"Odedi"

9.1

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

Deep purple in color with a short reddish rim.

Fruity nose of black currants, black plums, light cedar, black tea, tobacco leaf, spices and light chocolate notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black plums, cooked cherries, currants, oak, light licorice, spices, dark chocolates, bitter herbs and peppercorn.

Tangy finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This Merlot from Napa Valley is still very young, but already enjoyable, even by itself. Rich and fruit forward. Nicely balanced and tangy. Showing nice complexity already, tangy and interesting.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 7 to 10 years, and has good potential to become a 93+ point wine.

Wine Spectator 92 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food.

A blend of 78% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 15 months in (40% new) French Oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$45. — 13 days ago

Sharon B

9.5

It’s National Red Wine Day! Let me see your wine! — 19 days ago

Joe Flo

9.6

Much better than the 2019 & 2020 vintages. — 6 days ago

Stephen Osgood

9.0

delicious biodynamic Sta Rita pinot. tons of salinity and characteristic terroir. — 17 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2016 vintage. A decade has allowed this to blossom a bit. Revealing super-subtle complexities now that frequently get lost in appraisals as they posit as fleeting impressions versus unimpeachable, primary truths. Medium body. 8.12.26. — a month ago

Benjamin Shirk

10

Incredibly lucky to even taste this, way outside of what I'm familiar with. First thing i noticed is how concentrated the nose is, extremely aromatic, red fruit with a creamy note and oak that is perfectly integrated. Normally I can smell when an ABV is this high but not with this wine. I can't believe how perfectly balanced it is - tannins, fruit, acidity, oak is all the perfect exact amounts so that nothing stands out on its own, but it has such concentrated flavor that everything stands out at the same time — 2 months ago

Hiroshi Tominaga

9.1

Blackberry, Spicy but with some sweetness. Bought at Enoteca for ¥7,225. — 9 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Presented double-blind at dinner. The wine pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core and a slightly orange rim with considerable variation; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated fruit: black currants, blackberries, plum, pipe tobacco, capsicum, pencil shavings, a touch leather, organic earth and a mix of dried herbs and some fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Really tasty stuff.

Initial conclusions: this is an old wine, likely 30-40 years old. That being said, it’s still very distinguishable as it’s showing varietal characteristics. This could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or a blend thereof), Cabernet Franc (or a blend thereof), or Merlot (or a blend thereof). I can see this being Napa because the fruit is still showing some generosity. But there’s a lot of non-fruits there too. Regardless, this was giving Left Bank vibes so I could also see this being Bordeaux from a great vintage like 1982. And that’s my call, Cabernet Sauvignon-blend from France, Bordeaux, Saint-Estèphe, from a classified growth like Calon-Ségur. Shucks. But I’m not mad about my choice! Old Opus One’s are tricky to differentiate. Drinking very well right now but this will live well past 2035. — 9 days ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.4

Super Tuscan blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (58%), Cabernet Franc (29%) and Merlot (13%). Dark ruby color. Aromas of red and black fruit, anise,purple flowers and leather. Flavors of black cherry/plum/berry fruit, black licorice, cocoa powder and sweet baking spices. Lovely mineral and minty tones on the long and lingering finish. Silky tannins and a velvety texture. Loaded with finesse and wonderful freshness. Enjoyed with Petey and Kase (Thanks Guys) on the beach in Cape May, NJ. — 7 days ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Opened about 90min prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2001 Monte Bello pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of black currants, blackberries, plum, tobacco, purple flowers, an intoxicating mix of exotic Eastern spices, some cocoa, inorganic earth and minerals. On the palate? The wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long and impeccably balanced. To my palate, this bottle has reached the age when Monte Bello starts to really become interesting. What a delight! Drink now with some air, through 2051. — 25 days ago

Kate

9.0

Smooth. Enjoy — 25 days ago

Tom Jenkins

9.0

Dark, lush fruits. Soft tannins, but a peppery finish. Great with my Veal Milanese. — a month ago

Kelley Raymond

9.5

Always a favorite — 9 days ago

Ming L

9.2

The house style is still here with ripe, slightly over extracted blue fruits, baking spices, cocoa, and a plush velvety palate. But the fruits become less confectionary and some savory components have emerged. Acidity seems more apparent. Really nice integration.

I think Pinot bottlings from Belle Glos are at their best with 5-8 years bottle aging. This is another proof. — 16 days ago

Joseph Barsky

9.5

2019 vintage. Needed time to breathe. Then it sang. — 3 days ago

Jan A

9.6

A lovely glass of wine that is already surprisingly easy drinking — 4 days ago

KA

9.2

The Eighty Six NYC — 8 days ago

Michelle Richards

9.0

Always a good pick!!! — 20 days ago

Joe Flo

9.7

Delicious 🍷!!!! — a month ago

WC Fields

9.5

A stunner. — a month ago