate with plums, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, peppercorn, light earth, dark coffee and light black tea.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a delicious Merlot-based blend from Bordeaux. Complex and interesting. Fruit forward and elegant.
This 6 year old Merlot will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. I had this vintage two years ago, and it would be nice to revisit it again in 5 years.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour in the decanter.
Easy drinking and well-balanced.
The high alcohol is nicely integrated now, so watch out.
Good by itself as a sipping wine, and will also pair nicely with barbecue meats.
A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. Kosher and not Mevushal.
15% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$50. — 4 months ago
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Dark ruby in color with a short red rim.
Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, spices, espresso, cola, metals, chocolates and black pepper.
Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, figs, raisins, vanilla, cola, cedar, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, leather and black pepper.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Spicy and rich. Opulent and tasty.
Easy drinking right out of the bottle, and better with airtime. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel.
This Single Vineyard Cabernet from the great 2016 vintage, is still young, and would be better in the next 5 to 10 years.
Robert Parker 94 points.
Good right out of the bottle and good by itself or with food. Will pair nicely with BBQ Meats.
A blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged in French oak barrels (75% new) for 20 months.
15.1% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$70. — 2 years ago
Deep purple in color with a short purple rim.
Sweet and very fruity on the nose.
Full-bodied and bold with medium minus acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate and very fruity, with nice complexity.
Showing blackberries, cooked prunes, cedar, vanilla, licorice, spices, dried figs, raisins, chocolates, light earth, bitter herbs and light barnyard.
Sweet finish with fine grained tannins.
This 9 year old Petite Sirah from California is enjoyable by itself or with food. Elegant and smooth. Fruit forward and robust.
Very much in your face kind of wine, although, I expected it to calm down by now. Feels more like a California Syrah at this point.
14.6% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$60. — 7 days ago
#AgedWineTuesday
Inky in color with a short brick rim.
Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.
Showing black currants, cooked plums, cedar, tobacco leaf, herbs, spices, vegetables, black tea, tar, light earth and peppercorn.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 15 year old Washington Syrah is drinking very nicely now. In your face kind of wine. Bold, extracted and definitely delicious.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 90 minutes of airtime.
Robert Parker 92 points. Wine Enthusiasts 93 points.
Peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.
100% Syrah grapes from Red Mountain were aged in (50% new) French oak barrels for 12 months.
14.4% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$60. — 3 months ago
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Deep purple in color with a short purplish rim.
Nose of blackberries, cooked plums, sweet cherries, dried figs, licorice, Indian spices, light wild flowers, chocolates, coffee, cola, cedar, light vanilla, tobacco and black pepper.
Full-bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, prunes, figs, raisins, vanilla, cedar, licorice, cola, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, spices and peppercorn.
Very long finish, with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This young Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is just gorgeous. Nicely balanced with a great mouthfeel. Spicy and entertaining. Showing a beautiful nose with lots of complexity.
It is very unique to find such a young wine with so much complexity. That's so surprising. Rich, yet elegant. Fruit forward and complex with many layers.
Good right out of the bottle, but so much better after 3 hours in the decanter.
Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 to 20 years.
Will pair nicely with a big piece of steak, although it is a great sipping wine, that doesn't need food.
This vintage is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, from 2 Vineyards in Napa Valley. A small production of only 300 cases.
14.9% alcohol by volume.
95 points.
$180. — 5 months ago
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a delicious one.
Deep purple in color with a short purple rim.
Strong nose of black currants, plums, cooked cherries, violets, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco and herbs.
Full bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberry pie, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, herbs, vanilla, spices, chocolates and black pepper.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This 6 year old Napa Cabernet is still young, but already very enjoyable, even by itself. Rich and extracted. Fruit forward, but calm.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime.
Very flowery once it opens up. I liked the nose better than the palate. A very enjoyable wine.
This Single Vineyard will continue to age nicely in the next 7 to 10 years.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged in French oak barrels (40% new) for 26 months. A tiny production of only 5 barrels.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$95. — 2 years ago
Deep purple in color with a short purple rim.
Fruity nose and full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity and mouthfeel.
Showing black fruits, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, espresso, chocolates, earth, light vegetables, herbs and peppercorn.
This 8-year-old Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon is drinking very nicely right out of the bottle, and even better after 90 minutes of airtime.
Rich and fruit forward. Elegant and complex. Spicy and entertaining.
Peaking now and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.
Wine Spectator 90 points. Wine Enthusiasts 92 points.
Easy drinking and good by itself as a sipping wine. Will also pair nicely with barbecue meats.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$45 (current vintage). — 2 months ago
Deep inky in color with a short reddish rim.
Pretty nose of red and black fruits with cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, light bell pepper, herbs, dark coffee, dark chocolates and black tea.
Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with black plums, cooked cherries, black currants, light cedar, earth, herbs, chocolates, black pepper and spices.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a delicious 5 year old Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Howell Mountain.
Elegant, rich and robust. Feels like a Right Bank Bordeaux, which is very interesting to see.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours in the decanter. The high alcohol is well integrated now.
Still young, and needs 5 years in the bottle to mature properly. Would continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.
Good by itself or with food. Paired very nicely with my steak and roasted potatoes.
A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Merlot. Aged in (60% new) French Oak barrels for 18 months.
15.1% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$170. — 4 months ago
Inky in color with a short reddish rim.
Fruity nose of black fruits, cedar and chocolate notes.
Full-bodied and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruit forward on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing blackberries, black currants, plums, cedar, vanilla, licorice, spices, cooked cherries, herbs and peppercorn.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This 14 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is just delicious. Bold and beautiful, with a great mouthfeel.
Elegant and robust at the same time. The high alcohol is nicely integrated at this point.
Excellent right out of the bottle, and better after 90 minutes of airtime.
I've had many different vintages of this wine, and it always delivers.
Peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.
Robert Parker 95 points.
Good by itself as a sipping wine, and will pair nicely with a big piece of steak.
A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot.
14.7% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$150. — 6 months ago
"Odedi"
#AgedWineTuesday
Inky in color with a short purple rim.
Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.
Showing blackberries, cooked cherries, dried fruits, cedar, vanilla, Mediterranean spices, tobacco leaf, light earth, herbs, chocolates and black pepper.
Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.
This 15 year old still feels young, but drinking beautifully now. Nicely balanced and powerful, yet elegant.
Needed 5 hours to open up properly, but was good right out of the bottle too.
Rich and extracted. Fruit forward with nice complexity. Showing a great experience at this point.
A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
94 points.
$300. — 2 days ago